Welcome to the Children of the 2020s study

Children of the 2020s is an exciting, national research study following the lives of children born in the 2020s over the course of their first five years.

On this website, you can find more information about the study (including answers to common queries), what each survey involves, our study app, what to expect next, and contact details if you need our support.

Welcome to the Children of the 2020s study

Children of the 2020s is an exciting, national research study following the lives of children born in the 2020s over the course of their first five years.

On this website, you can find more information about the study (including answers to common queries), what each survey involves, our study app, what to expect next, and contact details if you need our support.

About us

The study

Children of the 2020s is an exciting study following 8,500 children and their families in England born in the 2020s.

The study has been commissioned and funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It is being led by University College London (UCL), and the independent research organisation Ipsos is collecting the data. The project also involves the University of Cambridge, Oxford and Birkbeck, University of London who are providing scientific advice and guidance.

The study looks at what it is like for children to grow up in the 2020s. We can learn a lot by following the same group of children and their families for a number of years, such as how their experiences and circumstances affect their futures.

We will collect data on children’s language, early development, family environment, health, mental health and early education.

We are very grateful for your help with this important study. The information you provide will be used to help improve education and childcare services, so children and families can be better supported to lead happy and healthy lives.

What does the study involve for participating families?

We first contacted you when your child was around 9 months old, at 2 years old, at 3 years old, at 4 years old, and will be contacting you again when your child is around 5 years old.

BabySteps App

We ask all parents of the study if they would like to take part in a free smartphone app called ‘BabySteps’. This app has been designed by academics to help parents and carers track their child’s learning and development and keep precious memories of them growing up. The version that is used for Children of the 2020s has been specifically tailored for the purposes of this study.

BabySteps has many features, like a diary, news articles, daily sleep and milestone trackers, but it also allows the research team to better understand how children develop. You will be able to keep diary entries, photos and videos that you enter into the BabySteps app, and share them with your friends and family if you wish. Over time, you will also receive information about the results of the study, as well as updates directly from the study team.

For common questions about the app please visit our BabySteps app page BabySteps app page.

Future stages

The Age 5 survey is the last confirmed survey for Children of the 2020s, but you may be contacted in future if the Department for Education carries out any more Children of the 2020s surveys when your child is older.

We are very grateful for your and your child/ren’s participation, which is invaluable in helping researchers and policy makers understand the needs of families like yours.

You’ll also be able to hear news about the study through the BabySteps app. If there are any changes to BabySteps, you’ll be contacted via email or through the app.

Please get in touch with us if your contact details change.

The study

The Children of the 2020s is an exciting study following 8,500 children and their families in England born in the 2020s.

The study has been commissioned and funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It is being led by University College London (UCL), and the independent research organisation Ipsos is collecting the data. The project also involves the University of Cambridge, Oxford and Birkbeck, University of London who are providing scientific advice and guidance.

The study looks at what it is like for children to grow up in the 2020s. We can learn a lot by following the same group of children and their families for a number of years, such as how their experiences and circumstances affect their futures.

We will collect data on children’s language, early development, family environment, health, mental health and early education.

We are very grateful for your help with this important study. The information you provide will be used to help improve education and childcare services, so children and families can be better supported to lead happy and healthy lives.

Publications and Press Releases

The first research report on findings from the study at age 9 months has been published by DfE: Children of the 2020s: first survey of families at age 9 months.

Here is the news release from UCL about the results: Despite pressures facing young families, parents take precious moments to play with their babies | UCL News – UCL – University College London.

The second research report on findings from the study at 2 years has been published by DfE: Children of the 2020s: second survey of families at age 2 – GOV.UK.

A report about the home learning environment and screen time at age 2 is available here: Children of the 2020s: home learning environment and screen time at age 2: research brief.

The report on findings from the Eating habits of children aged 16-18 months has been published: Eating habits of children aged 16 to 18 months – GOV.UK.

Research and analysis of the Age 3 survey is currently underway and will be published soon.