A evidence brief prepared for the Social Wellbeing Agency,

This report aims to provide information about aspects of parental and whānau wellbeing that have the greatest potential for improving the wellbeing of children. The brief is
prepared for the Social Wellbeing Agency to enable them to provide advice for the wider social sector about aspects of parental wellbeing that have the greatest potential to
improve child wellbeing.

The focus of this report is the first five years of life, with a particular focus on the first thousand days of a child’s development. The early years of a child’s life are critical stages
in the life course, acknowledged for shaping lifetime development and wellbeing across multiple domains, including health and wellbeing, cognitive and educational outcomes,
peer relationships and social connectedness, engagement in society and economic wellbeing. The report provides a high level summary of what key parental and family/whānau factors shape and influence child wellbeing in their early years. The focus on the first thousand days of development is important because trajectories for later wellbeing outcomes are initiated during these years. The evidence presented in this report
summarizes key findings from existing longitudinal evidence where feasible and relevant. (From the document).

See the companion report (#8027) for Te Ao Māori perspectives on child wellbeing. Record #8028