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Child Development

Getting the Tough Talks Right (With Kids)

By Maureen D. Healy on May 22, 2013 in Creative Development

Ever struggle with saying “just the right things” to your kids? Here are four don't-miss tips. Read More

Teen Love Meets the Internet

By George Drinka, M.D. on May 22, 2013 in When the Media Is the Parent

Text messaging, Facebook and email are all working to elbow aside usual human communications. Because human relations are intense, confusing, demanding and ambiguous, humans may prefer connections wherein a certain polite distance is retained. Read More

Welcome to Your Other Mothers

By Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. on May 21, 2013 in Your Other Mothers

If you are overwhelmed with the 700 million possible places to look for information about kids, stop here. In the information age, sifting through mountains of information can be as important as having that information. You have just met the interpreters and sifters. Read More

Tackling Toilet Training: 5 Tips for Parents

By Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. on May 21, 2013 in The Race to Good Health

Many parents often are quick to get their child out of diapers but often this transition to “big boy or big girl” pants is not easy. Readiness for toilet training depends on the individual child, but generally occurs between ages 18 to 30 months. Keep in mind that no child is the same when it comes to toilet training. Read More

Bed Sharing With Babies: What is the Hype About?

By Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D. on May 21, 2013 in Moral Landscapes

Bed sharing is good for babies. Humans have done it since they evolved. Babies' bodies expect it for optimal growth and development. So what is the fuss about? Read More

Empathy Reconsidered

By Thomas E. Wartenberg, Ph.D. on May 20, 2013 in The Engaged Philosopher

People have natural circles of empathy, even young kids do. What those circles exclude is often more important than what they include. Can we increase the breadth of our circles of empathy? Read More

SIDS: Risks and Realities

By Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D. on May 20, 2013 in Moral Landscapes

A new study by Carpenter and colleagues in the British Medical Journal makes claims about bedsharing, breastfeeding and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Here is what they got wrong. Read More

Childhood ADHD Linked to Obesity in Adulthood

By Christopher Bergland on May 20, 2013 in The Athlete's Way

A new study links childhood ADHD with an increased risk for obesity in adulthood. Read More

Effective Coping Strategies for ADHD Are Not Cures

By Ugo Uche on May 20, 2013 in Promoting Empathy With Your Teen

Coping with ADHD is not the same as treating it. Read More

The Adolescent Only Child and Friendship

By Carl E. Pickhardt, Ph.D. on May 20, 2013 in Surviving (Your Child's) Adolescence

For some reason, when by choice or circumstance parents have an only child, that child and that child's upbringing can be subject to a lot of negative social stereotypes that a child with siblings is not. One such stereotype is growing up lonely and friendless. I disagree with this notion, and here is why. Read More

Has Science Discovered the Secrets of Happy Families?

By Kenneth Barish, Ph.D. on May 20, 2013 in Pride and Joy

Bruce Feiler has discovered, in contemporary scientific research, a gold mine of helpful parenting advice. The research is sound and the advice is wise, invaluable to many over-stressed modern parents. But has science really discovered the secrets of happy families? Read More

Words of Wisdom

By Al Vernacchio, M.S. Ed. on May 19, 2013 in For Goodness Sex

If given the chance, what advice would 12th graders give to 9th graders about healthy sexuality? Really good advice, it turns out. Read More

4 Ways Children Learn Gratitude

By Rita Watson on May 19, 2013 in With Love and Gratitude

To reinforce gratitude, it is important for children to see parents practice what they preach. Read More

Envy, Prejudice, and Self-imposed Slavery

By Frank J. Ninivaggi, M.D., F.A.P.A. on May 19, 2013 in Envy This!

You are "in charge" of yourSelf--if you choose! Read More

The Traumatic Effects of Forced Deportation on Families

By Robert T. Muller, Ph.D. on May 18, 2013 in Talking About Trauma

The deportation of some parents in North America has traumatic effects on their children. Read More

Thinking About Thinking May Help At-Risk Children

By Kristi Pikiewicz, PhD on May 18, 2013 in Meaningful You

A child with high "mentalization" has space to consider his models from all sides, compare and contrast them, and choose how near or far to “stand” from them. Read More

That Elusive Birth Order Effect and What it Means for You

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. on May 18, 2013 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Myths and stereotypes about birth order in the popular literature shape our beliefs about how a person’s order in the family influences everything from life success to attitudes, values, and goals. Three recent studies provide new insights into this perennial issue and will help you understand the role of birth order in your own life. Read More

When ADHD has Nowhere to Hide

By Monnica T. Williams, Ph.D. on May 17, 2013 in Culturally Speaking

ADHD might not be a problem when kids have plenty of physical activity or acres of farmland to roam free, but more kids struggle as schools eliminate recess, lunch breaks, and PE. In today's society ADHD has nowhere to hide. Read More

Why Children Suck at Lying

By Kristina R. Olson, Ph.D. on May 17, 2013 in Developing Minds

A few months ago a video of 3-year-old John, whose face was covered in sprinkles went viral. John became an internet sensation and guest on the Ellen Degeneres show not because he liked sprinkles, rather because of his insistence, time and time again, that he had NOT eaten the sprinkles. What are children so bad at lying? Read More

Do Electronic Games Make Learning Too Easy?

By Mack R. Hicks, Ph.D. on May 17, 2013 in Digital Pandemic

Is learning like making good wine, which takes time to mature? Or is Bill Gates' hope that kids can learn learn math concepts without noticing, the way to go? Are children just guinea pigs in an unregulated research project? Read More

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