Research confirms that a child's experience in the first three years of life shape its future - out of all proportion to the rest of childhood. A secure primary attachment relationship is the main protective factor due to the impact it has on the developing brain. When a child's first 3 years are right, it brings huge benefits not just for the child but for the whole of society.
The research and our campaigns
Scientific research is convincing in its message that the first three years of life shape a child's physical, emotional and mental development – for good or bad – out of proportion to the rest of childhood. What About The Children? is a voice for children too young to speak out about their emotional needs themselves.
Advocacy
What About The Children? speaks out for the emotional needs of children under three who are too young to speak for themselves. We publish a monthly Blog and you can followed us on Twitter@WATCthechildren
Advice
Young children, who are nurtured, talked to and played with attentively by a constant, sensitive and responsive carer – most often, but not always, the mother – with other caring adults as secondary attachment figures, will almost invariably thrive.
Campaigns
We campaign to ensure children receive consistent, responsive loving care in their earliest years critical for optimum brain development and long term physical and mental health.
Conferences
What About the Children? brings together academics and practitioners at its annual conference & bi ennnial Goodman lectures on a broad range of aspects of early child development. Past conference papers can be downloaded here.
Research
What About the Children? searches out current scientific research in neuroscience, psychology, biology and the medical sciences, selecting research that provide new insights into early life experiences. We summarise these academic papers for the wider professional community and others interested in children's well being.
Our Research Summaries are grouped by the year the research was published.
Latest News
National Conference
Book now for our national full day conference 'What about the children? a critical question in an age of change' 18th March 2020 at Royal Overseas League Park Place London SW1A 1LR. To book your early bird discount delegate rate £75. email conference@whataboutthechildren.org.uk or phone 0845 602 7145 (voicemail) Conference 2020 - Download Booking Form
Epigentics and child development, how children's experiences affect their genes click the link below to read an infographic from Harvard University Centre on the Developing Child, that explains clearly this complex issue
John Carnochan OBE QPM hon. LLD FFPH speaking at the Froebel Trust Autumn 2019 Lecture "No Matter the Question the Answer is Relationships".John is a former Detective Chief Superintendent with Strathclyde Police, who co-founded the Violence Reduction Unit in Scotland, which contributed to lowering the serious levels of violent crime in Scotland. John spoke at What About The Children?'s 2013 conference about his realisation that if society is to reduce violence the focus must be on prevention and children's earliest years. Click the link to hear what he has to say. https://www.froebel.org.uk/froebel-trust-lecture/
Listen to this podcast 15. Mothers and Childcare to find out about the science behind how a mother's love shapes and builds her baby's brain. https://mothersmatter.libsyn.com
Get involved
What About The Children? relies entirely on its supporters for funding and on the hard work of its committed volunteers.
Help us get the important message about emotional needs and early brain development out to even more people.
Who we are
What About The Children?, a small national charity, brings together people from a range of backgrounds and expertise who have come together to campaign on behalf of the emotional needs of children too young to speak for themselves. The charity is independent with no political or religious affiliations.