diff --git a/src/components/Checkbox/Checkbox.jsx b/src/components/Checkbox/Checkbox.jsx
index c9b0a72d0c..5f052413c4 100644
--- a/src/components/Checkbox/Checkbox.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Checkbox/Checkbox.jsx
@@ -15,7 +15,15 @@ import displayStyles from '../Display.modules.scss'
 class Checkbox extends React.Component {
   state = {
     checked: this.props.checked,
-    focused: false,
+    focus: false,
+  }
+
+  componentWillReceiveProps(nextProps) {
+    if (this.state.checked !== nextProps.checked) {
+      this.setState({
+        checked: nextProps.checked,
+      })
+    }
   }
 
   onChange = event => {
@@ -30,16 +38,28 @@ class Checkbox extends React.Component {
     }
   }
 
-  onFocus = () => {
-    this.setState({ focused: true })
+  onFocus = event => {
+    const { onFocus } = this.props
+
+    this.setState({ focus: true })
+
+    if (onFocus) {
+      onFocus(event)
+    }
   }
 
-  onBlur = () => {
-    this.setState({ focused: false })
+  onBlur = event => {
+    const { onBlur } = this.props
+
+    this.setState({ focus: false })
+
+    if (onBlur) {
+      onBlur(event)
+    }
   }
 
   render() {
-    const { label, checked, ...rest } = this.props
+    const { label, ...rest } = this.props
     const checkboxId = generateId(rest.id, rest.name, label)
 
     return (
@@ -48,7 +68,7 @@ class Checkbox extends React.Component {
           <span
             className={joinClassNames(
               this.state.checked ? styles.checked : styles.unchecked,
-              this.state.focused && styles.focused
+              this.state.focus && styles.focused
             )}
             data-testid="fake-checkbox"
           >
@@ -78,11 +98,15 @@ Checkbox.propTypes = {
   label: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
   checked: PropTypes.bool,
   onChange: PropTypes.func,
+  onFocus: PropTypes.func,
+  onBlur: PropTypes.func,
 }
 
 Checkbox.defaultProps = {
   checked: false,
   onChange: undefined,
+  onFocus: undefined,
+  onBlur: undefined,
 }
 
 export default Checkbox
diff --git a/src/components/Checkbox/__tests__/Checkbox.spec.jsx b/src/components/Checkbox/__tests__/Checkbox.spec.jsx
index 8268c7e1ee..796e033484 100644
--- a/src/components/Checkbox/__tests__/Checkbox.spec.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Checkbox/__tests__/Checkbox.spec.jsx
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ describe('Checkbox', () => {
       findFakeCheckbox: () => checkbox.find('[data-testid="fake-checkbox"]'),
       check: () => findCheckboxElement().simulate('change', { target: { checked: true } }),
       uncheck: () => findCheckboxElement().simulate('change', { target: { checked: false } }),
-      focus: () => findCheckboxElement().simulate('focus'),
-      blur: () => findCheckboxElement().simulate('blur'),
+      focus: (focusEvent = {}) => findCheckboxElement().simulate('focus', focusEvent),
+      blur: (blurEvent = {}) => findCheckboxElement().simulate('blur', blurEvent),
     }
   }
 
@@ -109,20 +109,28 @@ describe('Checkbox', () => {
       expect(findFakeCheckbox().find(DecorativeIcon)).toBeEmpty()
     })
 
-    it('triggers a change handler when checked or unchecked', () => {
-      const onChangeSpy = jest.fn()
-      const { check, uncheck } = doMount({ onChange: onChangeSpy })
+    it('notifies when it is checked or unchecked', () => {
+      const onChangeMock = jest.fn()
+      const { check, uncheck } = doMount({ onChange: onChangeMock })
 
       check()
-      expect(onChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect(onChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({ target: { checked: true } })
       )
 
       uncheck()
-      expect(onChangeSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect(onChangeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({ target: { checked: false } })
       )
     })
+
+    it('can receive a new value from a parent component', () => {
+      const { checkbox, findCheckboxElement } = doMount({ checked: false })
+
+      checkbox.setProps({ checked: true })
+
+      expect(findCheckboxElement()).toHaveProp('checked', true)
+    })
   })
 
   describe('focusing', () => {
@@ -136,6 +144,26 @@ describe('Checkbox', () => {
       expect(findFakeCheckbox()).not.toHaveClassName('focused')
       expect(findFakeCheckbox()).toHaveClassName('unchecked')
     })
+
+    it('will notify when focus is gained', () => {
+      const onFocusMock = jest.fn()
+      const event = { target: { value: 'the value' } }
+
+      const { focus } = doMount({ onFocus: onFocusMock })
+      focus(event)
+
+      expect(onFocusMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining(event))
+    })
+
+    it('will notify when focus is lost', () => {
+      const onBlurMock = jest.fn()
+      const event = { target: { value: 'the value' } }
+
+      const { blur } = doMount({ onBlur: onBlurMock })
+      blur(event)
+
+      expect(onBlurMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining(event))
+    })
   })
 
   //
diff --git a/src/components/FormField/FormField.jsx b/src/components/FormField/FormField.jsx
index a68f177c3d..e0913c856f 100644
--- a/src/components/FormField/FormField.jsx
+++ b/src/components/FormField/FormField.jsx
@@ -69,13 +69,9 @@ const renderHelper = (helper, helperId, feedback, value) => {
 }
 
 class FormField extends React.Component {
-  constructor(props) {
-    super(props)
-
-    this.state = {
-      value: props.value,
-      focus: false,
-    }
+  state = {
+    value: this.props.value,
+    focus: false,
   }
 
   componentWillReceiveProps(nextProps) {