This page brings together NHS and specialist videos to help parents and carers understand child development, learning disabilities and autism. The resources explain developmental milestones, when to seek advice, the differences between learning disabilities and learning difficulties, and practical ways to support children and young people. You can also explore a detailed autism video series covering topics such as the diagnostic journey, strengths and differences, social understanding, sensory experiences, planning and organisation, helping families better understand how autistic children experience and interact with the world.
Understanding your child's development
The following videos explain child development, learning disabilities and when to seek advice, helping parents and carers understand their child's needs and identify appropriate support:
This video explains stages of child development, when to ask for advice and ways to support your child. To watch this video, please visit: Vimeo - Child development: when to ask for advice
This video explains the differences between a learning disability, a learning difficulty and global developmental delay. To watch this video, please visit: Vimeo - What is a learning disability?
This video introduces general ways to support a young person with a learning disability. To watch this video, please visit: Vimeo - Supporting a young person with a learning disability
An introduction to autism
The following videos offer an introduction to autism and the different ways autistic children may experience the world:
An introduction for parents whose pre-school child has received an autism diagnosis. It also discusses education and support services. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Understanding autism in pre-school children (NHS)
A short illustrated explanation from a parent's perspective. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Understanding the autism spectrum: a cartoon explanation (NHS)
Understanding autism: video series
The following collection of videos was created by the Department of Clinical Psychology at the Royal Derby Hospital. The chapters are listed in order. You can watch them over several visits.
This video is the first part of the "Introduction to the Journey to Diagnosis" series. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 1: The journey to diagnosis, part 1 (NHS)
This video is the second part of the "Introduction to the Journey to Diagnosis" series. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 1: The journey to diagnosis, part 2 (NHS)
This video introduces what the series explains about autism. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 2: Understanding autism (NHS)
This video explores strengths and differences within the autism spectrum. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 3: Strengths and the autism spectrum, part 1 (NHS)
This video continues the discussion of strengths and the autism spectrum. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 3: Strengths and the autism spectrum, part 2 (NHS)
This video introduces the idea called “theory of mind”. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 4: Understanding other people’s thoughts, part 1 (NHS)
This video demonstrates a test about “theory of mind”. This supporting video is from Baverstock Psychology. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - The Sally–Ann test (Baverstock Psychology)
This video continues the discussion of “theory of mind”. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 4: Understanding other people’s thoughts, part 2 (NHS)
This video introduces the theory called “weak central coherence” in the original video. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 5: Seeing details and the bigger picture (NHS)
This video introduces “executive functioning”, the term used in the original video. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 6: Planning and organising tasks (NHS)
This video introduces sensory processing, including how information from the senses is experienced. To watch this video, please visit: YouTube - Chapter 7: Understanding sensory experiences (NHS)