Theory of Change | 50 Things To Do Before You're Five

Vision

For every child to reach important health, learning, and wellbeing milestones through a playfilled childhood.

Mission

To develop place- based, parent and child-facing offers across the United Kingdom, providing 50 low or no cost ideas for play, to children and the people who care for them.

Theoretical Foundations

Developmental NeuroScience
Ecological Systems Theory
NeuroScience of Play

Target Audience

All families with children under 5 years old.
Designed to support opportunities for targeted engagement

Desired Outcomes

Improve parental confidence in engaging in playful family learning with their child.
Improve health by establishing active lifestyles
Increase parental understanding of the importance of language interaction
Improve school readiness including better self regualtion, metacognition and resilience

Evidence Based Intervention

Presented and packaged through a mobile app, 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five helps parents develop their home learning environment, providing inspiration to connect with their children through a range of activities.

It provides a local offer, guiding them to places to visit, and fun things to do on their doorstep. Supporting them to make best use of their local libraries, museums, parks and wild spaces - helping to promote community cohesion at the same time.

Short Term Impact

Increased parent /child interaction
Stronger parent-child bond
Improved engagement in outdoor play and learning
Richer language environments

Long Term Impact

Increased wellbeing and self-efficacy as parents
Better mental wellbeing, lower obesity, and improved coronary and respiratory fitness.
Reduced attainment gap
Improved life chances for young people from disadvantaged communities.

Key Assumptions

Access to life-changing, fun, low or no-cost experiences with family, indoors and outdoors, is a great way to support children’s development.
Parents who confidently support the development of language, literacy and communication skills with their under-fives has a profound impact on achievement in primary and secondary age phases