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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]
\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_menu][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_slider show_arrows=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_position=”top_left” custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_slide_description=”animation: none!important;” custom_css_slide_title=”animation:none!important;” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][et_pb_slide heading=”Child Study Centre” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ header_font=”||||” body_font=”||||” background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/child-study-centre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/child1.png” background_position=”top_left” custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#27a2db” button_border_color=”#27a2db” button_font=”||||” button_use_icon=”on” button_on_hover=”off” button_border_color_hover=”#a9daf1″ button_bg_color_hover=”#a9daf1″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_border_color__hover=”#a9daf1″ button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_bg_color__hover=”#a9daf1″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”]<\/p>\n

Understanding how children learn to talk, play and make friends<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”3em||0.5em|” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Space” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Intro” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

\"StudyHere at the Child Study Centre we are fascinated by how children learn to talk, play and make friends.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 and many more!<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0Any 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.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/child-study-centre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/child3.png” admin_label=”Image Mid page” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: What we do intro” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

What we do<\/h2>\n

When humans communicate using language, we use a complex set of skills \u2013 we want to find out how and when these develop.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Other techniques such as eye tracking are useful as, by using a special camera, we can see exactly where infants look when they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/child-study-centre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/child2.png” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Volunteering intro” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Little scientists needed<\/h2>\n

Ever wondered how your child\u2019s curiosity could help shape the future of child development research?<\/p>\n

At the University of Manchester Child Study Centre, we\u2019re 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\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Volunteering call to action text” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

If you would like to add your child to the volunteer list, you should complete the online registration form.<\/p>\n

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\n[\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/child-study-centre\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/94\/2025\/09\/child4.png” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code admin_label=”Spacing only”]\u00a0<\/pee>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Newsletter” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Newsletter<\/h2>\n

Curious about what\u2019s been happening behind the scenes at the Child Study Centre?<\/p>\n

Our biannual newsletter is packed with:<\/p>\n