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.
Our work & 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? campaigns for policies that promote prevention rather than intervention to protect the emotional well being of all children. It speaks for the emotional needs of under threes at All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG's) concerned with children, at the Early Childhood Forum, and Save Childhood Movement.
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
What About The Children? 2015 National Conference & Goodman Lecture
'The First Three Years Last Forever - why?'
11th March 2015 10.45 to 4.30
Royal Overseas League, London SW1A IJR
Delegate Fee £75 (includes buffet lunch)
Confirmed speakers:
- Lord Richard Layard will open the conference
- Vivette Glover, Professor of Perinatal Psychobiology at Imperial College London
2015 Goodman Lecture Key Note Address - Sue Wright, Exec Director of Brainwave, New Zealand
- Jane Arnott & Jane Greaves, Senior Lecturers, School of Public Health, Midwifery & Social Work, Canterbury Christ Church University
- Deborah Spencer, Practising Health Visitor
- Nick Hudson, Ofsted Director Early Years and Childminding
- Sarah Heale, Director of What About The Children?
'in conversation with' Veronica Read Group Analyst and Education Consultant - Anthoulla Koutsoudi, Director of The Wave Trust
To book a place go to our Conference Page for the Booking Form or email conference@whataboutthechildren.org.uk or phone 0845 602 7145
If you prefer to send in a paper copy with your payment download the booking form.
Read our latest book review on Veronica Read's book published this year
Developing Attachment in Early Years Settings by Veronica Read
2nd Edition published by Routledge
Press Release
What About The Children? has published helpful advice for parents who need to leave their children in day care with guidance on what they can do to alleviate the misery this separation can cause.
To read "GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON HOW TO ALLEVIATE THE MISERY OF CHILDCARE DROP-OFF" click here
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.