WHAT IS THE NEW 'THRIVING CHILD' INDEX?

A new framework is helping parents, schools and communities understand what children truly need to thrive. Here's what the Thriving Child Index is - and how it can support your family's wellbeing.

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In recent years, parents have faced a whirlwind of advice on how to support children’s wellbeing - from growth mindsets to resilience training and every developmental milestone in between. Yet with so much information, it can feel overwhelming to know what really matters. That’s exactly why the new Thriving Child Index has been created - to offer a clear, research-based picture of what helps children not just cope, but genuinely flourish.

Designed by child development specialists, psychologists and educators, the Thriving Child Index has been launched by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and aims to give families and professionals a holistic view of children’s wellbeing. Rather than focusing only on academic performance or emotional regulation, it brings together a broad range of indicators that reflect a child’s whole experience: their relationships, environment, opportunities and sense of self, to build a more complete picture of a child’s life. It’s a tool that moves beyond the traditional idea of “success” and instead invites us to consider what makes childhood both healthy and joyful.

WHY WAS IT DEVELOPED?

Experts created the Thriving Child Index to capture these subtler aspects of wellbeing in a way that is practical, measurable and supportive. It acknowledges that kids thrive when their emotional, social and physical needs are met in balance - and it helps highlight areas where small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

After all, child wellbeing is not one-dimensional. Kids may be physically healthy but socially isolated, or academically strong but emotionally unsupported. The index recognises that thriving little ones need holistic support. The ECA is working across government agencies and experts globally to design the index so it captures all those dimensions.