University of Bath psychologist, Dr Nathalia Gjersoe, has provided expert advice to the producers of a major new series streaming on AppleTV+ which focuses on child development.

The global series ‘Becoming You’ explores how our first 2,000 days shape the rest of our lives. Focusing on the lives of over 100 children across the world, from Nepal to Japan and Borneo, each episode offers a thought-provoking look at how children learn to think, speak and move, from birth to age 5.

Dr Gjersoe worked with the producers for over two years providing input drawing on her own research into child development.

Commenting she said: “Becoming You’ uses the techniques of Natural History documentary-making to offer a compelling insight into the enormous changes which occur in our early years. It uses footage of children from around the world overlaid with narration – brilliantly done by Olivia Colman – to explain current scientific understanding about how development occurs.

“As scientific advisor, I helped with the organisation of ideas, proposed areas to cover, acted as a fact checker and advised on final wording. One of the sections on children’s relationship with their favourite toys and imaginary companions draws on my own research.”

She adds: “A mind-boggling amount of change happens in the first five years of life but we often miss this. The combination of beautiful cinematography and science in this series gives a really compelling insight into just how incredible these early years are.”