Two-year-old Henry sits happily with an iPad. Each time he taps a smiling face, it turns into a dancing cartoon animal. It may seem like a simple game, but it is part of a much bigger mission. As Henry plays, a cap filled with tiny sensors records his brain activity. Scientists use this data to learn about how young children control their actions and make choices.
At the University of Bristol, researchers are studying how toddlers develop mental skills. These include staying focused, following rules, and stopping automatic reactions. This ability is called inhibitory control. It helps children succeed in school and in life.
A Study Spanning Generations
This project is part of a larger study. It includes hundreds of children aged six months to five years. What makes it special is its connection to the past. Many of the parents in this study were also part of a health research project that began in the early 1990s.
Over 300 mothers in the toddler study were once young participants themselves. The original study followed more than 14,000 babies born in 1991 and 1992. Now, their own children are taking part in the follow-up.
Dr. Karla Holmboe leads the current study. She says that having this long-term data helps the team understand how young minds grow. “We need to know when key skills develop,” she says. “If a child struggles early, that can lead to more problems later. But if we spot it early, we can help.”
Learning Through Play
Inside the lab, Henry plays a game where he expects a smiley face to appear on the right side of the screen. But sometimes it pops up on the left. Researcher Carmel Brough watches closely. “We want to see if Henry can stop himself from tapping the usual spot,” she explains.
This kind of task checks if a child can stop a habit and adapt to something new. That’s an important skill when learning in a classroom. Dr. Holmboe says, “To learn new things, kids need to stop doing the old things. That takes brain power.”
Nearby, another toddler, Jackson, plays a memory game. He watches as stickers are placed in pots. Later, he has to remember where they are to win them. “This tests working memory,” says Dr. Holmboe. “It’s like a mental notepad. It helps with reading, math, and other school tasks.”
Building a Brain Timeline
The study tracks children from babyhood to age five. Researchers collect brain activity data, test memory and focus, and even use MRI scans. They do these tests at six months, three years, and five years. This gives a full picture of how each brain grows over time.
They also study how quickly children learn new things and how their language skills develop. These early abilities are the base for all learning that follows.
Long-Term Health Insights
The original study—the one that followed the children born in the early ’90s—has already given scientists many health insights. For example, it helped link early eating habits with health in adulthood. One report showed that picky eating in children did not cause major harm later. Another found a rise in liver issues among young adults, tied to diet and drinking.
Now, the new focus is on brain growth. Scientists hope to connect what they learn from the toddlers with data from their parents. This may uncover how things like stress, diet, or family history affect brain development.
Families That Stay Involved
Emily, Henry’s mom, is one of the study’s original members. Her mother signed her up when she was a baby. Now, Emily brings her own son to take part. “It feels amazing,” she says. “I’ve been part of this since birth. Now my child is helping science too.”
She smiles as she watches Henry play with a puzzle. “He loves it here. There are games, snacks, and fun. Why not help future generations at the same time?”
Dr. Holmboe says the goal is simple: “By the time kids start school, many paths are already set. We want to help guide those paths early.”
As the day ends, Henry and Jackson take off their sensor caps. They wave goodbye to the researchers and head home. Behind them, years of science are in motion—gathering clues, building timelines, and helping the next generation grow.