Is child development an art or a science?

My twin brother recently celebrated the birth of his first baby. He first shared the news of the impending arrival when his wife was around 10 weeks pregnant. As you can imagine, it was a tremendously…

How much do we know about when disease starts

The importance of the early childhood years in shaping adult life is not a new concept. For many years now, parents have been playing, talking, reading, singing, and exercising their children in increasingly…

From placenta to play centre

Anyone who has ever held a newborn in their arms, must at some stage have wondered how this eating, sleeping, emitting blob, turns into a child ready for the classroom, in little more than 1825 days. Somewhere…
Children with Specific Language Impairment have difficulties learning language for no discernible reason. runintherain/ Flickr

Autism’s hidden older brother – Specific Language Impairment

Language development is a truly remarkable phenomenon. But for a small number of kids, the words don’t come so easily. Most children acquire their first words around 12 months of age, start to string words…
In the absence of clear biological markers for autism, the DSM will remain a hugely influential book well into the 21st century. Richard Masoner/Wikimedia Commons

DSM‑V and the changing fortunes of autism and related disorders

The DSM giveth, and the DSM taketh away - this is the less-than-complimentary sentiment of many people within the autism community as the clock ticks down to the publication of the most eagerly-anticipated…
Studies seem to outdo each other with ever-higher autism prevalence figures. hepingting

Do more children have autism now than before?

“273% Increase in Autism and We Don’t Know Why!” Thursday, April 15, 1999, Los Angeles Times. The rising prevalence of autism is a story destined to achieve headlines, take up column inches and even bump…
When even your family don’t know what you do, it’s time to start explaining. tony newell

Tweed or speed … a day in the life of a modern scientist

THE STATE OF SCIENCE: When we think “scientist” what comes to mind? Aloof boffins with fading elbow patches or, even worse, nothing at all? Andrew Whitehouse puts pen to pad and fills in the gaps. “What…

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