Topic description and stories

Understanding the implications of enabling children to grow into healthy, happy, educated and inquiring adults, in safety and free from adversity.

'Away he flew, right over the houses to the Gardens': illustration by Arthur Rackham for 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens'

Peter Pan and Wendy: how J M Barrie understood and demonstrated key aspects of cognition

03 Aug 2016

In a fascinating study of J M Barrie’s classic works for children, Dr Rosalind Ridley (Newnham College) reveals that the creator of Peter Pan, and a...

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Teenager

Changes in brain structure during teenage years provide clues to onset of mental health problems

25 Jul 2016

Scientists have mapped the structural changes that occur in teenagers’ brains as they develop, showing how these changes may help explain why the...

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Surgeon

Parent-led tool opens up NHS children's heart surgery data to families

21 Jun 2016

Transparency without accessibility is not enough: stats must be put in context, say researchers.

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The orbitofrontal cortex (blue) and medial temporal cortex (red) were more similar in terms of thickness in youths with Conduct Disorder than in typically-developing youths, suggesting that the normal pattern of brain development is disrupted.

‘Map’ of teenage brain provides strong evidence of link between serious antisocial behaviour and brain development

16 Jun 2016

The brains of teenagers with serious antisocial behaviour problems differ significantly in structure to those of their peers, providing the clearest...

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Zoe and Friend

Support from family and friends important to help prevent depression in teenagers

20 May 2016

The importance of friendships and family support in helping prevent depression among teenagers has been highlighted in research from the University...

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Study identifies gene changes that influence timing of sexual behaviour

18 Apr 2016

A study of over 380,000 people, published today in the journal Nature Genetics , has identified gene differences that influence the age of puberty...

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chasing shadows... (cropped)

Children aren’t active enough in winter, say Cambridge researchers

23 Feb 2016

Children should be given more support to enable them to be more active during the winter, particularly at weekends, say researchers from the...

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Frontal lobe

Education and the brain: what happens when children learn?

10 Feb 2016

Have you lost your house keys recently? If so, you probably applied a spot of logical thinking. You looked first in the most obvious places – bags...

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Tin toys from the 1930s–1950s.

The archaeology of childhood

30 Jan 2016

A sledge made from a horse’s jaw, the remains of a medieval puppet, the coffin of a one-year-old Roman child, and the skeleton of an Anglo-Saxon girl...

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Figure from Mothercare, published by Truby King's daughter, Mary

Too big to cry: when war ended, the damage began

07 Nov 2015

A collection of essays edited by Drs Trudi Tate and Kate Kennedy looks at the legacy of the First World War through the lens of the creative arts. As...

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Illustration of Peter Rabbit from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Bunnies in children’s books: from Alice in Wonderland to Peter Rabbit

30 Sep 2015

The Cambridge Animal Alphabet series celebrates Cambridge's connections with animals through literature, art, science and society. Here, R is for...

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Study participant Daniel Walls, 12

New study shows artificial pancreas works for length of entire school term

17 Sep 2015

Technology assisting people with type 1 diabetes edges closer to perfection.

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