Thursday, October 31, 2013

Children born to teen mothers have delayed development, likely due to social factors

Children born to teen mothers have delayed development, likely due to social factors: Babies born to teen mothers have less developed speaking skills at age five than children of older mothers, a new study has found.

Children who spend time in child care more likely to develop behavioural problems' - Telegraph

Children who spend time in nurseries 'more likely to develop behavioural problems' - Telegraph: The study said: “These findings suggest that interventions to enhance children’s emotional and behavioural development might best focus on supporting families and augmenting the quality of care in the home.”

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Children born to teen mothers have delayed development, likely due to social factors

Children born to teen mothers have delayed development, likely due to social factors: Babies born to teen mothers have less developed speaking skills at age five than children of older mothers, a new study has found.

Speakers laud role of families at parenting conference | Deseret News

Speakers laud role of families at parenting conference | Deseret News: During their presentation, the Eyres shared their five basic principles of all families — the need to not be overly concerned with small issues; to remember each child is unique; to preserve time for personal needs; to prioritize children while they live in the home; and to give children more by giving them less.

"You need to restrain yourself, parents," Richard Eyre said. "Your instinct is to give them everything. It is the worst thing you could do."

Monday, October 28, 2013

Family caregivers live longer than their peers | Fox News

Family caregivers live longer than their peers | Fox News: Caring for a disabled family member can be overwhelmingly hard. But caregivers may live longer than those who don't bear such responsibilities, new research suggests.

In a nationwide study, adults who provided care for a chronically ill or disabled family member had a lower death rate than a similar group of non-caregivers.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Irregular Bedtimes Hampers Brain Development in Children

Irregular Bedtimes Hampers Brain Development in Children: A recent study has established a link between irregular sleep timings and behavioral problems in children. The research pointed out that children having irregular bedtimes end up disturbing their circadian rhythms that triggers sleep deprivation and hampers brain development.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Amazing photos show child's psychological development in the womb - Marriage & Family - Home & Family - Catholic Online

Amazing photos show child's psychological development in the womb - Marriage & Family - Home & Family - Catholic Online: Researchers believe recent findings could improve understanding about babies, especially those that are born prematurely. The new findings indicate that these actions help them to interact socially and their ability to calm themselves by sucking on their thumb or fingers.

The results could also be a potential indicator of how prepared babies are for feeding

Depression during pregnancy may affect child`s brain development

Depression during pregnancy may affect child`s brain development: Researchers at Bristol University have suggested that stress hormone cortisol, which is higher in depressed mothers, may affect the developing brain of the foetus in the womb as they are able to cross the placenta.







The research has been carried out by Rebecca Pearson, research epidemiologist at Bristol University's school of social community medicine.

Nurturing your child’s development from two to six months - The Advocate Messenger: Features

Children's Chatter: Nurturing your child’s development from two to six months - The Advocate Messenger: Features: During this stage of your baby’s life, you will notice that he is very interactive … smiling, cooing and babbling with you. He may even make a noise and wait for you to respond with a like noise, or he may respond to whatever noise or gesture you make. You may not realize it, but you are helping your child to develop his language and communication skills with this simple interaction.

Specialists agree reading to children necessary for development - TimesDaily: General Interest

Specialists agree reading to children necessary for development - TimesDaily: General Interest: Reading to children is one of the most important things a parent or relative can do for their child.

Yet, according to information on Reading is Fundamental’s website rif.org, fewer than half of families read to their kindergarten-age children daily.

Soyfoods: Healthy Solutions to Children's Nutrition | PRNewswire | Rock Hill Herald Online

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2013: Soyfoods: Healthy Solutions to Children's Nutrition | PRNewswire | Rock Hill Herald Online: To meet growing demands for healthy, plant-based foods, schools nationwide are serving tofu, veggie burgers, soy crumbles, soymilk, soy yogurt, and other soyfoods. In celebration of National School Lunch Week on Oct. 14-18, the Soyfoods Association of North America highlights the latest research confirming the healthfulness of soyfoods for children, and showcases schools offering soyfood options in their cafeterias.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Pediatric Advisor: Habit Reversal Training

Pediatric Advisor: Habit Reversal Training: Habit reversal training is a method used to help people deal with their habits. This method has been used to help with habits such as hair pulling, nail biting, thumbsucking, and certain kinds of tics. Usually, your healthcare provider or psychologist will show you how to use the procedures. These tips will help you practice at home.

Child development and mealtime – Part 1 | MSU Extension

Child development and mealtime – Part 1 | MSU Extension: Who would have thought that you can help a child develop a sense of independence during mealtimes? The old saying of forcing a child to “clean their plate,” may not be the best way to support child development. Michigan State University Extension recommends that children are taught to read their hunger cues, to tell if they need more to eat or if their hunger has been satisfied.

Children’s language development: Talk and listen to them from birth.

Children’s language development: Talk and listen to them from birth.: Pediatric surgeon Dana Suskind understands the gravity of her responsibility when a parent entrusts her to cut into a baby’s head. She does so as part of a delicate, two-hour operation to attach a cochlear implant to a deaf or hearing-impaired child’s inner ear. She does not consider an operation successful if it results merely in a child being able to hear.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Child Development and the Importance of Movement

Child Development and the Importance of Movement: The topic of this year’s SRAEYC conference was “Move to Learn, Play to Grow” and featured Christine Roberts, founder of Nurturing Pathways, an early childhood dance program based out of Seattle that promotes healthy development and strong bonds between parents and infants.

