EARLY STIMULATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

This systematic review study evaluates the effectiveness of early stimulation programs in the comprehensive development of children aged 0 to 5 years. The PRISMA methodology is used, which evidences the search in scientific databases such as: Scopus, Scielo and Google Scholar; collecting scientific information regarding the characteristics of children participating in early stimulation programs, applied methodological strategies, comparative effects and the benefits in child development that answer the questions developed with the PICO methodology based on the support of 31 articles selected for the analysis. The search results indicate that infants who participate in early stimulation programs acquire accelerated development in the receptivity of external stimuli that allow the flourishing of their motor, linguistic and social skills. The strategies employed should be multisectoral, using the play-work methodology that facilitates the participation of the child, family and community. The benefits would include strengthening skills and developing cognitive, physical, socio-emotional, and identity dimensions, bridging sociocultural gaps that reinforce the importance of comprehensive childhood care; mitigating potential diagnoses in child development; and, if present, promoting the conscious intervention of early stimulation programs focused not only on prevention but also on intervention.