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A series · Family & Care

Before
Seven.

Growing in body, mind & heart.

How a child grows in body, mind and heart before the age of seven. A series for parents and caregivers about early development, everyday care and the possibilities that stay open as children grow.

Begin with article 1

Start with the big picture

The series, one article at a time.

  1. Article 1 · The big picture · 19 min read

    Why the first six years matter

    How early experience shapes development, and why change remains possible. Brain development, everyday connection, milestones and when to seek help.

    Read article

  2. Article 2 · Observation · 14 min read

    What Darwin and Piaget learned from their children

    Describe before you label. How two famous observers watched their own children, why looking and reaching ask different questions, and when an observation should become a phone call.

    Read article

  3. Article 3 · Brain development · 15 min read

    How experience shapes the developing brain

    What responsive care, brain development and recovery research mean for everyday family life.

    Read article

  4. Article 4 · Early infancy · 16 min read

    Babies from birth to six months

    Understanding crying, feeding, early communication and when to ask for help.

    Read article

  5. Article 5 · Later infancy · 15 min read

    Babies from six to twelve months

    Supporting movement and communication through everyday care.

    Read article

  6. Article 6 · The second year · 14 min read

    Toddlers From One to Two Years

    First steps, first words and first refusals. Understanding pointing, supporting growing independence, and knowing when a missing or lost skill needs assessment.

    Read article

  7. Article 7 · The third year · 15 min read

    Children From Two to Three Years

    Pretend play and conversation in the third year, with ways to join in and signs that deserve closer attention.

    Read article

  8. Article 8 · Three to four years

    Three to four years

    Friendships, rules and increasingly elaborate pretend play create more occasions to explore other people's perspectives.

    Not yet published

  9. Article 9 · The fifth year · 14 min read

    Children from four to five years

    Early literacy and honesty as school approaches.

    Read article

  10. Article 10 · The sixth year · 13 min read

    Children from five to six years

    School readiness and confidence in a new setting.

    Read article

  11. Article 12 · Individual development · 13 min read

    Boys, girls and individual development

    What research on play, language and the brain can tell us.

    Read article

  12. Article 13 · Part III · Body and systems · 9 min read

    Senses before seven: seeing, hearing, touch and the edited world

    The brain does not receive the world raw. It edits. Some of that editing can be protected. Some of it has a clock.

    Read article

  13. Article 14 · Sleep

    Sleep before seven: how the day gets filed

    Senses collect the day. Sleep files it. Before seven, that filing is still being built, and a tired brain is a different historian.

    Coming next

35 parts are planned. Further articles will explore particular ages, bodily systems and relationships. New titles will appear here as the series grows.

Reading with care

Curiosity, context
and sources.

Educational reading for parents and caregivers. The health examples do not replace assessment by a clinician who knows your child. Each published article includes its sources and review information.

The opening article draws on guidance and research from:

  • World Health Organization
  • Harvard Center on the Developing Child
  • Canadian Paediatric Society
  • CDC developmental milestones
  • Peer-reviewed developmental research