Aubrie McArthur, CSI toddler- and preschool-lab facilitator and conference organizer, said she decided to invited Roberts after seeing her present last year in Coeur d’Alene.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Overeating During Pregnancy Predicts a Lifetime of Obesity for Children

Overeating During Pregnancy Predicts a Lifetime of Obesity for Children: Medicine has long focused on the effects of malnutrition during pregnancy. Expectant mothers are encouraged to take vitamin supplements to ensure that their child receives all the crucial nutrients they need. But with America’s rising obesity epidemic, it's time to examine the effects of another, seemingly unrelated problem: overnutrition.

Too much screen time can delay child's brain development

Too much screen time can delay child's brain development: The addictive nature of some computer games was also leading to serious social disorders, doctors giving presentations at this year's Australian Council on Children and the Media conference said.

While many parents worry whether they should give small children access to technology, a lecturer at the Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University, Kate Highfield, said a small amount of screen time with the right apps or games could help a child's development.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Urgency of Protecting the Developing Brain

Click this link to read the article.

Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Role of the Pediatrician: Translating Developmental Science Into Lifelong Health

Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Role of the Pediatrician: Translating Developmental Science Into Lifelong Health: Pediatricians are now armed with new information about the adverse effects of toxic stress on brain development, as well as a deeper understanding of the early life origins of many adult diseases. As trusted authorities in child health and development, pediatric providers must now complement the early identification of developmental concerns with a greater focus on those interventions and community investments that reduce external threats to healthy brain growth. To this end, AAP endorses a developing leadership role for the entire pediatric community—one that mobilizes the scientific expertise of both basic and clinical researchers, the family-centered care of the pediatric medical home, and the public influence of AAP and its state chapters—to catalyze fundamental change in early childhood policy and services.

Impact of Pivotal Response Training Group Therapy on Stress and Empowerment in Parents of Children With Autism

Impact of Pivotal Response Training Group Therapy on Stress and Empowerment in Parents of Children With Autism: Parents of children with autism are increasingly being considered as primary agents of intervention for their children. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether participating in a pivotal response training (PRT) group therapy program for parents of children with autism influenced related aspects of parents’ lives, namely, their levels of stress and empowerment. Seventeen families participated in a 10-week therapy group designed to train parents to use PRT, with a specific focus on their children’s language deficits. Measures of empowerment and stress were obtained at baseline and at the end of the trial. Ratings on the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form and the Family Empowerment Scale showed significant changes from pre- to posttreatment, indicating that parents felt higher levels of empowerment and lower levels of stress after the 10-week group program. Notably, stress related to parent–child interactions was most reduced. Possible causal factors and implications are discussed.

Parent-Mediated Everyday Child Learning Opportunities

Abstract

This CASEinPoint includes a description of the theoretical,



operational, and research foundations of an approach to early

childhood intervention called Contextually Mediated Practices

or CMP. CMP uses everyday family and community activities



as sources of natural learning opportunities and child interests

as the basis for parent-mediated child participation and learning

in those activities. The goals of CMP are increased child

participation in everyday activities and enhanced child and

parent confidence and competence as a result of the everyday

learning opportunities.

Click on this link for the rest of the article.

Interest-Based Child Participation in Every-day Learning Activities

ABSTRACT
This paper includes a description of the characteristics and
consequences of children’s interest-based participation in everyday
learning activities. A framework illustrating how interest-
based participation in everyday family and community
activities promotes child learning and development is included.
Strategies are described for identifying and using child interests
as the basis for promoting learning and development. The
benefits of children’s interest-based participation in everyday
activities also are described.

Click on this link for the rest of the article.

A randomised group comparison controlled trial of ‘preschoolers with autism’: A parent education and skills training intervention for young children with autistic disorder

A randomised group comparison controlled trial of ‘preschoolers with autism’: A parent education and skills training intervention for young children with autistic disorder: Parent education and behaviour management resulted in significant improvement in adaptive behaviour and autism symptoms at 6 months follow-up for children with greater delays in adaptive behaviour. Parent education and behaviour management was superior to parent education and counselling. We conclude that a 20-week parent education programme including skills training for parents of young children with autistic disorder provides significant improvements in child adaptive behaviour and symptoms of autism for low-functioning children.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Caffeine can Delay Brain Development in Children : Health & Medicine : Nature World News

Caffeine can Delay Brain Development in Children : Health & Medicine : Nature World News: Pubescent children drinking coffee or consuming products rich in caffeine might suffer from poor sleep and delayed brain development. A new study on pubescent rats showed that growth of young brain slows down in the presence of caffeine.

Researchers found that caffeine intake of pubescent rats' adversely affected deep sleep and brain development. The amount of caffeine given to the rats was roughly equivalent to three to four cups of coffee per day.

Obesity influences school success

Obesity influences school success: Children who are extremely overweight achieve lower math grades and attend German upper secondary school (Gymnasium) less frequently, is shown by a study, undertaken by the WZB Berlin Social Science Center (WZB). For the first time, it has been proved that obesity regardless of the students social background influences school performance. Previously, it was only known that people with lower education had a tendency to suffer from weight issues. In Germany 15 percent of children and young people between the ages of 3 to 17 are overweight, and about 6 percent are obese

Child development tip: Stages of speech development - The Western News: Opinion

Child development tip: Stages of speech development - The Western News: Opinion: How well does the child respond to noises in his environment?

• How does he request items?

• Does he try to make any words?

• How well can he identify named objects?

• Can he follow directions?

• Does he seem frustrated when others don’t understand him?

Here are some general guidelines for the development of the speech aspect of talking that may help you decide if you should worry about your child’s language skills.