Measuring early childhood development at a global scale: Evidence from the Caregiver-Reported Early Development Instruments

Despite global interest in supporting and monitoring early childhood development (ECD), few valid and reliable tools exist for capturing ECD at scale across cultural contexts. This study describes the development and validation of the Caregiver Reported Early Development Instruments (CREDI) short form, a new tool for measuring the motor, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and mental health skills of children under age three in culturally diverse settings. Results from 8022 children living in 17 low-, middle-, and high-income countries suggest that the CREDI short form is valid, reliable, and acceptable for measuring population-level ECD. Data highlight differences in CREDI scores within and across countries based on maternal education, child nutritional status, and household stimulation practices. Implications for ECD policy and practice are described.