http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html The Parenting Science news feed keeps you up-to-date on the latest articles added to ParentingScience.com. Subscribe here. en-us parenting Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:51:45 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:51:45 GMT parentingscience.com http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:26:30 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:32:29 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:18:45 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:46:48 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:23:09 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:01:21 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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." Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:49:19 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:33:48 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:50:22 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:16:02 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:59:16 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:16:24 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:48:12 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:12:13 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:08:31 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Best-science-based-parenting-tips-of-2011 Here are my votes for the most important parenting lessons we learned from researchers in 2011. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:44:18 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:41:51 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Coolest-baby-science-stories-of-2011 A round-up of some of year's most interesting baby-related science stories. Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:08:30 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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? Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:33:20 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:59:53 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:23:40 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:49:14 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:07:20 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:08:34 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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? Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:33:38 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:54:35 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Baby-barbells? All over the world, women wear babies on their backs. On their hips? Not so often. Now I know why. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:15:36 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:22:09 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:09:55 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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? Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:27:39 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:04:24 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:15:40 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:42:57 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:56:27 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Creating-bullies:-Are-parents-to-blame? How do bullies happen? Are parents to blame? Check out today's Science Notes. Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:26:03 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/spatial-skills.html 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. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:20:08 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:11:38 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/spatial-intelligence.html 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. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:23:47 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:43:38 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#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. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:12:17 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Deadly-abuse-inspired-by-a-preacher's-child-training-manual? Here's a story of terrible, deadly child abuse and neglect. Can we prosecute the authors of a "child training" manual? Probably not. But we should hold people morally accountable for promoting an authoritarian, ask-no-questions mindset among parents and children. See today's Science Notes. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:38:58 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Should-newborns-sleep-alone? In a new study, researchers detected evidence of stress in babies left to sleep in bedside bassinets. They conclude that "maternal separation may be stressor the human neonate is not well-evolved to cope with and may not be benign." Read the details on today's Science Notes. Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:42:05 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Depo-Provera-birth-control-may-cause-cognitive-impairment Studies on humans and experiments on rats suggest we have something to worry about: A synthetic hormone in the "birth control shot" and other medications may cause memory loss and contribute to the development of dementia. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:03:13 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Does-negative-parenting-in-infancy-make-children-more-aggressive? Some kids may have temperaments that put them at risk for aggressive behavior. But a new study suggests that early, negative parenting plays an important role in the development of conduct problems at school. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:27:08 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Does-harsh-punishment-make-kids-devious? In today's Science Notes: A "natural experiment" that tests the honesty and manipulative skills of very little kids attending a harsh, punitive school. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:02:21 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Peer-pressure-in-preschool:-How-children-change-to-conform New experiments suggest that many four-year-olds will lie in order to conform with their peers. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:04:17 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Can-we-stop-judging-young-mothers? In today's Science Notes, some thoughts about the assumption that teenage mothers are necessarily incompetent mothers. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:20:01 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Young-mother-v.-old-mother:-What's-more-natural? Teen pregnancy is bad. Middle-aged pregnancy is misguided and selfish. Right? In today's Science Notes, I talk about the timing of pregnancy and what's been normal for our species...for many thousands of years. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:10:20 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#Stressed-women-more-likely-to-have-baby-girls? In today's Science Notes, evidence that chronic stress increases your chance of producing female offspring. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:10:27 GMT http://www.parentingscience.com/parenting-blog.html#How-often-do-you-think-about-sex? The lore says men think about sex much more than women do. A recent study suggests that's an exaggeration. And I'm wondering if the biggest group differences are between new parents and childless people. More in today's Science Notes. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:34:55 GMT