Preschoolers start following rules in games with other children, tell stories, and begin to count and recognise letters.CDC · Milestones by 5 years ↗
These are things most children can do by this age. They are for understanding your child, not a scorecard; every child develops at their own pace.CDC · Positive parenting tips: infants (0–1) ↗
In a study of 4- to 6-year-olds, the number of back-and-forth conversational turns with adults predicted activity in language areas of the brain better than the number of words children heard.
For children aged 1 to 8, play with gentle adult guidance did better than direct teaching on early maths, shapes and switching between tasks, and better than free play on spatial words. Other outcomes showed no difference.
A meta-analysis of 42 studies. More screen use was linked to weaker language skills, while co-viewing with an adult and better-quality programmes were linked to stronger skills.
A review of 49 studies covering 50 interventions and 23,098 participants aged 2–17 found that several approaches can support self-regulation. Programmes and outcome measures differed substantially.
Following about 2,400 children, more screen time at 2 and 3 years was linked to poorer developmental screening results a year or more later.
9-month-old infants learned Mandarin speech sounds from live sessions with a person, but not from the same material shown on video or audio.
Meta-analyses of 75 studies found spanking was linked to a range of poor outcomes for children and was not linked to better behaviour.
Start with one resource that fits your needs. Classic readings are for caregivers to reflect on, not a required reading list for children.
Free activity tips that fit into meals, getting dressed, travel and other shared moments, with brief explanations of the ideas behind them.
An age-grouped collection of games and activities for practising working memory, inhibitory control and flexible thinking, with adults gradually adjusting their help.
Guidance on structured parenting interventions to reduce maltreatment and harsh parenting, strengthen parent–child relationships, and prevent emotional and behavioural problems.
A collection of parenting programmes and materials, including resources for families with children aged 2–9 and young people aged 10–17. It focuses on relationships and preventing violence.
A classic work about education in the home, with an emphasis on habits, judgement, character and the example set by adults. Read it as a historical argument rather than a modern childcare manual.
Evidence: Practical techniques from the authors' parenting workshops. Evidence level: expert opinion, not a research study.
Evidence: Uses brain science to explain children's behaviour; the 12 strategies come from the authors' clinical experience rather than trials. Evidence level: expert opinion.