2019.0419
National longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care Assisted by NTNU
Children, our next generation, is the hope of our country. The well-being and health of children is an important indicator of the prosperity of a country. They grew at a very high speed when they are in infancy. It's a key phase affecting their future development. The government in many countries have invested in building a longitudinal database for child. Hence, the Ministry of Science and Technology started to assist the Department of Human Development and Family Studies with the plan of building National longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care in August, 2014 and the data collection started in March of 2016.
The press conference, held by the Ministry of Science and Technology on April 3rd, was hosted by Director Chou Li Tuan from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Deputy Minister Hsu Yu Chin gave some remarks as guest. He said that the National longitudinal Study of Child Development and Care(KIT) is the first research studies focuses on the development of toddlers. Prof. Chang Chien Ju said that the research team consists of domestic experts of early childhood development, early childhood education, family education, educational psychology, early treatment, clinical medicine, cross-disciplinary survey research. Questionnaires were given to parents, relatives and friends and child-care provider. Early childhood development assessments and interviews, documenting the health, cognitive language, social sentiment, development of body movements and changes in the family, education environment and experience of children aged 0-8. The study results provide an empirical basis for the country to structure relevant policies. Parents and early childhood development and educators may use it as references.
The Kids in Taiwan Database tracks two groups of children in long term. One is 3-month-old and another is 3-year-old. The parents, child-care provider and relatives and friends who takes care of the child were interviewed. From 2016 March to 2019 February, the number of questionnaire has reached 50,000.