Researchers studied nearly 9,500 children in Bangladesh to figure out what helps kids develop well in reading, math, physical skills, and getting along with others. They used computer programs to find patterns in the data and discovered that kids are doing pretty well with physical development, but many struggle with reading and math skills. The biggest helpers for child development turned out to be having an educated mom, living in certain areas, having books at home, and going to early learning programs. This research could help parents and schools focus on what really matters for helping kids succeed.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Which things help kids develop well in four important areas: reading and math skills, physical abilities, learning skills, and social-emotional skills (like making friends and managing feelings)
  • Who participated: 9,346 children from Bangladesh, with information about their families, homes, and neighborhoods collected in 2019
  • Key finding: Most kids are doing well with physical development (98.7%), but many struggle with reading and math (71.4% have delays). Kids with educated moms, access to books, and early learning programs do better overall
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent or educator, focusing on reading practice, early learning programs, and creating a learning-rich home environment may help kids develop better. However, this study shows what’s connected to good development—it doesn’t prove these things cause better development

The Research Details

Researchers looked at information collected from families in Bangladesh in 2019. They used five different computer programs (like Random Forest and XGBoost) to analyze the data and predict which kids might have development delays. Think of it like teaching a computer to recognize patterns—the researchers showed the computer information about thousands of kids and their families, then tested whether the computer could correctly guess which kids were developing well or struggling.

To make sure their results were fair and accurate, they used a technique called ‘five-fold cross-validation.’ Imagine dividing your class into five groups, testing on one group while training on the other four, then switching groups five times. This helps make sure the results aren’t just lucky guesses.

They also used a special technique to balance their data because many more kids were developing normally than struggling, which could confuse the computer programs.

Using computer programs to spot patterns helps researchers find which factors really matter for child development. Instead of guessing, they can look at thousands of children and see what’s actually connected to healthy development. This approach is faster and more accurate than traditional methods, helping identify which kids might need extra help early on.

This study is based on a large, real-world dataset from an official survey (MICS), which is a strength. The researchers used multiple computer programs and tested them carefully to reduce errors. However, this is a ‘snapshot’ study—it shows what’s connected to development at one point in time, not what causes development changes. The study is from Bangladesh, so results may not apply exactly the same way in other countries with different resources and cultures.

What the Results Show

The study found big differences in how well kids are developing in different areas. Almost all kids (98.7%) are developing normally in physical skills like running and jumping. Most kids (90.6%) are doing well with general learning skills. However, many kids struggle with reading and math—about 71.4% have delays in these areas. About 27.6% of kids have delays in social-emotional skills, like managing feelings and getting along with others.

When the researchers tested their computer programs, Random Forest (one of the computer programs) worked best at predicting which kids were developing well or struggling. It was especially good at predicting physical development (97% accurate) and learning skills (83% accurate).

The most important factors connected to healthy child development were: having a mother with education, the child’s age, which region of Bangladesh they lived in, and how wealthy the family was. Kids who went to early learning programs and had books at home also did better with reading and math skills.

The research showed that access to books and early childhood education programs were particularly important for reading, math, and learning skills. Regional differences were significant—some areas of Bangladesh had better child development outcomes than others, possibly due to differences in schools, healthcare, and family resources. Wealthier families’ children generally developed better across all areas, though this connection was strongest for literacy and learning skills.

These findings match what other researchers have found—that parental education, family wealth, and early learning experiences are important for child development. The study confirms that reading and math skills are areas where many kids in Bangladesh need more support, which aligns with other research in similar countries. The strong connection between maternal education and child development has been found in many other studies worldwide.

This study shows what’s connected to child development, but it doesn’t prove that one thing causes another. For example, we can’t say that books at home definitely cause better reading skills—maybe families that value reading buy more books AND teach their kids to read. The study only looked at one point in time, so we don’t know if these patterns stay the same over years. The results are from Bangladesh, so they might not apply the same way in other countries. Also, the study relied on information families reported about themselves, which might not always be completely accurate.

The Bottom Line

Parents and educators should prioritize: (1) Reading and math practice at home—this appears to be where kids need the most help; (2) Enrolling kids in early learning programs if available; (3) Having books and learning materials at home; (4) Supporting mothers’ education when possible, as this strongly connects to child development. These recommendations have moderate confidence because the study shows connections but doesn’t prove cause-and-effect. Confidence level: Moderate—these factors are clearly connected to better development, but individual results may vary.

Parents of young children (especially in developing countries), teachers, school administrators, and policymakers should pay attention to these findings. If your child is struggling with reading, math, or social skills, this research suggests that early intervention with books, learning programs, and family support may help. This is especially relevant for families with limited resources, as the study shows wealth and education access matter significantly.

Changes in child development don’t happen overnight. Research suggests that consistent support with reading, early learning programs, and a learning-rich home environment may show improvements over months to years. Physical development changes may be slower. Social-emotional skills typically develop gradually with practice and supportive relationships.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly reading time with your child (in minutes) and count books read together. Also track attendance at early learning programs or educational activities. Monitor one social-emotional skill monthly, like ’number of times child shared with others’ or ‘instances of managing frustration without adult help.’
  • Set a goal to read with your child 15-20 minutes daily and keep a simple log in the app. Track which books you read and let the app remind you on days you miss. If your child attends early learning programs, log attendance and note any skills the teacher mentions improving.
  • Use the app to create a simple monthly report showing reading time, books read, program attendance, and one social-emotional skill you’re working on. Compare month-to-month to see if consistent reading and learning activities are making a difference. Share this with teachers or healthcare providers to get their observations too.

This research shows what factors are connected to healthy child development but does not prove that doing these things will guarantee your child develops well. Every child develops at their own pace. If you’re concerned about your child’s development in reading, math, physical skills, or social-emotional areas, talk to your pediatrician or a child development specialist. This study is based on data from Bangladesh and may not apply exactly the same way in other countries. The findings should inform family and school practices but should not replace professional medical or educational advice.