The Parenting Science News Feed

The Parenting Science news feed alerts you to new postings on the Parenting Science website. It also features commentaries about recent events or discoveries in anthropology, evolutionary biology, psychology, and the popular culture.

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Don't panic, but how you handle stress may influence your child's brain growth

Maybe you've heard the news: A study showing that kids who got patient, supportive parenting during early childhood experienced greater growth in the hippocampus, a brain region associated with memory and spatial skills.

What are the implications? I think they go beyond the conclusion "Try to be patient and supportive with your young children." Why do parents get so stressed out, anyway? We take it for granted, but I'm not sure we should.

Check out some cross-cultural speculations in today's Science Notes.

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Do kids think you stink?

Just how sensitive is a young child's sense of smell? Surprisingly, bad odors might bother her less than they bother you. Read more on today's Science Notes.

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Protect your kids from the brain cops

In an upcoming journal publication, Wil Cunningham and Tobias Brosch warn that simplistic notions about the brain have gone too far, "not only in pop culture, but also in psychological science." Should you be concerned? I'd say yes--if you are a taxpayer, parent, or anybody who might get misjudged by bogus folk beliefs. Check out today's Science Notes.

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Artsy kids get depressed, kin of autistics like science

Is your artistic kid at higher risk for depression? Are kids with autistic siblings more likely to pursue a career in the natural sciences? In today's Science Notes, some thoughts on research connecting intellectual interests and psychological disorders.

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Why must we cut our children's hair?

You don't have to cut the dog's hair, right? So why do we have to cut our children's hair? Some anthropological perspective on today's Science Notes.

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Tiny skeptics: Babies don't trust flakes

"Innocent as a baby" we often say. But that doesn't mean that babies lack any powers of skepticism. New experimental studies suggest that babies pay attention to unreliable behavior...and are less likely to mimic adults with poor track records. Read about it on the latest Science Notes.

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Teens risk brain damage and death with choking game: Why?

A new survey reports that 1 in 7 young people have cut off oxygen to their brains for the thrill of it. In today's Science Notes, read more about it, and the warning signs that your child is playing the "choking game."

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When is gossip good for you?

In new experiments, people who "gossiped" to warn others about a cheater showed less evidence of stress. And they were willing to pay a fee to get their message out. What are the implications? See today's Science Notes.

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Why mothers get fat, and Madonna never cooks

Pop star and mother-of-four Madonna says she's never prepared a meal by yourself. Does this have any bearing on her extraordinary physique? Maybe not. But research suggests that mothers eat more than non-mothers...and that might have something to do with all the cooking that mothers do. Check out Science Notes.

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Kids taught character get better test scores

Does good character make a child a better student? Maybe. A new study reports the results of a 20-school test of a character-building curriculum for elementary school students. See today's Science Notes.

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Study: Are breastfed babies more irritable?

A new study is getting a lot of attention: Breastfed babies in the UK were found to be more irritable and difficult than formula-fed babies.

Surprising? Maybe. But maybe not. The between-group differences were quite small, and may be explained by the fact that some breastfed babies want more frequent feedings. Get the details in today's Science Notes.

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How should schools handle bad behavior?

Is stealing merely "uncooperative behavior?"

Should we try to dissuade kids from violating the rights of others because "this is not the way to behave if you want a nice life?"

In today's Science Notes, I talk about the missing element in many discussions about discipline: Inducing empathy and a sense of guilt.

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Kids want meals with 7 items and 6 different colors...?!

A new study suggests a new way to get picky kids to eat. See today's Science Notes.

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Do skipped naps make kids less joyful and less clever?

A new study--very small but randomized and controlled--suggests that little kids don't just get grumpy over sleep loss. They also experience fewer positive emotions...and act a bit stupider.

Are there developmental implications? The researchers think so. I'm not sure, but it sounds plausible. Check out today's Science Notes.

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Airbrushing 101: Teach kids about faked beauty

A new program in British schools sounds like a great idea: Teaching kids about digital retouching and impossibly "beautiful" celebrity bodies. Check out today's Science Notes for details.

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Best science-based parenting tips of 2011

Here are my votes for the most important parenting lessons we learned from researchers in 2011.

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Dumbest parenting controversies of 2011

Here are my nominees for the stories that should have inspired the most thoughtful discussion of the year...not knee-jerk emotional reactions.

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Coolest baby science stories of 2011

A round-up of some of year's most interesting baby-related science stories.

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Kids' gifts: How much have you spent this year?

