Inklings Program | The Kids Research Institute Australia

Welcome to Inklings

Born from decades of research, The Kids Research Institute Australia’s Inklings is a one-to-one program that supports the social and communication development of babies aged 6–18 months.

Developed by early childhood experts, Inklings gives carers, health professionals and early educators practical, evidence-based tools they can use in everyday moments. These tools strengthen understanding, build connection, and support early relationships between caregivers and their baby.

Babies are born ready to communicate - through sounds, gestures and expressions. But sometimes, their skills develop differently from what we expect. The Inklings approach helps adults pause, tune in and respond to a baby’s earliest cues, building strong, supportive relationships from the very beginning.

Alongside the one-to-one program, a suite of initiatives has been created using the same principles to support caregivers, educators and health professionals. These include:

Practitioner training
Tiny Moments Playgroup
Early Educator Course

Each offering is grounded in research and designed to support babies and the people who care for them during the critical early years of life.

the kids research institute australia and inklings logos

A child looking up inquisitively at some bubbles that have been blown and are floating around them.

Research and innovation

About Inklings

group of women on the floor playing with babies

Community and support

Tiny Moments Playgroup

Educational resources

Baby GEMS: an educator’s overview of baby communication

Educational resources

Me & You communication book

“I came out of it probably with more of an appreciation than I ever thought I would have about acknowledging and recognising cues, whether they be verbal or physical, or just things that I didn’t realise Frankie was doing when she was interacting with me.”
Jake, Inklings Parent, The Australian

“It (Inklings) was game-changing for us, it helped me discover that Lara was actually communicating with me much more than I realised.”
Patricia, Inklings Parent, The Australian

“Every baby is different, we just learnt his way of playing, and he’s a completely different baby now. He was feeling like he wasn’t being heard and now he’s opened up to everyone.”
Chloe, Inklings Parent, South Western Times

“It’s about giving them the opportunities to communicate the way they want to.”
Michelle, Inklings Parent, The Australian

“It really helps to bring you and your child closer together because you feel like you can understand them, and they feel like they’re understood.”
Laura, Inklings Parent, The Examiner