School-age children's attention and language grow a lot, friends start to matter more, and learning to cope with failure becomes important.MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) · School-age children development ↗
Meta-analyses of 75 studies found spanking was linked to a range of poor outcomes for children and was not linked to better behaviour.
Across hundreds of studies, a growth mindset was only weakly linked to school results, and mindset programmes had small average effects. Students from low-income families or who were struggling at school may benefit more.
Randomised trials in Indian government schools found that teaching children at their actual learning level, rather than strictly by the grade syllabus, raised learning when it was implemented well.
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.
Using data on more than 350,000 adolescents, the study found that digital technology use explained at most 0.4% of the variation in well-being - a negative but very small association on average.
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.
Start with one resource that fits your needs. Classic readings are for caregivers to reflect on, not a required reading list for children.
An age-grouped collection of games and activities for practising working memory, inhibitory control and flexible thinking, with adults gradually adjusting their help.
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 reflection on education that challenges “inert ideas”: knowledge received but never used, tested or connected with experience. This introduction draws on a scholarly account of the book.
An essay in Montaigne’s Essays that asks education to develop judgement through conversation, experience and examining ideas, rather than reward the repetition of other people’s words.
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: Later meta-analyses found growth-mindset effects on school results are smaller than the book suggests (see the research below).