Malta’s Toddlers Need Stability

Malta is currently facing a national debate regarding the care and stability of toddlers, particularly those under three. The focus has shifted from just the type of childcare available to ensuring consistent, responsive relationships crucial for early development.

Challenges in Malta’s Early Childhood System

For over five decades, Malta’s approach to early childhood education began as a strategy to increase female workforce participation. While this has successfully integrated many women into the labor market, it has inadvertently pressured parents to seek external childcare solutions. Consequently, many are delaying or opting out of parenthood altogether.

The pressing issue at hand is not simply about whether childcare is effective, but rather whether the existing system provides stable and nurturing relationships essential for cognitive and emotional growth. Studies indicate that healthy brain development relies heavily on consistent ‘serve and return’ interactions between caregivers and children. These interactions are foundational, as noted by the Harvard Centre on the Developing Child (2025).

The Importance of Process Quality

• Process quality is essential for early childhood development.
• Childcare settings must provide stability and responsive adult interactions.
• The absence of suitable home care can hinder child development.

Despite the belief that being at home guarantees better outcomes, the quality of care is paramount. Uninformed or unsupported parents may inadvertently create environments lacking in responsiveness, detrimental to their child’s growth. According to a UNICEF report (2019), the early years of life demand loving environments that stimulate brain development.

Need for Integrated Support Systems

Parents in Malta often navigate these crucial early years without adequate support. The absence of a cohesive system integrating health, education, and social services leaves caregivers to manage alone. As a result, families face significant challenges in ensuring optimal developmental conditions for their children.

• A comprehensive strategy must enhance parental support, focusing beyond just financial aid.
• The government needs to invest in high-quality education and care for children.

Consider a scenario where a couple with an 11-month-old child contends with split caregiving arrangements between grandparents and a childcare center. The inconsistency stemming from staff turnover and a lack of stable routines complicates their child’s emotional security.

Building a Child-First Care System

For the benefit of Malta’s young children, a shift is necessary from a labor-market-first approach to a child-first model that emphasizes meaningful parental choice. This requires:

• Establishing a National Integrated Family Strategy encompassing health, education, and social services.
• Extending paid parental leave to enhance attachment periods.
• Coordinating guidance for parents to foster responsive caregiving.
• Professionalizing the early years workforce to retain skilled educators, ensuring stable relationships with children.

Stability and professional care form the bedrock of a strong foundation for early childhood development. The current dialogues should not position parents against providers nor policymakers against public opinion. Instead, unity is needed in the quest for a quality system that supports the well-being of all families.

Ultimately, every child needs a reliable emotional anchor, whether at home or in a childcare setting. The system must guarantee that toddlers in Malta thrive through genuine, stable interactions with caregivers dedicated to nurturing their growth.