Understand your child’s development through milestones, expert insights and practical advice covering cognitive, emotional, social and physical growth.
Routine check-ups during a baby’s first year can do more than monitor growth, they’re crucial for early detection of developmental concerns, with experts emphasising the importance of timely assessments to support optimal growth and bonding. Regular check-ups in the first…
Paediatric experts and health authorities are emphasising the importance of unstructured play in schools, citing its benefits for mental health, social skills, and physical activity, while highlighting disparities in access for marginalised children. Recess is increasingly being treated by paediatric…
Research indicates a modest shift towards earlier puberty among girls, prompting a move away from parental attempts to delay first periods through diet or exercise, with expert advice emphasising education and normalisation. Parents often worry when a daughter seems to…
National’s plan to restrict screen use in early learning centres and enhance developmental reporting has divided advocates and academics, raising questions about technology’s role in early childhood development. Early childhood education advocates have given a guarded welcome to National’s plan…
As toddlers assert their independence between 18 months and 3 years, understanding the brain-based reasons behind their defiance can help parents manage challenging behaviour with patience and practical strategies. A toddler’s sudden refusal to cooperate can feel less like a…
Researchers at the University of Southampton warn that teenagers who sleep in heavily on weekends may be inadvertently raising their anxiety levels, highlighting the need for consistent sleep routines and potential changes to school start times. Teenagers who sleep in…
A Columbia University study reveals that reductions in air pollution in New York City have coincided with significant gains in early cognitive development among children, highlighting the importance of environmental policies for brain health. A long-running Columbia University study suggests…
Research from Tufts University highlights modest global improvements in children’s consumption of healthy plant-based foods, revealing significant shortfalls and a decline in intake among older children, especially in high-income nations. Researchers at Tufts University say children and teenagers around the…
Fiji is set to expand access to essential assistive devices for children through a US$1.6 million initiative, addressing global disparities and enhancing educational and health outcomes for vulnerable youth. Thousands of children who need glasses, hearing aids and mobility support…
Recent research underscores the significance of balanced, consistent, and literacy-focused kindergarten programmes in shaping children’s educational journeys and long-term outcomes. Choosing a kindergarten programme is one of the earliest education decisions many parents make, and it can shape how children…
Experts clarify that gentle parenting is not about permissiveness but about combining emotional warmth with firm boundaries, highlighting its alignment with authoritative parenting amidst contemporary pressures on parents. Gentle parenting has become one of the most debated ideas in modern…
Emerging guidance highlights the significance of emotional well-being, play, and language-rich interactions in pre-nursery settings, shaping children’s confidence and lifelong learning habits from the earliest years. For many families, the first step beyond home is not about letters or numbers…
