Understand your child’s development through milestones, expert insights and practical advice covering cognitive, emotional, social and physical growth.
A London mother says her 10-month-old daughter’s unexpected diagnosis has brought hormone treatment, regular monitoring and difficult questions about her future. Sophie Dumas says her life changed when a health visitor noticed that her baby daughter’s breast tissue looked unusually…
Sudden obsessive-compulsive behaviours in children can follow infection, but clinicians say a broad assessment is essential before linking symptoms to PANS or PANDAS. When a child suddenly starts washing their hands repeatedly, asking the same questions over and over, or…
Research challenges the claim that rewards, routines and consequences cannot work for children with ADHD or autism, while highlighting the need for compassionate, individually adapted support. Behavioural approaches are often dismissed in parent forums and online support groups for children…
Genes influence how children develop, but repeated experiences at home also shape emotional regulation, resilience and relationships, according to psychologists and developmental research. Parents cannot control the genes their children inherit, but they do have far more influence than many…
Common Sense Media says ChatGPT for Teens failed to respond reliably to self-harm and eating-disorder prompts, while linked parents were not always alerted. OpenAI disputes the findings and questions the testing methodology. Common Sense Media’s Youth AI Safety Institute has…
A psychologist says street racing, hidden drug use and risky online behaviour can reflect unmet needs for identity, recognition and connection , not simply defiance or thrill-seeking. Adolescence can look like rebellion on the surface, but the behaviour often carries…
Sudden mood changes, clinginess, repetitive habits and unexplained physical complaints may signal that a child is struggling with school-related stress. Parents should watch for abrupt changes in a child’s mood or habits, as these can be early signs that school…
A draft law would introduce nationwide developmental assessments and direct extra nursery staff towards children and centres most in need, but states say Berlin’s €9.25bn offer may not be enough. Germany’s plans to strengthen early childhood education are heading into…
A government-commissioned review warns that diagnosis-first care is delaying help for children with serious mental health needs and may be labelling others too quickly. Britain is being warned that the rush to identify autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be…
Clashing schedules, mismatched learning speeds and ongoing distress can prompt families to explore online elementary schools , but flexibility still comes with supervision, social and transfer considerations. Many families start considering online elementary school only after noticing that their current…
Paediatricians say crying, night waking and many bouts of fussiness are normal in early infancy, while warning parents against unproven treatments and urging prompt help for red-flag symptoms. In the earliest months of life, a great deal of uncertainty can…
New guidance for children aged 8 days to 5 years removes nitrites from the main diagnostic pathway, shortens antibiotic courses and highlights constipation and bladder-bowel dysfunction as drivers of recurrent infections. The American Academy of Paediatrics has issued a new…
