This document discusses early childhood development and provides information on several topics: 1. It outlines key periods in a child's development from prenatal to age 8 and factors that influence development such as caregivers, home environment, and early learning. 2. It presents data on access to early childhood education in Sub-Saharan Africa and Mozambique showing increases from 1999 to 2010 but that access remains low. 3. It discusses the benefits of early childhood development/preschool programs in Mozambique in increasing school enrollment and attendance as well as improving behaviors, hygiene practices and children's time, while having no impact on reducing stunting.