The month-long campaign was launched on 1 June 2021, by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda, and other partners to promote positive parenting.

In the video released today by UNICEF Rwanda; Ange Kagame, the daughter of President Paul Kagame talked about how a baby’s brain develops most in the first 1,000 days at a pace never repeated again.

The mother of one also highlighted the role of both parents, male and female in the overall development of their baby.

In the earliest years of life, a child’s brain develops at an astounding speed of more than 1 million new neural connections every second.

This period offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape a child’s ability to learn, grow, form healthy relationships, and contribute fully to society in adulthood.

Parents are the key providers of health, nutrition, stimulation, opportunities for early learning, and protection that babies need for healthy brain development. Another area where parents can contribute significantly to a child’s development is by playing with the baby.

This helps babies learn and build crucial life skills – from problem-solving to expressing ideas – and strengthening the bond between child and parent.

Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs in the world and now COVID-19 has placed even more pressure on parents and caregivers to support their children’s learning and development, keep their households functioning, and look after their families’ wellbeing.

The video explains the various techniques such as ‘serve and return’ that parents can use to strengthen their bond with their babies while ensuring their holistic development.