{"id":27,"date":"2026-01-16T11:19:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T11:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/developing-minds.de\/start\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T06:02:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T06:02:47","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/developing-minds.de\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Minds Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

How children learn to think<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

In the Developing Minds Lab<\/strong> we investigate how children think, learn and understand social contexts. Our research combines theoretical foundations with current issues in education, family and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Find out more about our studies<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Researching the cognitive development of children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Developing Minds Lab<\/strong> at the University of Vechta is investigating how children develop scientific thinking and social skills in order to communicate new knowledge in a practical way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Learn more about our team<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Research into the cognitive development of children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about current publications, workshops and lectures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n
\n

Symposium auf der Konferenz der International Society for Behavioral Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcc5 21. – 25. April 2026, Incheon (S\u00fcdkorea)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theory of Mind and epistemic development: Cross-cultural evidence from childhood to adulthood<\/strong> – organisiert von Christopher Osterhaus (Vechta) & Claire Hughes (Cambridge)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n
\n

Seminar: \u201eUnderstanding what others think: social cognitive skills for success at school\u201c<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

May 8 - 9, 2026, Vechta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seminar on the role of social-cognitive skills in the school environment<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n
\n

Wie entwickelt sich die F\u00e4higkeit, andere zu verstehen, im kulturellen Vergleich?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neue Studie zu sozial-kognitiven F\u00e4higkeiten im kulturellen Vergleich zwischen Japan und Deutschland in Child Development ver\u00f6ffentlicht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Link to the study<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Research on cognitive development in children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about key findings from our laboratory on children's intellectual development here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

18<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Number of studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our projects include a large number of practical studies and cross-cultural analyses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

47<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scientific articles and reports from our research area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

> 2.000<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Number of participants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Number of children and adolescents of different ages who took part in our studies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

> 20<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cooperation partner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Number of national and international institutions with which we cooperate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

We explore child development & cognitive progress.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here you can find out how our research promotes scientific thinking and social skills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Comparative cultural studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We investigate how different cultures influence the development of children's thinking and how they gain new insights as a result.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Practical research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our studies combine theory with real-life situations in order to better understand children's learning processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Scientific exchange<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We promote dialog between scientists and practitioners in order to pass on knowledge effectively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Find out more about our studies<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Research in an international context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Developing Minds Lab<\/strong> works in international collaborations and compares the cognitive development of children in different cultural contexts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Our sponsors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our research is made possible by the support of public institutions and foundations. We would like to thank our sponsors for their trust in our scientific work and their contribution to the further development of educational research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Magnus Hirschfeld Federal Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lower Saxony Ministry for
Science and culture<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/p>

    <\/ul><\/div>\n
    \n
    \n<\/fieldset>\n