 Early childhood development | Social support for families

 2020–2023 (Phase 1) / 2023–2026 (Phase 2) / 2026–2027 (Extension)

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The context

The project

Since 2020, Planète Enfants & Développement has been addressing issues of urban poverty and focusing its efforts on two particularly vulnerable districts in Ho Chi Minh City (Thu Duc and Tan Phu), where many internally displaced families live. The goal is to support these families in all aspects of parenting and in understanding their children’s needs. It also aims to strengthen the skills of early childhood professionals as well as local authorities. The second phase of this project, which is part of our Early Childhood Program Agreement, took place from 2023 to July 2026.

Training for Early Childhood Professionals

From 2023 to 2026, we trained 160 new early childhood assistants who work in preschools. The first cohort completed a comprehensive 11-month program consisting of a theoretical component with 16 modules (one session every two weeks) and a practical component with one individual coaching session every two weeks. This program was carried out in partnership with the organizations One Sky and HACRP. For the second cohort, we focused the training on gender issues and screen time management.

Supporting parenthood and the parent-child bond

The parenting support program, organized in kindergartens and at two partner social centers, was aimed at families in need and focused on specific topics such as violence prevention, nutrition, gender equality, and screen time management. Planète Enfants & Développement also developed sessions focused on the role of fathers, with the aim of increasing their involvement. In addition, our early childhood expert in Vietnam organized a monthly online conference on parenting, featuring a guest speaker who is an external early childhood specialist.

This initiative was complemented by an awareness and communication campaign on screen time management.

In addition, to strengthen the bond between parents and children—and because the children involved have few toys at home—we organized “kids” clubs’ at three community centers and one preschool. Each club holds at least two sessions per month, with a maximum of 15 families per session. Sessions on mental health and health education have also been organized. The parenting support sessions and children’s clubs are led by 12 social workers whom we have trained and whom we coach regularly.

Advocacy to strengthen the legal framework for Early Childhood in Vietnam

Planète Enfants & Développement has drawn the attention of public authorities to the challenges of early childhood development, notably by organizing seminars that bring together local authorities, service providers, and other stakeholders working in the field of early childhood in Ho Chi Minh City.

Continuation of Initiatives in 2026 and 2027

Planète Enfants & Développement continues its work in Vietnam to ensure that vulnerable children under the age of 6 have access to a family and institutional environment that is stimulating, safe, and conducive to their development.

This year, the project addresses two different situations faced by young children in the city: those growing up in institutions, often without parents, and those living in immigrant or low-income families. This new project employs an innovative approach: replacing traditional theoretical training with weekly, individualized coaching in real-life situations.

The project will focus simultaneously on three complementary areas:

• Weekly coaching for caregivers in childcare and protective care facilities : In orphanages and charitable schools, caregivers are left to care for large numbers of very young children on their own, without having received any training. The coaching will take place on-site, during the children’s daily routines. Trainers specializing in early childhood education will conduct 24 practical coaching sessions lasting 2 to 4 hours (covering a curriculum of 12 to 15 topics) directly with the caregivers. The goal is to transform their daily practices, reduce routine educational violence, and improve the quality of interactions.
• Support for Parenting Among the Most Vulnerable Families: In migrant and low-income families, parents have few resources to help raise a young child: long workdays, cramped living conditions, and unstable incomes. At four community centers, the project brings these families together for parenting support sessions: how to talk to their children, play with them, and set boundaries without resorting to violence. Time spent with their children allows parents to put these skills into practice and strengthen the parent-child bond. The goal: to give parents simple guidelines they can apply in their daily lives.
• Raising Awareness About the Effects of Screen Time in Health Care Facilities: Many vulnerable families do not use standard community services and remain beyond the reach of traditional parenting support programs. Among them, some parents expose their very young children to screens without being aware of the documented effects on their development. Every week, vaccination days are held at the Thay Thanh health center. The waiting times present a unique opportunity. Awareness-raising efforts are conducted with approximately 30 families per month over an 8-month period, for a total of 240 families.