Dr Samantha Durrant, a post-doctoral research associate at LuCiD, has recently collaborated with BBC Tiny Happy People on two articles designed to help parents and caregivers support early childhood development.
The most recent article, Understanding baby milestones: A month-by-month guide to the first year, offers a comprehensive overview of the key developmental stages in a baby's first year. It highlights how babies progress from early reflexes to more complex behaviours, such as recognising names, sitting up, and beginning to speak simple words. Dr Durrant emphasises the importance of providing a variety of experiences to encourage curiosity and exploration, which are crucial for cognitive and language development.
In an earlier piece, Understanding Cognitive Development: Different Stages and Piaget’s Theory, Dr Durrant delves into the stages of cognitive development as outlined by Piaget, providing practical examples and activities for parents to support their child's learning journey. She discusses how cognitive skills, language, and motor development are interconnected, forming a "virtuous spiral" that fosters overall growth.
These collaborations reflect LuCiD's commitment to translating research into accessible resources that empower parents and caregivers. By bridging academic insights with practical advice, Dr Durrant's work with BBC Tiny Happy People serves as a valuable tool for those looking to support their children's development effectively.
Author
LuCiD
The ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development (LuCiD) is a five year research collaboration working with partners from across the world to transform our understanding of how children learn to communicate with language.