In countries where Christmas is a big, commercial holiday, parents are spending a lot of money on the right gift. Some may even go into debt. That’s a relatively new trend — and a far cry from modest holiday gifts children used to get.

What's driving this trend? Would these Christmas-observing parents spend the same money on their children each year if there were no Christmas?

Or is there something about the holiday--as it exists today--that pressures people to be extravagant?

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Scrooge alert: Are you too rich to feel empathy

Does your socioeconomic status have anything to do with your capacity to read faces? Show compassion?

Clever experiments say yes.

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Local news website defends high school incest prank: Why?

A local news website, the Rosemount Town Pages, defends the adults involved in the recent pep rally prank. Huh?

My thoughts in today's Science Notes.

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Blindfolded teens get tricked by school into making out with their parents...?!

Evidence of a weirdly-sexed popular culture? Or just some really bad judgements?

If you have any comments, you can share them with readers of my Science Notes blog.

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When kids got flogged by Christmas demons

If you grew up in a society that celebrates Christmas and Santa Claus, you've heard of Santa being used as a bribe or threat.

But you might not have heard about the horned demons that beat you with a chain.

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"Gay" penguins adopt chick

Is the urge to pair-bond inextricably tied to the urge to raise babies?

Well...obviously not. In general. But it seems to be in this same-sex penguin couple. And they aren't the only ones.

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How do you handle temper tantrums?

In today's Science Notes, a new study used hidden microphones to catch toddlers in the act of melting down.

What did researchers learn? And can we use the information to cut a tantrum short?

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Cool science: Do you mind-meld with baby?

A new study shows that mothers and infants synchronize heart rhythms when they interact--as long as they're happily gazing into each other's eyes and pitching woo.

What does it mean? In today's Science Notes, I talk about the importance of baby "mind-melds" for the development of your child's social intelligence.

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Baby barbells?

All over the world, women wear babies on their backs. On their hips? Not so often. Now I know why.

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G-rated movies and family TV: Weird sex biases

If you aren't keeping up with the latest pop culture for kids, you might be surprised. G-rated movies and TV shows for kids portray few female characters, and those female characters that do exist are 5 times as likely to be wearing skimpy or skin-tight clothing.

Hmmm. Check out today's Science Notes.

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What if we don't tell kids they're cute?

Praise can backfire, and nobody wants to raise a self-absorbed prince or princess.

But I think we sometimes underestimate how sophisticated kids are. So it's lot more complicated than we might think.

In today's Science Notes: Sigourney Weaver, the popular culture, helping kids cope with the pressure to look good.

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REM sleep "strips" the negative emotions from painful memories

In today's Science Notes: The longer we stay awake, the less our brains are able to cope with negative emotional events. So can we postpone those dramatic emotional confrontations until morning?

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Share with your kids: NASA launched new Mars rover today

The new rover, named "Curiosity" by a 6th grader named Clara Ma, is as big as a car and headed to Mars right now. Check out Space.com for coverage of the mission.

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Thankful for baby crop circles

The editors at BabyCenter asked me to write about a quiet little parenting memory I am thankful for. Here we go.

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Is hosting Thanksgiving a signal of dominance?

In the United States, it's going to be Thanksgiving soon. So here's a little light speculation (aka B.S.) from me about venues, verbal snipes, and snarky baboons.

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New study: Passing through doorways makes you forget. Literally.

Is that why the parents of young children so frequently forget what the %&#^$% they were doing? In today's Science Notes.

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Creating bullies: Are parents to blame?

How do bullies happen? Are parents to blame? Check out today's Science Notes.

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Improving spatial skills in children and teens: Evidence-based activities

Spatial skills predict success in many professions. Can we help kids improve their spatial ability? Yes! Check out these research-based tips and activities from Parenting Science.

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Stunning time-lapse video of your planet at night

Check out this video from the International Space Station. And praise to windows everywhere. On today's Science Notes.

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Spatial intelligence in children: Why training matters

Spatial intelligence is a crucial tool in many fields. And yet it’s relatively neglected at school. Can you improve your child’s spatial thinking skills? Experiments suggest that you can.

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Does your baby know who's boss?

What babies -- and little kids -- seem to know about social dominance and all-around bossiness. In today's Science Notes.

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Are kids who play video games more creative?

Do video games sap children of creativity? I don't know. But a new study suggests that 12-year-old gamers are *more* creative than their peers. And experimental evidence suggests that fantasy entertainment can enhance creativity. Check out today's Science Notes.

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