Mapping the Architecture & Pathways of Skills during Childhood (MAPS-Child).

Objective

Early childhood ability is a crucial predictor of lifelong outcomes. Despite its importance, we lack frameworks to ensure every child gets the best start in life. Existing models of child development are fragmented, often focusing on isolated skills (e.g., language) rather than considering the full range of abilities children acquire in childhood. Additionally, these models rely heavily on WEIRD samples, limiting global relevance. As a result, they overlook the interconnected development of skills and fail to represent the diverse experiences of children worldwide. To support every child’s potential, we must adopt more holistic and inclusive models of development. MAPS-Child will deliver such a model by integrating cognitive, socioemotional, and motor skill development into a unified framework. It has two objectives: (1) to uncover the shared dimensional structure of developmental change across domains; and (2) to identify cross-domain predictors and dependencies in developmental trajectories. Exposure to adversity (prolonged, intense stress) will serve as a moderator, showing how it reshapes developmental pathways. The project leverages two cutting-edge longitudinal studies: YOUth (n=4,000), a Dutch cohort (pregnancy to adulthood), and LEVANTE (n=10,000 projected), a multi-country study of variability in children (ages 2–12). Advanced psychometric and longitudinal modelling will capture the dynamic, interdependent architecture of skills. A two-step design maximises discovery and replication: YOUth will identify developmental structures in a socioeconomically diverse EU context, and LEVANTE will test their generalisability across more diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic contexts. By utilising rich longitudinal data and state-of-the-art modelling, MAPS-Child will generate the most comprehensive and globally valid account of child development to date. These insights will drive equitable, targeted strategies to promote healthy development for all children.