Overview
Seven thousand toddlers in New Zealand have a special connection
with each other that will last for at least 21 years. They are all
taking part in a study that aims to improve the lives of their
generation and answer the fundamental question: What makes us who
we are?
Based at The University of Auckland's Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki
Mua, Growing Up in New Zealand is keeping tabs on the growth
and development of the children. To date parents have been
interviewed before their children's birth and when the children
were nine months of age. Routine linkage to details about the
child's birth has supplemented this information to detail the first
critical months of the children's development. The study is
designed to continue until the child turns 21.
At each interview, we will ask about the child's health and
wellbeing, family/whanau life, education, psychological
development, neighbourhood and environment, culture and identity.
The answers will be a mine of information for planners and policy
makers as they work to improve the lives of all New Zealand
children.
The babies in Growing Up in New Zealand represent the diversity
of children being born in New Zealand today. Although recruited in
Auckland and the Waikato, they will be followed up wherever they
move to in the future. The research is anonymous and parents and
children give their time for free.
Of the 6846 babies in the study, 184 are twins or triplets.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
There was a huge range of birth weights, ranging from about 600 grams to nearly 6000 grams.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
The first solid food most frequently give to the babies was baby rice, followed soon after by fruit and vegetables.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
One third of the study babies are expected to identify with more than one ethnicity.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
At six weeks, the longest time slept by the Growing Up babies varied from just half an hour to over 12 hours.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
At nine months, just over half the babies were crawling at least five metres.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
At nine months, a third of the Growing Up babies were shaking their heads to say ‘no’.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand
A thousand mothers reported that they were speaking some te reo Maori to their babies at nine months.
Source: Growing Up in New Zealand