Can a smartphone app for parents help toddlers’ development?

A new trial will find out if a smartphone app that sends activities and tips to parents can help improve toddlers' language and communication skills. The trial, which will be carried out by researchers in the School of Education at Durham University, will involve parents and guardians of 1,500 children. Games and play Parents and guardians will be sent short video clips with ideas of games to play with their child, along with brief written instructions and a series of text reminders encouraging them to try out the games in the EasyPeasy app. Previous small-scale testing of the app (by Oxford University, funded by The Sutton Trust) has already shown that it improves children's concentration and their willingness to complete difficult tasks. This new trial by researchers at Durham will see if this positive effect can be seen with a larger group of families. Learning environment There is good evidence that engaged parents and a vibrant home learning environment are major influences on children's development, yet little is known about how to better support families who are struggling to provide this. The content on the EasyPeasy app covers all areas of the early years' curriculum and aims to encourage positive interaction with children at home.