Influences on Early Childhood Health

Research on the factors contributing to childhood health and well-being has resulted in the development of numerous programs designed to improve children's health. Many childhood health promotion initiatives focus on several common steps to promote healthy behaviors and improve health outcomes. Common topics addressed by these programs include improvements to nutrition, physical activity, early developmental screening, oral health, and limiting sedentary behaviors.

Opportunities exist at multiple stages to promote early childhood health. Several of these include:

• Maternal Health and Prenatal Care
• First Year of Life and Breastfeeding
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
• Healthy Food Options
• Physical Activity and the Environment
• Screen Time
• Sleep

For examples of rural programs implementing health promotion initiatives that focus on different opportunities to address these influences on early childhood health, see Module 2.