The Early Childhood Development Agency is conducting the first national study on parenting of young children aged eight and below, to better understand parenting practices at each stage of children's development.

Revealing details of the study for the first time, an agency spokesman said on Thursday that the study will cover four main aspects: parents' knowledge of their children's development; parents' attitudes and beliefs on parenting; parents' strategies in caring for children; and resources which parents use.

The first phase - consisting of focus group discussions with parents and parenting experts, among others - has been completed. The second phase, comprising face-to-face interviews with randomly selected families will start next Monday.

The study is expected to be completed by May 2014.