Connecting families, schools, and communities: A systems‐contextual approach to sustainable futures for children

The achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands an increased focus on investing in young children as a pivotal solution. Many of the SDGs' targeted solutions directly or indirectly address facets of children's living conditions, aiming to foster their social and emotional well‐being. However, the current approach, while successful in delivering some impacts, are often disjointed. In this article, we contend that nurturing socially and emotionally healthy citizens of the future requires a comprehensive, systems‐contextual approach, moving beyond one‐sided focused solutions. A multiple and cross‐sectional approach to the SDGs, targeting potentially modifiable determinants of human capability through families, schools, and communities will enable a nurturing and stable system to be developed and ensure the next generation of children is better prepared to lead lives that are safe, healthy, and responsible. We examine the theoretical and empirical basis for a direct focus on children and young people and explore the criteria that need to be met for such an approach to work. Barriers and enablers for change on a global scale and directions for future research are discussed.