Our Research
Providing the latest in child development research and practice — grounding everything we do in rigorous, peer-reviewed science.
Positive Child Development
Our research focuses on the strengths and capacities children naturally possess — curiosity, empathy, resilience, and moral reasoning. Rather than solely treating problems, we study how to actively cultivate these qualities from early childhood through adolescence.
This strength-based approach informs every RHK training program, resource, and community initiative — ensuring that what we offer is both scientifically valid and practically meaningful.
Key Research Areas
- Empathy and prosocial behaviour in early childhood
- Emotion regulation from infancy through adolescence
- Social-emotional learning in school settings
- Parenting practices that foster moral development
- Mental health and wellbeing in Canadian youth
- Cross-cultural perspectives on kindness and compassion
Research Priorities
Four interconnected themes guide our scientific inquiry.
Early Childhood
How the foundations of empathy, trust, and self-regulation are built in the first five years of life — and what caregivers can do to support healthy development.
School-Age & Adolescence
Understanding how peer relationships, classroom environments, and adult mentorship shape the social-emotional growth of children aged 6–18.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Examining the bidirectional links between mental health, emotional literacy, and the capacity to connect with and care for others.
Community & Culture
How cultural context, community support systems, and systemic equity shape children’s developmental trajectories across Canada and internationally.
Our Research Partner
Raising HumanKind is grounded in the scientific work of the Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy (CCDMP) at the University of Toronto Mississauga, directed by Dr. Tina Malti. The CCDMP is a world-leading research centre dedicated to understanding the psychological development of children and adolescents.
This partnership ensures that every RHK initiative is grounded in the most rigorous and current scientific evidence — and that the knowledge generated through research reaches the families, educators, and practitioners who need it most.
Explore the RHK Ecosystem
Our research informs every program we offer. Discover how science translates into practice across the RHK community.
Training Programs
Evidence-based workshops and courses rooted in the 3Es© (Emotion Regulation, Empathy for Self, and Empathy for Others) framework, designed for caregivers and educators.
Free Resources
Download research summaries, guides, and tools to bring evidence-based kindness into your home or classroom.
Events & Webinars
Join live and virtual events where researchers share findings and connect with the broader RHK community.