How well are Australian infants and children aged 4 to 5 years doing?

This report presents an analysis of the data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to explore the wellbeing of over 10,000 Australian infants and children. This report presents an analysis of the data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to explore the wellbeing of 5,107 children in the infant cohort of the study and the 4,983 children, aged 4 to 5 years, in the child cohort. Wave 1 of LSAC includes measures of multiple aspects of children\u27s early development. These developmental measures are summarised in the LSAC Outcome Index, a composite measure which includes an overall index as well as three separate domain scores, tapping physical development, social and emotional functioning, and learning and cognitive development. This report explores five specific aspects of infants\u27 and children\u27s experiences, exposures and environments in relation to their Outcome Index scores: * key sociodemographic characteristics covering the child, mother, family and neighbourhood * non-parental care experiences * child health—prenatal and postnatal experiences and exposures * maternal physical and mental health * the early educational experiences of the child cohort in the home and out-of-home contexts. This paper is by Melissa Wake, Ann Sanson, Donna Berthelsen, Pollyanna Hardy, Sebastian Misson, Katherine Smith, Judy Ungerer and the LSAC Research Consortium

Maternal employment and infant-mother attachment security at 12 months postpartum

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The cost/benefit of formal care

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Children and child care: outcomes to age six

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Research on children, families and communities

The main aim of this chapter is to demonstrate how Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology model has been used to guide the design of empirical research on children, families and communities. We will show how the model shapes the kinds of research questions that are asked how it influences specifically what researchers measure and when assessments occur. The social ecology model has had a broad influence on developmental research. Its impact can be seen in the design of very large-scale, longitudinal studies as well as in smaller scale projects

What can the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children tell us about infants' and 4 to 5 year olds' experiences of early childhood education and care?

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Postnatal depression and the quality of interaction between mothers and their toddlers: The impact of depression chronicity and infant gender

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Childcare Policy to Promote Child Wellbeing

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Maternal depression and its effect on preschooler's attachment representations

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