Screenshots from the app

Alumni design child psychology app

A group of Exeter alumni are developing an app aimed at parents of children under five, designed to enhance a range of cognitive, social and emotional skills.

Kitty Howarth (DEdPsy, 2013), Diana Onu (MSc Social and Organisational Psychology, 2009 and PhD Psychology, 2013) and Dan Marshall (BSc Psychology, 2003 and MSc Social and Organisational Psychology, 2009) have previously worked with the University of Exeter to develop a number of mobile apps for psychological and health research including the popular Food Trainer.

Now they have collaborated on Arttachment, an app to help parents connect with their children through creative activities. Increasingly, child development science is confirming the foundational role that parent-child attachment plays in a child’s development. By providing accessible activities and pointers about applying child psychology, Arttachment helps parents to understand their children’s development and use creative activities as opportunities for supporting children’s emotional, social and cognitive development.

Dr Will Shield, Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist and the University of Exeter said: “Arttachment looks to be a really helpful tool for parents wanting to learn more about child development and attachment theory, keep up to date with recent research and apply theory to practice, and having it in app format makes it accessible for all families. I’ve already recommended it to several of my friends who have young children as well as EYFS teachers!”

For more information visit the website: https://www.arttachment.com/

Date: 11 April 2019