Information for Children
What would I have to do?
If you take part, you’ll visit us at the hospital a few times over a couple of years.
At each visit, you’ll meet our friendly research team, who will get to know you and make sure you feel comfortable. You can ask questions, take breaks or stop at any time.
You’ll also get your very own Science Journey Booklet to fill in as you go, and you’ll collect lots of stickers and prizes for your goodie bag along the way!
What is this study about?
Your brain is like the boss of your body. It helps you think, feel, move and learn.
In this study, we want to find out how children’s brains grow and change between ages 6 and 12. We’ll look at how you think, learn and feel, and how things from when you were a baby might shape you as you grow up.
By understanding more about brains, we hope to find ways to help all children grow up happy and healthy.
A Day in the Lab
Games & Puzzles
Play games and do fun activities with a researcher. They help us learn about memory, attention, feelings and friendships.
Etch-A-Sketch Task
Team up with your parent for a short, creative task. How many amazing designs can you make together?
Have a brain scan, which takes special pictures of your brain using a big magnet. You’ll wear headphones and watch films inside the tunnel-shaped scanner. It’s a bit like being in a game or a movie!
The MRI Adventure
Take a look at our assessment room...
...here is one of the children playing some of our games!
Here he is lying in the MRI scanner with one of our radiographers...
...and here are all the amazing prizes and rewards you receive when you become a DCCP scientist!
You’ll help us learn how children’s brains grow, and you could help other children in the future. You’ll get a certificate and medal, plus a trophy if you complete all 3 visits! We’ll also share our discoveries through fun science articles and school workshops, so you can see what your brain helped us find out.
Why should you take part?
Did you know children helped
design this study?
Children your age, called our Children’s Research Champions, shared their ideas on which activities work well, how to make visits fun, and how to explain things clearly, so you know exactly what to expect.
¿ Children's Curious Questions ?
💬 Does the scan hurt?
Not at all! An MRI takes pictures of your brain using a big magnet, so you won’t feel it taking the pictures. The scanner can make some loud noises, but you’ll have headphones to protect your ears and can watch something while we scan.
💡 What do I have to do?
You’ll get to try games, puzzles and activities with our researchers, including some on an iPad. You’ll also answer questions about things like your feelings, friendships and everyday life, have an MRI scan, and do a fun activity with your parent or carer.
🤔 What if I don't want to do something?
That’s completely okay! We want you to feel comfortable during your DCCP visit. You can ask questions, take breaks and tell a researcher if there’s something you don’t want to do. We’ll listen to you throughout your visit.
🌟 Why is it a good thing?
By taking part, you become one of our DCCP scientists! The things you do help us learn how children’s brains, thinking, feelings and behaviour change as they grow. What we discover could help us understand and support other children in the future.