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A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics reports that one-third of the children have been bullied by siblings, and these victims suffer higher rates of psychological problems.
What are the costs of bullying and how can we stop it?
Continue reading "Kids get bullied at home too -- and there are psychological costs"
Sensitive, involved fathers may set themselves apart from their recent forebears. But if you consider the history of humankind, this approach to parenting is very old indeed.
Contrary to popular accounts of evolutionary psychology, the answer is yes. In fact, it's doubtful that humans would exist if it weren't for the contribution of ancestral fathers.
In honor of Father's Day -- to be celebrated in many countries this weekend -- here's an updated look at the evolution of fatherhood -- across species and across cultures.
Continue reading "Are men biologically equipped for parenthood?"
A new study of Asian American immigrants puts tiger parenting to the test, and the results may surprise some people. Tiger parenting wasn't practiced by most parents, and it wasn't linked with the best child outcomes, either. Read more about it in my latest blog post.
For parents anxious about -- or irritated by -- the pressure to find their young children a prestigious school, here's another look at a blog post I wrote a while back.
As I argue there, we might put preschool worries in perspective if we consider things at the other end. What will happen if your child doesn't attend an elite university?
Does your child suffer from nightmares? Night terrors? How do you tell the difference, and what can should you do to improve your child's sleep? Read more in my updated guide.
A surprising number of women -- perhaps as many as 30% -- suffer at least some symptoms of post traumatic stress after childbirth. Why is that, and what can we do about it?
Continue reading "Childbirth trauma and post traumatic stress"
Spanking is controversial. What does the latest research suggest about its effect on children? See my updated guide to the evidence.
An interesting new study suggests we can learn about the breastfeeding habits of fossil humans. How does the new technique work -- and what have researchers already learned? Some people are already citing the study in the context of debates about extended breastfeeding. But that's pretty goofy.
Read more in today's Science Notes.
Continue reading "Neanderthal teeth offer clues about the evolution of breastfeeding"
The popular media are abuzz with news about the latest meta-analysis of five European studies of SIDS risk and bed sharing.
But while this study contributes new estimates regarding specific risk factors, it seems to me the take-home message hasn't changed much since I first wrote about bed sharing in 2009. When basic safety guidelines are followed, bed-sharing appears to pose no special risks for babies over 3 months of age. For babies younger than 3 months, bed-sharing -- as it is typically practiced by Europeans -- is associated with higher risk.
Can parents greatly reduce -- perhaps even eliminate -- the added risk by making radical changes to the sleep environment? While the idea hasn't been formally tested, cross-cultural evidence and common sense suggests it's very possible.
For the latest information, see my updated article, "Bed sharing with infants: Can it be done safely?"
Continue reading "What do we make of the latest study about bed-sharing?"
Ella is going to start primary school this fall, and her parents look forward to seeing her expand her understanding of mathematics. But there’s a problem. Kindergarten will mostly be teaching material she’s already mastered.
Continue reading "Are U.S. kindergartens teaching math that kids have already mastered?"
Why do women suffer from postpartum depression (PPD)? Researchers are still trying to figure out the physiological mechanisms. But a new study suggests that some women may carry genes that put them at special risk. Are you or your partner one of them? Someday, a blood test may tell you the answer.
Continue reading "Genes may predict who gets postpartum depression"
Kids aren’t passive lumps of clay. Their behavior influences the kind of feedback they get. And to the degree that children are given any freedom, they make choices that can influence they way they turn out.
Research suggests that early math lessons contribute to long-term achievement. But do these lessons have to happen in a school setting? I doubt it.
Continue reading "Preschool math lessons: Evidence that the home environment matters most"
If you have a baby who cries excessively and inconsolably, what conditions should your doctor be screening for?
Continue reading "The causes of colic: What should your baby be screened for?"
All babies cry, but some cry excessively and inconsolably. What makes the difference? Differences in caregiving? Diet? Disease? Or brain chemistry? See my updated article, "What is colic: A critical look at the scientific evidence."
Adults suffer more health problems when they perceive unfairness in the workplace. Should we doubt that children experience similar problems at school? At home? Around the neighborhood?
Continue reading "Kids stay healthier when adults are fair-minded"
We've dispelled the myths. What does the evidence suggest about the true causes of bed-wetting, and what treatments work?
Continue reading "What's the right way to handle bed-wetting?"
Research suggests that bed-wetting is common, even among school age children. And it's usually a physiological, rather than a psychological, problem.
But many people believe otherwise, and their misconceptions aren't helpful. Check out my updated, myth-busting article about wetting the bed.
Continue reading "Myths about bed-wetting die hard -- and don't help kids get better"
Researchers at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania are conducting a new study about children's relationships, and they are looking for parents to participate.
