What shapes a child's development in 2026? Is it screen time, air quality, their parents' financial situation — or all of it at once? Australia has decided to find out, and they're doing it at scale.
30,000 Children, From Day One
The country is planning a massive birth cohort study in which 30,000 children will be followed from pregnancy onward through childhood. The goal is to understand how modern factors — technology, environmental toxins, economic stress, and changing family structures — affect children's health and development.
The study is inspired by similar projects in the UK, where a new national cohort study was launched in 2025 — the first in 25 years. Both countries acknowledge that much of what we know about child development is based on data from another era, before smartphones, social media, and a global pandemic fundamentally changed everyday parenting.
Why Now?
Australia, like many Western countries, has a declining birth rate. Fewer children are being born, and those who are grow up in a world that looks very different from 20 years ago. Policymakers want a research-based foundation for adapting family policy to this new reality.
Among the questions researchers hope to answer: How much does screen time really matter for very young children? Does air pollution affect brain development? And what impact does it have on a child when both parents return to work full-time before the child is one year old?
These are big, ambitious questions. But with 30,000 participants and years of data, this could become one of the most important childhood studies of our time.
A Growing Trend in Birth Cohort Research
Australia isn't alone. Large-scale birth cohort studies are gaining traction worldwide as researchers recognize that older data simply doesn't capture the realities of modern childhood. The UK, the US (through projects like ABCD — the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study), and several European countries are running or planning similar longitudinal research programs.
These studies track the same children over many years, which allows researchers to distinguish cause from correlation — a challenge that shorter studies cannot meet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there similar studies elsewhere in the world?
Yes. In the US, the ABCD study is tracking over 11,000 children from ages 9–10 into early adulthood, looking at brain development, behavior, and social factors. In the UK, the Children of the 2020s study was launched in 2025. These projects collectively build a global picture of what modern childhood looks like and what shapes healthy development.
What can an Australian study mean for parents elsewhere?
Large cohort studies generate research-based answers to questions that matter to all parents — such as the real effects of screen time, air quality, and family economics on child development. Even though the findings come from Australia, many of the challenges are universal. Pediatric guidelines from organizations like the WHO and AAP are regularly updated based on the best available international research, including studies like this one.
Why is it important to study children growing up right now?
Children born today are growing up in a world that looks fundamentally different from 20 years ago — with smartphones, social media, and new environmental challenges. Older research doesn't capture these factors. Studies like this one are investments in understanding how modern childhood affects health and development, so that policy and parenting guidance can keep pace with reality.
How can parents participate in childhood research?
Universities and health research institutions regularly recruit participants for studies on child development, health, and behavior. If you're interested in contributing to research, check whether there are open studies in your region through your local university hospital, national health institute, or organizations like the AAP or NHS.