Understanding infant and child development

This resource is a good starting place to learn about infant and child development – it’s a quick read that introduces key concepts. It also includes links to other relevant resources and online courses to extend your knowledge of child development, brain development, developmental concerns and trauma responses.

These fact sheets outline key developmental issues and experiences for children from birth to age 12. They include information about children’s typical development, reactions to adversities, experiences of parental difficulties, signs of distress and ways of coping. They also explore how to support children and their families at different ages.

Emerging Minds’ in-depth 'Replanting the Birthing Trees' course (4.5 hours) aims to build practitioners’ skills in culturally safe, trauma-integrated, holistic and transdisciplinary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, with a focus on a child's first 2,000 days (from conception to five years).

This collection of resources was developed in partnership with the Healing Foundation to improve social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. These resources aim to support practitioners to use a trauma-aware, healing-informed lens.

This course (1 hour) provides a great foundation for anyone who wants to better understand the continuum of children’s mental health and the factors that influence a child’s social and emotional wellbeing.