Got 5-10 minutes? If you are willing, and over the age of 18, follow the links to this online survey.
Musicians tend to be smarter than average. Why?
Prior ability accounts for some of the difference, but there's also evidence that the training itself changes the course of brain development.
See my updated article, "Music and intelligence: A guide for the science-minded."
Does the latest mouse study tell us that two parents are better for brain development? Not really. But it suggests that babies who get extra physical affection may have an advantage. Read more in today's post for BabyCenter.
Continue reading "Two parents are not necessarily better for brain development"
Research suggests that a fetus can "taste" the foods his pregnant mother eats. Does this shape his preferences later in life? Could a steady diet of fatty, sugary foods during gestation set up babies for a kind of "addiction" to junk food? See my updated article about prenatal learning about food.
Continue reading "Do "pregnacy foods" affect children's eating habits?"
Confident, upbeat parents underestimate their children's anxieties. Why? See my updated article about the empathy gap.
Continue reading "The empathy gap: Why parents routinely underestimate their kids' anxieties"
New research suggests there is a trait that puts babies at higher risk for developing aggressive behavior problems. But, surprisingly, your baby's temperament may have little to do with it. And there's no reason to assume parents can't steer at-risk babies in the right direction.
Continue reading "Can you tell if a baby is going to become an aggressive kid?"
In my "Making Humans" blog: Revisiting the terrible conditions of 19th century factory life. How did life improve, and what can we do about the human rights violations of children alive today?
"Your kids don't need another friend. They need a parent."
Is this true? I'd argue no. But it depends on what you mean by "friend."
See my updated article about the perils and benefits of friendship between parents and children.
Continue reading "Should parents be friends with their kids?"
What happens when parents ignore their children's bad behavior? When they give in to tantrums or find it difficult to set limits? Read about a recent study that reports a link between permissive parenting and self-regulation in children.
Continue reading "Kids with permissive parents show less self-control"
A cool new study from Japan demonstrates the temporary power of baby-carrying. Walk with a baby in your arms, and she calms down in many ways -- she stops crying, her heart rate slows, and she stops moving around.
But the effects depend on your continued movement. Stop walking, put her down, and the calming response evaporates. To see a video made by the researchers, find the link at the bottom of my updated article "Infant crying in anthropological perspective."
Continue reading "The magical, physiological effects of babycarrying"
Authoritarian parents don't reason with their kids, and they take a punitive approach to regulating kids' behavior. What are the consequences? Check out my updated review of the latest research, "Authoritarian Parenting: How does it affect the kids?"
Continue reading "The perils of exerting too much control (and too little warmth)"
Some babies and toddlers grow up hearing many more words than others do. Does it make a difference? Research suggests that it does.
Continue reading "Do parents who talk to babies have smarter kids?"
Showing warmth, setting limits, and reasoning with kids. Has anybody demonstrated a better approach to parenting? Not yet.
See my updated article about authoritative parenting.
How do we prepare young kids to think critically and scientifically?
Fascinating research suggests that kids engage in spontaneous hypothesis-testing when we ask them to explain how things work.
See my updated article, Helping kids learn math and science: Why kids benefit when they teach others."
My recent blog post discussed a new study about the effects of watching gestures. But what about performing them? A growing body of research demonstrates that children who use gestures when they talk may be helping themselves learn.
Continue reading "Active gesturing: Why kids are better off if *they* talk with their hands"
Most people gesture when they talk. But some don't. Do these differences matter? When it comes to helping children learn, they might matter a great deal. Read about the latest research in my Science Notes blog.
Continue reading "Kids learn better from adults who talk with their hands"
In light of a new study of American 10th graders -- one reporting that Asian-Americans outperformed every other ethnic group in math and science -- it might be a good time to review some of the likely reasons. See my article on academic achievement and traditional Chinese parenting.
Continue reading "Explaining the high achievement of Chinese-Americans"
Severe stress is bad for the developing brain. But what about more moderate stress--like living in a home with warring parents? New research suggests that overhearing lots of angry conflicts might have an adverse impact -- even before babies are old enough to understand what the arguments are about.
Continue reading "Angry parent battles may shape babies' brains"
You might worry that your child spends too much time playing video games. But that, per se, doesn't mean he has an addiction. Read my updated article for the details.
Continue reading "Does your kid have a video game addiction?"
When is a child old enough to cross the street by himself?
A new study suggests that kids aren't very good at detecting the sound of an approaching car. They also have trouble figuring out the direction from which a car is coming.
Read the details in today's Science Notes.
Do kids who bully need us to teach them about calculating the costs and benefits of their actions?
Or do they need help developing their sense of empathy? Read more about it in my updated article about rationalization and moral reasoning in kids.
Continue reading "Kids learn to blame (or dehumanize) the victim long before high school"