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Research
Kindy Moves: the feasibility of an intensive interdisciplinary programme on goal and motor outcomes for preschool-aged children with neurodisabilities requiring daily equipment and physical assistanceTo determine the feasibility of an intensive interdisciplinary programme in improving goal and motor outcomes for preschool-aged children with non-progressive neurodisabilities. The primary hypothesis was that the intervention would be feasible.
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Parent-child interaction and developmental outcomes in children with typical and elevated likelihood of autismEarly parent-child interactions have a critical impact on the developmental outcomes of the child. It has been reported that infants with a family history of autism and their parents may engage in different patterns of behaviours during interaction compared to those without a family history of autism. This study investigated the association of parent-child interactions with child developmental outcomes of those with typical and elevated likelihood of autism.
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Young children's use of blue spaces and the impact on their health, development and environmental awareness: A qualitative study from parents' perspectivesThis study examined how families with young children access and use different types of blue spaces and the health and development benefits, and potential negative effects.
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Developmental trends in young children’s device-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviourKnowledge of developmental trends in meeting age-specific 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines is lacking. This study describes developmental trends in device-measured physical activity and sedentary time over a three-year period among Western Australian children aged two to seven years, including differences between boys and girls.
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The relationship between pitch contours in infant-directed speech and early signs of autism in infancyMother-infant interactions during the first year of life are crucial to healthy infant development. The infant-directed speech (IDS), and specifically pitch contours, used by mothers during interactions are associated with infant language and social development.
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Fathers’ preconception smoking and offspring DNA methylationExperimental studies suggest that exposures may impact respiratory health across generations via epigenetic changes transmitted specifically through male germ cells. Studies in humans are, however, limited. We aim to identify epigenetic marks in offspring associated with father's preconception smoking.
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Mental Health Literacy for Supporting Children: A Systematic Review of Teacher and Parent/Carer Knowledge and Recognition of Mental Health Problems in ChildhoodThe level of mental health literacy (MHL) in adults who work with or care for children is likely to influence the timeliness and adequacy of support that children receive for mental health problems.
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Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trialPolicy interventions to increase physical activity in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are effective in increasing physical activity among young children. However, a large proportion of ECEC services do not have nor implement a physical activity policy.
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Surgery for rheumatic heart disease in the Northern Territory, Australia, 1997-2016: what have we gained?Between 1964 and 1996, the 10-year survival of patients having valve replacement surgery for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the Northern Territory, Australia, was 68%. As medical care has evolved since then, this study aimed to determine whether there has been a corresponding improvement in survival.

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New collaboration to boost kids early childhood development outcomes across AustraliaA new collaboration has been launched to fast track research into action to improve outcomes in the crucial early years of child development and learning.