Literacy news
Child Development Unit to study language skills
25 May 2010
The psychology department at the University of Kent has launched a new Child Development Unit. The unit, jointly headed by three psychologists, will study children from 12 months old to 10 years old with a focus on language, cognitive development and group behaviour. There are several key questions which the unit is aiming to answer, which include: how do children learn their first language? How do children decide who to learn from? How and why do they learn from their peers? And how do young children learn conversational conventions?
A new child-friendly entrance, waiting area and testing rooms have all been created to welcome participants. The most difficult task facing the unit is finding participants but they have taken a novel approach: bunny costumes. Several teams of recruiters are attending National Childcare Trust Nearly New Sales (held twice a year in most English Towns) and setting up stalls in town centres trying to engage parents in low stress environments. One member of the team wears a bunny costume to encourage toddlers and children to pull their parents over to them. More information can be found on the Child Development Unit website.
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