Psychologists develop app for parents

Psychologists at the University of Zurich (UZH) have developed an app for parents of children between 0 and 6 years old. It records developmental steps in movement, cognition and speech in order to provide scientifically based information about a child’s capabilities.

“In the app, parents learn, for example, what their child should bring with them for a specific developmental step, and they receive tips on how to promote progress,” explained Moritz Daum, professor of developmental psychology at UZH, in a statement.

The app has benefits for both sides, according to UZH. While parents gain insights into the early development of their child, the app gives UZH researchers anonymized data to develop longitudinal analyses and better investigate the connections between cognitive, motor and linguistic skills.

“The app works in two directions,” summarized Daum. “We impart our current knowledge to the users, and they in turn support us in refining it and gaining new insights.”