Gwangju City to Introduce 'Infant and Toddler Development Consulting' in April

Early Detection and Support for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays
1.2 Billion KRW Invested... Targeting 3,000 Children in Daycare Centers
Establishing a One-Stop Service from Assessment to Treatment

Gwangju City Hall exterior view.

Gwangju City announced on the 2nd that it will introduce the 'Infant and Toddler Development Consulting Support Project', which aims to identify infants and toddlers with delayed growth or maladaptive behaviors at an early stage and connect them to customized counseling and treatment, beginning full-scale implementation in April.

This year, the city will invest 120 million KRW in the newly launched 'Infant and Toddler Development Consulting Support Project' to support the healthy growth and development of young children. The Gwangju City Childcare Comprehensive Support Center will be responsible for carrying out the project. The target group consists of approximately 3,000 three-year-old children enrolled in daycare centers, a period of rapid cognitive development. A 'developmental assessment' will be conducted with participation from both parents and childcare teachers.

Prior to implementing the project, the city will hold briefing sessions for local daycare centers to enhance understanding and participation. Video training for parents and staff will provide information on the developmental assessment and its procedures, along with education on interpreting the assessment results.

For infants and toddlers suspected of developmental delays based on the assessment results, an in-depth examination will be conducted, with support for screening examination fees (up to 200,000 KRW). If the in-depth examination determines developmental delay or borderline status, the children will be connected to specialized treatment institutions for further services.

Education and consulting will also be provided to parents and childcare teachers to enhance their understanding of child development. Consulting will include individual parent counseling and teaching-learning consultations to effectively support children's development, along with follow-up monitoring to continuously observe and guide the developmental status of the children.

To operate the project effectively, the city plans to hire infant and toddler development support specialists at the Childcare Comprehensive Support Center to handle pre-training, counseling on assessment results, connections to treatment institutions, coaching, and psychological counseling, thereby systematizing a one-stop service. Specialized counseling centers within the region will be designated by district to improve accessibility for children and guardians. For more information, contact the Gwangju City Childcare Comprehensive Support Center or the Childcare Team at the Gwangju City Department of Women and Family.

Lee Youngdong, Director of the Department of Women and Family, stated, "Through this project, we will identify developmental issues in infants and toddlers at an early stage and ensure that guardians, childcare staff, and experts can collaborate to provide tailored support. We will also take the lead in improving awareness of developmental evaluations and creating an environment where children can grow up healthy by addressing developmental issues early on."