Early childhood protective factors

Protective factors serve to shield children from difficulties. The more present they are in the life of a child, the better the child’s chances of developing its full potential, sustaining a positive educational experience, and fully assuming his/her parenting role as an adult.

The concept of protective factors grew out of research work into resilience. Protective factors have contributed to further reflections on interventions in underprivileged contexts. They form the basis of the Ecosystemic Partnership Approach guide – a handbook intended for local groups of partners. The toolbox also offers 9 tools for the Ecosystemic Partnership Approach.

Protective factors by system

CHILD

FAMILY

  • SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVEL

    • Family income
    • Level of educational achievement

  • PARENTS’ ATTITUDES

    • Sense of being competent (self-esteem/confidence)
    • Mother’s/father’s aspirations with regard to their child’s educational achievement
    • Mother’s/father’s association with reading and writing

  • PARENTING PRACTICES

    • Quality of the emotional and cognitive parent-child interactions
    • Exposure to a variety of educational experiences
    • Parent-child reading habits (early start, frequency)

COMMUNITY