Research & reports about early support
My appeal to scientists: Can you make a short readable version of your paper for practitioners and parents who do not have the benefit of university education? Most of the people around babies and infants who have challenges to learning and quality of life are not graduates but they have a right to understand what your paper is saying. Please send your short version for publication on this website. peter.limbrick@mailfence.com
Towards optimising children’s capability and tackling relative child poverty in high-income countries: the cases of Japan, Sweden and the UK since 2000
Hajime Takeuchi et al. We question why child poverty still prevails even in high-income countries, such as Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom. We address the intersection between social relations and individual experiences that should be considered....
Canadian Perspectives in Adopting and Implementing Recommended Clinical Labels in Preschool Speech-Language Pathology
Csercsics A L et al. Major facilitators included improved communication, better caregiver understanding of children's communication, positive feedback from caregivers, SLPs' increased confidence in sharing labels, and improved access to services for children.
https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00272
Understanding burnout among parents of children with complex care needs: A scoping review informed by a stakeholder consultation
The objective of this scoping review was to investigate the aims, methods, and results of research on burnout among parents of children with complex care needs and to inform the interpretation as well as implications for research and practice through a stakeholder consultation.
https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/754yp
Understanding Speech-Language Pathology from the Standpoint of Families: A Systemic Analysis
Underwood K etal. Analysis of data illustrates the pervasiveness, organizational structure, and governance of speech and language pathology (SLP) in early childhood, leading to professional discourses of childhood and disability in early intervention...
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/12/656
Using the ICF in transition research and practice? Lessons from a scoping review
Nguyen T et al. Two significant principles of the ICF for implementation in research and practice include its universality (disability affects all people), and continuity (disability exists along a continuum).
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891422217302974
Views of Parents of Children With Down Syndrome on Early Intervention Services in Turkey.
Tomris G et al. Problems, expectations, and suggestions
https://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Fulltext/2022/04000/Views_of_Parents_of_Children_With_Down_Syndrome_on.4.aspx
Tangata Whenua Community and Voluntary Sector Research Centre Incorporated (Community Research)
Provides podcasts, resources and newsletters, and runs webinars to support and inform the Tangata Whenua, Community, and Voluntary Sector. Provides a Code of Practice for community research.
https://communityresearch.org.nz/whakatauki/about-community-research/history/
Improving quality of teaching and child development: A randomised controlled trial of the leadership for learning intervention in preschools
Siraj I. et al. Research indicates that high quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) confers a wide range of benefits for children, yet quality in ECEC remains inconsistent.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366887953_Improving_quality_of_teaching_and_child_development_A_randomised_controlled_trial_of_the_leadership_for_learning_intervention_in_preschools
Child and Parent Perspectives on Daily Functioning after Perinatal Brain Injury
Baak L M. To examine the most significant consequences from a patient perspective, this questionnaire study explored the strengths and difficulties in daily functioning after perinatal brain injury, by child self-report and parent-proxy report.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950541025000341?via%3Dihub
Inclusion in Preschool as a Catalyst to Enhance the Quality of Comprehensive Community-Based Early Childhood Programs
Guralnick M. et al. Considered here is the potential for early childhood inclusive practices based on a commonly shared developmental framework to facilitate... partnerships.
https://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/fulltext/2025/10000/inclusion_in_preschool_as_a_catalyst_to_enhance.2.aspx
Where are children with disabilities in efforts to address violence?
Eldred E et al. Despite efforts to get disability on the agenda (for the Conference by civil society organisations), there was a notable gap in commitments on preventing and responding to violence against children with disabilities.
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4677610/3/Eldred-etal-2025-Children-with-disabilities-are-missing-from-global-efforts.pdf
Early childhood educators' perspectives of the social functioning and strengths of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV)
Schulz M L et al. The early educational environment can be a key factor promoting resilience outside of the family, with early educators in an ideal position to identify a broad range of social challenges, strengths and needs of children exposed to IPV.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213425000250
Community-based primary care approaches to supporting families of children with developmental disabilities
Magidigidi-Mathiso L et al. Experts’ perspectives using the capabilities framework. The findings highlight the significance of interdisciplinary approaches.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gerard-Filies-2/publication/398772017_Community-based_primary_care_approaches_to_supporting_families_of_children_with_developmental_disabilities_Experts'_perspectives_using_the_capabilities_framework/links/6942646c27359023a00d6c65/Community-based-primary-care-approaches-to-supporting-families-of-children-with-developmental-disabilities-Experts-perspectives-using-the-capabilities-framework.pdf
Quality of Life of Parents of Premature Infants - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Shi En Yip S A et al. Quality of life (QOL) of parents following the birth of a premature infant is substantially affected, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its determinants to guide effective interventions.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41533378/
Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Families Experiencing Homelessness: Strategies for Early Childhood Development Providers
It is important that children and families experiencing homelessness have access to high-quality early learning development opportunities which can mitigate the harmful effects of homelessness.
