Whereas a more passive "wait-and-see" approach was traditionally adopted, contemporary perspectives within our field contend that the infancy and early childhood phase represents an opportune period for targeted interventions. This paradigm shift is grounded in the recognition that effecting alterations to potential developmental irregularities often requires less effort during this stage, and, importantly, it offers a unique vantage point for preempting the emergence of later-life adversities.
Developing effective assessment tools for the mental health of infants and toddlers and examining the temperament of the youngest children are crucial aspects that we have addressed in the Little in Norway-study. We have also investigated the association between parental depression and children's challenges, exploring whether it matters which of the parents may be experiencing depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate a slightly elevated risk for children developing socioemotional issues, particularly in cases of maternal depression, and some children may experience language difficulties, especially in the context of paternal depression.
In the Kindergarten-study, we examined stress levels in the youngest children attending daycare by measuring the stress hormone cortisol on both weekends and daycare days. We discovered that, for the youngest children with extended hours in daycare, there were elevated levels of stress hormones, whereas this was not the case for children with somewhat shorter daycare hours.