Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Today, UNICEF, jointly with the Ministries of Health and Preschool Education of Uzbekistan, is releasing “Bebbo”, its first mobile parenting app to support parents and other caregivers of children from zero to six years old.

This free parenting support app will provide parents with expert advice on a large range of child health and development issues, from nutrition and breastfeeding to early learning and the value of play, responsive parenting, protection, and safety. It will also include specific guidance for parents and caregivers on how to ensure their own well-being. To accompany parents during the first years of their children's lives, Bebbo also includes features allowing parents to record vaccinations, health check-ups and other key development milestones.

“The first years of life are critical for the development of children and will have a fundamental impact on their lives as adults. With this new app, we want to give all parents an extra tool to guide them in the demanding journey of parenting” said Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “I encourage all parents to download Bebbo, a free, easy-to-use app, and give their children a good start, for a lifetime.”

UNICEF worked closely with national partners and early childhood development experts to ensure this mobile app is tailored for local use and meets national needs.

“Every growing child needs nurturing care, good health, optimal nutrition and a stimulating and safe environment that offers plenty of support for early learning”, said Ms. Agrippina Shin, Minister of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan. “The Bebbo mobile application, which is a user-friendly ‘pocket guide’, is designed to support adults in nurturing young children.”

Bebbo will equip parents with timely, quality guidance on how to support the growth, development, and wellbeing of their children. This is particularly important when direct contact with service providers is not possible or made more difficult, including in the context of the current pandemic.

“COVID-19 demanded solutions to support parents with timely and quality guidance when contact with service providers was disrupted. Parents became first responders, taking additional responsibility for their children’s learning, health and well-being”, said Mr. Behzod Musaev, Minister of Health of Uzbekistan. “A new mobile app is a very timely tool considering the COVID-19 pandemic, as parents and caregivers will be able to get just as reliable information as they get from a specialist through online consultations”, Mr. Musaev added.

Across Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF continues to work closely with national governments to bolster the capacities of parents and families with young children, including through new national parenting support programmes aimed at reaching and supporting caregivers who work with the most vulnerable children and in the most remote areas.