Risk factors for parenting practices that promote child development during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective To identify risk factors for parenting practices that promote child development during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out in three Brazilian early-childhood education centers, from October to November 2020. Data collected through an online questionnaire with items from the instrument “Early Childhood for Healthy Adults”. Results A total of 109 family members participated in the study. The use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy, the child’s coexistence with a caregiver who uses alcohol, maternal depression and the family being headed by a woman were identified as risk factors for practices that promote child development such as storytelling, playing with manufactured toys or household objects, naming or drawing with the child. Conclusion The use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy, maternal depression, the coexistence of the child with someone who uses alcohol were associated with the reduction of parental care important for early childhood development.