50 Things to Do Before You're Five: Impact Report 2023
This page reports on five years of evidence on how a free, place-based early years play programmea are improving family engagement, parental confidence and children's life chances across the British Isles. Read the summary below, or download the full report.
The 50 Things to Do Before You're Five Impact Report 2023 marks the programme's fifth birthday and sets out the evidence behind its approach. 50 Things to Do is a free, multi-platform offer — app, website and printed resources — built on a simple idea: that fun, low-cost or no-cost experiences with family, indoors and outdoors, are a powerful way to support a child's development in their first five years. The full report is free to read and download below
What the evidence shows
Drawing on a survey of 60 users, in-depth interviews with ten Commissioning Partners and four parents, and a focus group with early years practitioners, the report finds that the programme's non-judgemental approach leaves parents more informed and inspired to play with their children. That, in turn, produces two core outcomes: increased family engagement in a child's learning, and increased parental confidence. Among parents surveyed, 75% said their child went outside to play and learn more often, 72% felt better able to help their child learn in new ways, and 63% reported communicating more purposefully during play.
What's inside the report
- How the approach works — built around being fun, accessible and local
- Five years of growth, from launch in Bradford to 22 partner areas
- The outcomes: more informed parents, greater engagement and confidence
- Longer-term impact on family wellbeing and children's life chances
- The “golden thread” — how 50 Things joins up services for partners and practitioners
- Real quotes from parents, partners and frontline practitioners
Who it's for
The report is aimed at Local Authorities and public sector organisations considering the offer, early years practitioners already using it, and anyone interested in how place-based, play-filled learning supports child development. Developed in the Bradford District and now used by partners from East Sussex to Fife, 50 Things to Do works as a shared tool across health visitors, libraries, nurseries and family services — connecting agencies so every child has the best chance to thrive by the age of five.
Join us
The 50 Things To Do project is attracting national attention and we'd like you to be part of it. We are seeking further forward-thinking local authorities and other Commissioning Partners to join the 50 Things To Do initiative. It is our aim to make this opportunity available to every child and family in the country.