https://mcusercontent.com/a3e4c116a8524739d5a3ab7c4/files/9ecc63fb-6ced-ec71-4a5a-f3cfec479b10/Supporting_Infants_Toddlers_and_Families_Experiencing_Homelessness.pdf
Acceptance and Commitment Training for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Si Ni Li et al. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant stress and caregiving burden and urgently require targeted psychological support and parenting guidance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41505131/
No safety net for new parents, as nine out of ten report feeling overwhelmed
NCT, the UK’s charity for pregnancy, parents and progress, reports what it is like to be a parent today. The report reveals six out of ten new parents say they feel lonely or isolated at least some of the time (62%), with more than one in ten (12%) saying they always felt lonely after having a baby.
https://www.nct.org.uk/about-us/media/news/no-safety-net-for-new-parents-nine-out-ten-report-feeling-overwhelmed
A Decade of Science Informing Policy: The Story of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
This retrospective report tells the history of how the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child came to be, what its impact has been, how its members work, and why the Council has made a difference.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/decade-science-informing-policy-story-national-scientific-council-developing-child/
An exploration of the value of Marte Meo Therapy in establishing, re-establishing and supporting attachment relationships
Maughan G. ‘firstly identify and then activate and develop caregivers’ skills’
https://childrensresearchnetwork.org/knowledge/resources/an-exploration-of-the-value-of-marte-meo-therapy-in-establishing-re-establishing-and-supporting-attachment-relationships/
An umbrella review of the characteristics of resiliency-enhancing interventions for children and youth with disabilities
Tajik-Parvinchi D. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2024.2374502
Multisite Study Evaluating the Benefits of Early Intervention via Telepractice
Behl D D. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of telepractice as a method of delivering early intervention services to families of infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing.Infants & Young Children
http://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Fulltext/2017/04000/A_Multisite_Study_Evaluating_the_Benefits_of_Early.5.aspx
Defining and measuring what matters: quality of life for children with disabilities
Smythe T et al. The quality of life of children with disabilities improves when health systems move beyond survival-oriented biomedical interventions and metrics, and promote participation and wellbeing. Quality of life should be considered and measured...
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00370-0/abstract
Putting the Pieces back Together: Centring Children and Their Protection in the Humanitarian Response in Gaza
Despite prolonged denial of humanitarian access — a grave violation of children’s rights on its own — communities and child protection practitioners in Gaza have worked tirelessly to protect children, their families, and communities.
https://alliancecpha.org/sites/default/files/technical/attachments/Putting%20the%20Pieces%20back%20Together_Centring%20Children%20and%20Their%20Protection%20in%20the%20Humanitarian%20Response%20in%20Gaza_1.pdf
Scaling parenting programs for early child development in four low- and middle-income countries
Aboud F et al. Planning for scale needs to be done at the start by considering facilitative design features, selection of a workforce, and ownership by the government. Ongoing implementation research conducted with different stakeholders is needed...
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1604308/full
Occupational Therapist–Teacher Collaboration in Inclusive Education in Québec: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Ianni L et al. In inclusive schools, collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and teachers has the potential to build capacities among these school-team members working with students with disabilities. Current evidence supports multi-tiered delivery models, such that OT interventions are integrated within the context of school life. Collaboration, however, is a complex multifaceted phenomenon that poses systemic, organizational, or interpersonal challenges.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00084174241310078
Early Childhood Development, Adversity, and Resilience: A review for pediatric health care providers
This interactive, self-paced learning module offers interconnected lessons on key science related to early childhood development, adversity, and resilience.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/toolkit-and-learning-module/pediatric-health-care-providers-review/
Co-Designed Collaborative Digital Platform for Early Child Development
Achilleos A et al. An Innovative Web and Mobile Application for Practitioners and Guardians. Addresses the need for improved digital solutions in Early Childhood Development and Intervention (ECDI) by offering a more collaborative platform than existing applications.
https://doaj.org/article/b7af05b0af594685aa21d6fe88ce6cdb