The effects of video games on altruism: Can role-playing make us more generous, helpful, or self-sacrificing?
Does playing helpful, even heroic characters make kids more prosocial? Research on the effects of video games suggests that it might.
Does playing helpful, even heroic characters make kids more prosocial? Research on the effects of video games suggests that it might.
Studies suggest that kids have fewer emotional problems – and behave more prosocially – when they feel connected with nature.
Most kids are ready to be cooperative. But they recognize limits to our power. When we overreach, kids reject our authority as illegitimate.
Inductive discipline is linked with better child outcomes. What does it look like, and how do we know that it makes a difference?
No need to point fingers, because we’ve all done it: Ignoring people around us while we focus on a technological device. When we ignore or snub folks with our smartphones, it’s called “phubbing,” and since many of us carry our smartphones everywhere, phubbing has become very common. But — no surprise! — phubbing can erode … Continue reading
Across cultures, kids benefit from friends. Why is friendship important? How does friendship in children develop? And what can we do to help?
Social skills activities can help kids forge positive relationships, and better understand what other people are feeling and thinking. The key is finding games and exercises that match your child’s developmental capacities and needs. How do we help children develop social competence — the ability to read emotions, cooperate, make friends, and negotiate conflicts? Kids … Continue reading
Reading facial expressions is an important skill. What does normal development look like, and how can we help kids learn to read faces?
Yes, babies feel empathy. They can “catch” other people’s emotions. They show sympathy, and even offer to help. But their behavior depends on how we treat them.
Good news from researchers who study aggression in children: By changing our mental habits, we can help prevent aggression before it erupts.
Talking to babies helps them learn speech. But nonverbal cues may teach something more — the ability to synchronize their thoughts and feelings with those of another person.
Baby communication operates on many channels, including sight and touch. But infant-directed speech plays a special role in language learning.