90% of our brain’s architecture is developed by age 5

The first 5 years are the most impactful years of brain development in our entire life. During the early years, the specific parts of the brain that develop are central to our social and emotional development. During this time, our brains are laying the lifelong foundations for our mental health and relationships.

Nature vs nurture

Temperament is something we’re born with. It’s the nature side of things. Research shows us nurture also plays a key role in how we manage feelings and navigate relationships. This is where parenting comes into the equation. How a caregiver engages during these early years has a huge impact on the foundations we lay.

What is “good” parenting?

Research shows parenting simply needs to be good enough most of the time, rather than ‘perfect’, to develop healthy emotional and social wellbeing. This is, of course, because despite what social media suggests, perfect parenting does not exist.

The lifelong impact of “good” parenting

Social & relationship skills

Improved relationships with parents and siblings
Healthier friendships and romantic relationships as adults
Stronger communication skills
Less likely to break the law
Less likely to behave aggressively

Mental health

Improved self-esteem and confidence
Greater independence
More resilient
Better at managing stress
Less likely to feel hopeless or helpless
Less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression
Reduced risk of drug or alcohol abuse

Intellectual abilities

More likely to achieve higher grades
Improved perseverance during challenging times
Greater concentration, memory and problem solving
Increased language abilities
Higher emotional intelligence

Did you know:

95% of adults consider “being a good parent” one of the most important priorities in life¹. Yet many of us feel we lack adequate knowledge or skills, especially when it comes to our children’s social and emotional development².

Research shows most parents ask family and friends for parenting advice¹, because they struggle to access evidence-based guidance³. Yet, they don’t trust this ‘village’ advice nearly half as much as they would a professional’s.

Bostrom (2003). Discipline and Development: A Meta-Analysis of Public Perceptions of Parents, Parenting,Child Development and Child Abuse. Prepared for the Frameworks Institute.
Thrive Child (2021). Quantitative (n = 400) & qualitative research with parents of 0-5 year olds (unpublished).
Pure Profile (2016). Online survey of 1,016 parents, commissioned by Healthdirect Australia.

Ren makes professional parenting support more accessible.

Easy to access: digitally accessible, readily available, and not time intensive
Trustworthy information: based on gold standard research
An enjoyable, tailored experience
Easy to understand: providing basic principles, without the clinical jargon, in bite-sized pieces of information that don’t add another chore to parents’ plates!
Relevant content: specific to your child’s developmental stage, personal circumstances, and current challenges