Perspectiva da família sobre os marcos do desenvolvimento infantil e a estimulação ambiental

Abstract

Child development is a dynamic and progressive process in which children gradually expand their repertoire of knowledge and skills through interaction with the environment. For children to reach their full potential, they must be monitored not only by their family members but also by healthcare professionals who provide guidance on appropriate developmental stimulation and support in identifying possible developmental delays. In this context, this dissertation aims to assess the knowledge of parents and/or guardians of children aged from birth to 3 years and 11 months regarding key child development milestones, as well as to characterize family participation in developmental surveillance programs and the environmental stimulation opportunities provided to support milestone acquisition. To achieve this objective, two studies were designed. Study 1 aimed to characterize, in the scientific literature, the target audience of child developmental surveillance initiatives and describe the extent to which these initiatives involve families. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted using the CAPES Periodicals Portal, selecting full-text, peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2025 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, using the following descriptors and Boolean operators: (child development) AND surveillance OR monitoring OR guidance AND family. Eight articles were selected for qualitative synthesis. The review results revealed that five studies addressed families indirectly through initiatives involving Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals, predominantly from the nursing field, while three studies directly involved families participating in child growth and development monitoring initiatives. The findings highlighted the need to understand families’ realities so that developmental surveillance practices can engage them collaboratively. Furthermore, the Child Health Handbook was identified as a tool for empowering families to monitor their children’s development. Study 2 aimed to describe and correlate parents’ and/or guardians’ knowledge of child development milestones and characterize the environmental stimulation opportunities available for milestone acquisition. The study was conducted using a digital questionnaire, with the participation of 84 caregivers. Greater difficulties were identified in recognizing motor and language milestones, particularly those expected during the first months of life. Regarding environmental stimulation opportunities, social interaction experiences and play activities were observed in the children’s daily routines. However, opportunities for improvement were identified, particularly concerning the use of books and exposure to screens. Negative correlations were found between screen use and knowledge of developmental milestones. The study indicates that families have the potential to identify developmental milestones, highlighting the need for investment in guidance and support to help them optimize the environmental and socioemotional conditions for their children’s development. The integration of the two studies highlights the importance of joint participation by families and healthcare professionals in child developmental surveillance.