Executive Function, Explained for Parents
Planning, remembering instructions, starting tasks and controlling impulses all rely on executive function. What it is, how it develops, and how to support it…
Writing
Child Development
How children grow, play, think and make friends, explained for parents and educators.
11 articles
Serve and Return: Everyday Conversations That Build Young Brains
Back-and-forth interactions between adults and young children support language and brain development. What 'serve and return' looks like in everyday family life.
Growth Mindset: What the Research Does and Doesn’t Say
Growth mindset posters are everywhere in schools. A balanced look at what the evidence supports, where effects are small, and how to use the…
Imaginative Play and Storytelling: Why Pretending Matters
Pretend play and shared stories give children rich chances to use language and imagine other points of view. What the research supports, and how…
Why Children Test Boundaries, and How to Respond
Pushing against limits is a normal part of growing up. Why children do it at different ages, and how calm, consistent boundaries help them…
Play Is Learning: Why Unstructured Play Matters
Between clubs, homework and screens, free play can get squeezed out of a child's week. What children learn when adults step back and let…
Friendship Skills in the Primary Years
Making and keeping friends is a skill children learn over time. How friendships change through primary school, and how parents can help without taking…
Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence in Children: What’s the Difference?
Self-esteem and self-confidence are related but not the same. What each means, what the research says, and how adults can help children build both.
Language Development Milestones from 0 to 5
A parent's guide to speech and language milestones from birth to five, what the typical ranges look like, and when to ask a health…
Emotional Regulation in the Early Years: How Children Learn to Calm Down
How emotional regulation develops from birth to five, why co-regulation comes first, and simple ways adults can help young children manage big feelings.
Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting: Play Comes First
Strong hands come before neat handwriting. Play ideas that build fine motor skills, what research says about pencil grip, and when to ask about…
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