About the Centre for Better Childhoods
All children, regardless of background, should have equal opportunities for a good and secure start in life.
A good childhood filled with play and movement. Positive children’s communities that everyone can be part of. And safe, supportive relationships.
This is what we work for at the Centre for Better Childhoods.
Our origins
The Centre for Better Childhoods was established in 2024 at University College Copenhagen with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, LEGO Foundation and TrygFonden, which together have granted DKK 250 million over a period of up to 10 years.
Core narrative
We generate knowledge about how welfare professionals can work in ways that are effective and beneficial for children aged 0–6 and their families – so that children thrive and develop physically, mentally, and socially.
Knowledge that strengthens their professional judgement and can be applied in practice.
Our ambitions
We work to create better childhoods through our four main ambitions.
Stronger knowledge base
We aim to strengthen professional judgement by generating knowledge about what works for the benefit of children and families, why it works, when it works, and for whom.
Bridging research, education and practice
We seek to build bridges between research, education and practice. The knowledge we generate must become part of the knowledge base for the welfare professionals who shape children’s early years — both now and in the future.
A new generation of researchers
We aim to foster a new generation of researchers with a focus on practice-oriented and interdisciplinary research that makes a real difference for children aged 0–6 and their families.
Stronger cross-sector collaboration
We aim to generate knowledge about how professionals can collaborate more effectively across disciplines, competencies, experiences and perspectives so that all children receive the support they need.
Our research
We conduct profession-oriented complex intervention research.
This means that researchers and practitioners work together from start to finish to develop, test, refine, evaluate, and implement new ways of working for the benefit of children and families.
Research areas
We conduct research within the following themes:
- Equal opportunities for all children
- Parenting
- Attachment
- Communities
- Movement
- Play
- Senses
Meet us
Our user–practice panel
To ensure that our research is always grounded in the realities of children, families, and professionals, we have established a user–practice panel.
The panel consists of trade unions, NGOs, and public organisations that work closely with children aged 0–6 and their families.
Contact
