Child development
It's a long journey from birth to adulthood. Our experts consider the milestones along the way
Faithful routes
The success of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter may contain a message for parents about the need to nurture child spirituality.
Watch your mouth
Are you all talk, talk, talk? Or do you stumble and mumble? Test your verbal fluency.
Getting on together
How do children make sense of their social world? Explore some of the differing views on socialization.
Join in the games
It may be difficult for the adult, but your child's development can really get a boost when you join in with participation through play.
Who do you think you are?
A sense of self cannot be achieved in one go - it’s something which develops. Ask the question what is 'self'?
The music of childhood
Children experience music from a very early age. How do they react to it? What shapes their musical preferences? For young children, what is the significance of music?
Boys & girls
Children as young as two can have stereotypical ideas about boys and girls. Where do these ideas come from? What influences gender development?
Plugged-in kids
In today's hi-tech world, how do we keep up with our kids? Computers can be a valuable tool for learning and social interaction, if you balance screen time: leisure time.
What happens next
How much weight we should give to media scare stories? Discover the impact of cause and effect in a child’s development.
Do children notice?
Do young children have an innate sense of difference? How and when do children become aware of ethnicity?
Young techies
Dr Jackie Marsh explores the impact of popular culture, media and new technologies on digital children.
Course extract: gender
Our exclusive extract from Open University Course ED209: Child Development reveals how experts believe our sense of gender develops: Cognition and gender development.
Course extract: Stroops explained
A further extract from OU course ED209: Child Development explains how we develop - and Stroop tests: Executive functions - development and disorder.
Course extract: attachments
Another extract from OU Course Child Development asks why do people and objects achieve great importance as we grow up? Explore attachment theory.
Course extract: temperament
A final extract from ED209 Child Development asks how far do differences in character affect the way we develop? Consider the influence of temperament.
Children and happiness
What makes children happy? Toys? Friends? Uncover the truth in children and happiness.
Right and wrong
Parents usually try to teach their children right from wrong, but how do children learn to regulate their moral behaviour?
Brother, sister... friend?
Relationships among children, especially brothers and sisters, affect their development. Explore the impact of siblings.
Tackling your child's stress
Recasting anxieties as challenges rather than threats is the best approach for the stressed school child.
Stressing points
How does your family cope with stress? Has childhood changed? Join our childhood & stress survey.
Content last updated: 23/02/2006
