Here at the Child Study Centre we are fascinated by how children learn to talk, play and make friends.
How do children go from gestures and babbling to being able to hold conversations, reason with others and make friends? What steps do they encounter along the way? Our research aims to answer questions like these – and many more!
We conduct research at the Centre, as well as in nurseries and schools, and are very grateful for the generous help from all who volunteer to participate in our studies. Any child aged 0-10 can join our database. The majority of our studies are with children aged 0-5, so we are particularly interested in hearing from this age group.
What we do
When humans communicate using language, we use a complex set of skills – we want to find out how and when these develop.
We use a wide range of methods to investigate the development of language, communication and reasoning skills. Observational studies enable us to see what words and phrases are used when children play naturally, and we sometimes use puppets and toys to tell stories in order to check understanding.
Other techniques such as eye tracking are useful as, by using a special camera, we can see exactly where infants look when they’re shown images or videos. Using the information from studies such as these, we can begin to piece together how much babies and infants know about the world, and how they learn from it.
Little scientists needed
Ever wondered how your child’s curiosity could help shape the future of child development research?
At the University of Manchester Child Study Centre, we’re inviting families to join our volunteer list and take part in fun, play-based studies that explore how children learn to communicate and socialise, and how they develop. Any child aged 0-10 years is welcome. Whether your little one is just starting to babble or already asking big questions, we’d love to hear from you.
If you would like to add your child to the volunteer list, you should complete the online registration form.
Newsletter
Curious about what’s been happening behind the scenes at the Child Study Centre?
Our biannual newsletter is packed with:
- Updates on our latest child development studies
- Stories from inside the Centre
- Fascinating findings from recent research
Whether you’ve taken part before or are just thinking about it, this is a great way to stay connected and see how your child’s curiosity helps shape science.
Read our latest issue:
Getting in touch
For enquiries or to register:
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 2444
Email: childstudycentre@manchester.ac.uk
Follow us
Instagram: @manchesterchildstudycentre
Facebook: /Child Study Centre
Bluesky: @childstudycentre.bsky.social