• https://publications.iadb.org/en/quality-parenting-programs-and-child-development-outcomes-case-perus-cuna-mas

Inter-American Development Bank (2019). Replication Data for: Quality of Parenting Programs and Child Development Outcomes The Case of Peru's Cuna Mas. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/ueu8vk1n

1. English

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What does this dataset cover about Cuna Más and Peruvian children?

This dataset appears to focus on early childhood development, home environment, caregiver characteristics, and service exposure linked to Cuna Más and related family supports for Peruvian children. The file includes variables such as: - child age and sex - caregiver education - household living conditions - visit intensity - play and learning activities at home, and - multiple child development indicators.

What age group of Peruvian children is included in this dataset?

The children in this file are mostly in early childhood. The observed age range is approximately 26 to 53 months, with a median age of about 35 months. That makes the dataset useful for analysis of preschool-age child development rather than for older school-age children.

What kinds of outcomes can researchers study in this Cuna Más dataset?

The dataset supports analysis of several issues relevant to early childhood policy and program design, including:

• child development scores
• home stimulation and play activities
• variety of play materials in the household
• caregiver education and household context
• housing quality and basic services
• exposure to visits or family accompaniment

For analysts and academics, this makes the file useful for studying how child development conditions vary across participating households.

Does the dataset include information on service intensity or participation linked to Cuna Más?

Yes. The file includes variables that suggest program exposure and intensity, such as total visits, duration measures, caregiver training or capacity-building variables, and multiple fields that explicitly reference cuna.

In descriptive terms, the median number of recorded visits is about 89, with values ranging from 8 to 128, which suggests meaningful variation in service exposure across records.

What household and caregiver characteristics are available for studying Peruvian children?

The dataset includes several background variables that can help explain differences in outcomes among Peruvian children, including:

• caregiver or mother age
• years of education for the respondent
• household size
• number of rooms
• household assets
• access to water in the dwelling
• sanitation indicators
• floor material quality

For example, the median household size is 5, the median number of rooms is 2, and the median reported education level of the respondent is about 6 years.

Can this dataset be used to study the home learning environment for children in Peru?

Yes. The file includes variables related to play activities, play materials, and a broader home environment score. These are valuable for policymakers and researchers interested in how home conditions may shape early childhood development. In this sample, the median count of play activities is 5, and the median count of varied play materials is 2.

Does the dataset show living-condition gaps that may matter for child development?

Yes. The household variables suggest that living conditions vary across the sample, which is important when analyzing outcomes for Peruvian children. For example, about 67% of records indicate water access in the dwelling, about 31% indicate that the sanitation variable was captured in the file, and about 22% indicate a non-dirt floor. Those differences could be useful in equity-focused analysis, though interpretation should be tied to the original codebook.

Can journalists and policy analysts use this dataset to evaluate Cuna Más?

Yes, the file is useful for examining patterns in child development, family support, home environment, and household conditions associated with Cuna Más participation or exposure.

What are the main limitations users should keep in mind before publishing findings from this dataset?

This data source excels at analyzing early childhood development and service exposure among a sample of Peruvian children connected to Cuna Más-related variables, rather than as a complete portrait of all children in Peru.

What is the impact of the Cuna Más program on children's cognitive development?

The dataset includes variables that appear to measure child development and cognitive outcomes, such as b_pb_cog, kidi_total, and asq_tot_av5scales_kd, as well as program exposure or intensity variables, such as total_visitas, Q12_dur_meses, and several f_exp_ and f_cap_ fields.

What is the Cuna Más program in Peru?

Cuna Más is Peru’s largest early childhood development program, created in 2012. It provides services to children aged 0–36 months and their caregivers, focusing on rural areas through home visits and daycare centers.

What is the Programa Nacional Cuna Más MIDIS?

The program is administered by the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS) and operates under two service models: the Daycare Service (SCD) and the Family Accompaniment Service (SAF).

What are the benefits of Cuna Más for early childhood development?

The program improves child development outcomes by offering structured daycare (SCD) and weekly home visits (SAF), which strengthen caregiver practices in nutrition, health, and early stimulation.

Is Cuna Más a free government service?

Yes. Cuna Más is publicly funded and provided free of charge to eligible families, especially in rural and low-income areas.

What is the difference between Daycare Service (SCD) and Family Support Service (SAF) in Cuna Más?

SCD delivers community-based daycare services, while SAF provides weekly one-hour home visits to families in rural areas, focusing on caregiver-child interaction and stimulation.

What are the primary objectives and services of the National Program Cuna Más in Peru?

The program aims to reduce gaps in early childhood development by prioritizing children under 36 months of age. Its two main services are daycare centers (SCD) and family accompaniment visits (SAF).

What are the differences between the Daycare Service (SCD) and the Family Support Service (SAF) in Cuna Más?

SCD = structured daycare centers; SAF = home visits led by trained “Acompañantes de Familias” who guide caregivers in child-rearing practices.

How does Cuna Más compare to the former Wawa Wasi program in terms of methodology?

Cuna Más replaced Wawa Wasi, expanding from a daycare-only model to a dual approach (SCD + SAF) with stronger emphasis on caregiver involvement and rural outreach.

Why does Cuna Más prioritize children specifically under 36 months of age for its intervention?

The program targets this age group because early childhood is a critical developmental window for cognitive, emotional, and physical growth, where interventions have the greatest impact.