Key takeaways for caregivers Moral pride is the warm feeling you get after doing a good deed, such as helping someone or sharing. In our recent study of Canadian and Japanese children, we found that older children (nine- and 12-year-olds) felt more moral pride than younger children (six-year-olds). Compared to Japanese children, Canadian children were […] The post Feeling good for doing good: Recognizing children’s moral pride appeared first on Child and Family Blog ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Children learn a lot about themselves through daily conversations with caregivers. When caregivers talk to toddlers about their own bodies, thoughts, and feelings, they give them opportunities to attend to themselves. Mothers from Canada and Vanuatu differ in how they talk to their toddlers about these matters. These cultural differences may […] The post The Power of Words: Benefits of Conversations with Toddlers for Self-Development appeared first on Child and Family Blog ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Although parents may try to shelter their children from collective tragedy, at some point, children of all ages will be exposed, personally or via peers, news, or family. Parents need to talk with their children (whether preschoolers, college-aged students, or somewhere in between) about such events and listen to their children’s […] The post When Violence Hits a College Campus: How Parents Can Support Students, Even from Afar appeared first on Child and Family Blog ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Math skills at kindergarten entry predict children’s academic success in school. Young children usually enjoy learning math and can develop understanding about math in all the content areas they will encounter in school: number, patterns, shapes, spatial relations, and data. Parents can grow their young children’s math knowledge through playful activities […] The post How parents can support math learning at home and through everyday activities appeared first on Child and Family Blog ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Executive function (EF) skills: EF skills are brain-based processes that allow us to remember goals, resist impulses, and think flexibly. Early EF skills matter: Developing EF skills early in life is crucial for various outcomes like social competence, emotion regulation, academic achievement, and keeping out of legal trouble. Parental and caregiver […] The post Let Children Choose: Autonomy-Supportive Care for Cognitive Growth appeared first on Child and Family Blog ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Social exclusion harms individuals of all ages, leading to feelings of loneliness, decreased self-esteem, and even changes in brain activity. Humans’ ability to recognize and react to social exclusion emerges early, suggesting the importance of considering and addressing ostracism even when caring for very young children. Babies are sensitive to social clues: In one study, when 13-month-olds were excluded from a ball-tossing game with unfamiliar adults, they became fussy and frustrated, a shift in behavior compared to their happy engagement when they were included ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Decades of research points to specific ways parents can build resilience that can help protect children from the challenges of adverse experiences and stress. Strategies include parent-focused tips such as practicing self care, reflecting on one’s own past experiences, and developing emotional control. Additional strategies focus on ways to navigate relationships with children, including being a source of unconditional love and support, communicating, supporting children’s other relationships and activities, and adapting to changing needs as children grow. A need ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Multilingual children use digital media regularly, in all their home languages. Digital media use may affect multilingual children’s early language learning by reducing opportunities for back-and-forth conversations with adults. This finding is similar to results of studies of digital media and language learning for children learning only one language. When using digital media, families can try to select programs that are geared toward building children’s skills and presented in the families’ language(s). Families can support language development with back-and-for ..read more

Puntos clave para los cuidadores Los niños multilingües usan frecuentemente los medios digitales y los usan en los distintos idiomas que se hablan en su hogar. El uso de los medios digitales (por ej., la televisión, el computador o los “smartphones”) puede afectar negativamente el desarrollo del lenguaje en los niños que son multilingües porque reducen el tiempo que dedican a conversar con otros adultos. Otros estudios han mostrado que esto sucede de igual manera para niños/as que solo aprenden un idioma. Al usar medios digitales, las familias pueden tratar de elegir programas que ayuden a su ..read more

Key takeaways for caregivers Parental self-efficacy (i.e., a parent’s confidence in their own ability to care for their infant and respond to the infant’s needs) is the first step to a good parent-child relationship. Research has explored the development of maternal self-efficacy beginning during pregnancy and continuing after childbirth. Mothers who have previous childbirth and parenting experience or who live in a supportive environment have higher levels of self-efficacy in parenting after childbirth than do mothers without experience or support. A supportive environment might include acce ..read more