Saurav Singh

Author · Educator · Father

Making Sense of the First Five Years

A closer look at how young children learn, connect and grow, through the science of early childhood and the everyday reality of being a parent.

Making Sense of the First Five Years
A father, a son, and the science of what children are really doing.

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Out now · Published 26 October 2026 · By Saurav Singh, early childhood educator and father of two

Cover of Making Sense of the First Five Years by Saurav Singh, showing wooden counting blocks and stacked wooden rings numbered one to five

The book

He spent a decade teaching other people's children. Then he had one of his own.

When Saurav became a father, the knowledge he had gathered as an educator met the unpredictability of family life. Making Sense of the First Five Years brings those two worlds together, using research and lived experience to explore what children may be learning and communicating in their first five years.

It is not a checklist for raising a perfect child. It is an invitation to look more closely, ask better questions and make a little more sense of the moments that can leave adults wondering what is going on.

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01 · Look closer

Behaviour has a story

A child's actions can offer clues about what they are feeling, practising or finding difficult. Pause before settling on a label.

02 · Make connections

Development is not a straight line

Children learn in different ways and at different paces. Understanding the broader picture matters more than expecting a perfect timeline.

03 · Stay curious

Science meets everyday life

Research becomes more meaningful when it connects with the ordinary moments families and educators experience every day.

Making Sense of the First Five Years by Saurav Singh standing on a sunlit wooden table among wooden toys, beneath the words "Grab your copy today"

Out now

Now available in hardback, paperback and eBook

Making Sense of the First Five Years is out now. Order the print edition from your preferred online bookstore, or read it straight away on Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo or Nook.

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Publication and ordering

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The hardback, paperback and eBook are available now. Retailer availability, shipping and local delivery options vary by country.

Audio edition

Audiobook

Listen to the book, with release timing to be confirmed.

Coming soon

ISBN978-1-0673194-3-4
StatusComing soon

The audiobook is not yet available to order. This page will be updated when its release and listening platforms are confirmed.

Print retailer listings checked on 21 October 2026; eBook stores checked on 27 October 2026. Prices, shipping and the ability to order from each retailer depend on your location and may change. Your local bookshop may also be able to order the print editions using the ISBNs above.

Insights

What young children are really doing

Short, research-informed pieces on behaviour, play, development and parenting in the first five years, written for parents, whānau and educators.

Social development

Why Some Children Watch Before They Join In

Is your child watching other children but not joining in? An early childhood teacher and father on onlooker play, temperament and what helps.

8 min read

All Insights

Portrait of Saurav Singh wearing a brown blazer, terracotta t-shirt and black glasses

About the author

Hi, I'm Saurav.

Saurav Singh is a New Zealand early childhood educator, leader and father of two. Originally trained as a primary school teacher overseas, he later moved to New Zealand and retrained in early childhood education.

He has more than a decade of experience working with young children and their families. His writing brings together his experience as an educator and father with research on how young children learn and develop.

He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Saurav Singh