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? 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
MPs heard about the work of What About The Children? in a debate in Parliament this week
What About The Children? has been writing to MPs about it's concerns that the current level of funding being offered to childcare providers by the government will not enable providers to support the emotional needs of the under threes for consistent, responsive loving care.
What About The Children? was represented at events in Parliament this week. On Monday 9th October the 'Conception to Age 2 - First 1001 Days' All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was reformed. What About The Children? has been a long standing contributor to this APPG, chaired by Tim Loughton MP, since it was formed a number of years ago. At the meeting the future work of the APPG was discussed and Penelope Leach gave a presentation on the book she has edited 'Transforming Infant Wellbeing' . Published last month, he book brings together evidence from a lecture series set up by the APPG Transforming Infant Wellbeing, ISBN 10:1138689548 or ISBN 13:978-1138689541
What About The Children? attended a second meeting in Parliament on Tuesday 10th October held at Portcullis House to contribute to the ongoing work of many like minded groups and individuals who are working to advance the cause of prevention of harm to babies and young children.
For those of you who were unable to attend our 2015 conference to hear Professor Vivette Glover's Goodman Lecture 'What happens in the womb last a life time', there is an upcoming opportunity to hear from Professor Glover at a conference in Reading in November. Details can be found on https://mhstartsinthewomb.wordpress.com
What About The Children? celebrates 25 years next year, a real milestone for a charity which relies entirely on the work of volunteers. Come and join us on 8th March 2018 at the Royal Overseas League to hear Dr Suzanne Zeedyk and other international keynote speakers who share What About The Children?'s commitment to promoting the emotional wellbeing of babies and young children. More details and booking information will be available very soon. In the meantime put the 8th March 2018 in your diary?
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.