Child Care, Early Childhood Education and Parenting
Child Care, Early Childhood Education and Parenting
This domain tests infant feeding, immunization, growth monitoring, preschool education and parenting styles. Case questions on feeding and milestones are frequent.
Core rules and concepts
- Breastfeeding: colostrum within one hour, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, complementary feeding from six months, continued breastfeeding to two years.
- Weaning foods: mashable, energy-dense, hygienic; start with one food at a time.
- Immunization: BCG, OPV, pentavalent, rotavirus, PCV, measles-rubella, vitamin A; follow the national schedule.
- Growth monitoring: weight-for-age and height-for-age on WHO growth charts; early detection of faltering growth.
- ECE: play-based, child-centred, low teacher-child ratio; develops language, motor, cognitive and socio-emotional skills.
- Parenting styles: authoritative (warm and firm), authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved.
Worked example
A mother of a 6-month-old asks what to feed. Reasoning: breast milk alone is no longer sufficient. Continue breastfeeding; add complementary foods such as mashed rice, dal water, boiled potato and fruit pulp. Start with 2–3 teaspoons, increase gradually; avoid honey, salt and sugary drinks. Ensure hygiene and responsive feeding.
Traps
Discarding colostrum; starting top milk before six months; calling all early education playschool without curriculum; confusing authoritative with authoritarian.