Play: One of the most important factors in a child’s development | MSU Extension

Play: One of the most important factors in a child’s development | MSU Extension: The previous two articles in this series by Michigan State University Extension focused on children playing and learning in nature. Research proves there are positive effects of nature on children and their overall well-being. Nature can be attributed to creativity, better cognitive skills, lower obesity rates and a whole host of other beneficial reasons doctors are actually prescribing “time in nature” to their patients. In addition, recent studies indicate that not only nature, but letting children have free play has a big impact on their overall health by what educators call executive function.

Maternal Parenting Behavior and Child Behavior Problems in Families of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder - Springer

Maternal Parenting Behavior and Child Behavior Problems in Families of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder - Springer: Parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face specific challenges in parenting, but concrete parenting behavior has never been properly investigated in these families. This exploratory questionnaire study compared parenting behaviors among mothers of children and adolescents with ASD (n = 552) and without ASD (n = 437) and examined associations between child behavior problems and parenting behavior. Results showed that mothers of children with ASD reported significantly lower scores on Rules and Discipline and higher scores on Positive Parenting, Stimulating the Development, and Adapting the Environment. Age was differently related to parenting behavior in the ASD versus control group. Furthermore, distinctive correlation patterns between parenting behavior and externalizing or internalizing behavior problems were found for both groups.

TV and children's development | BPS

TV and children's development | BPS: Research carried out at the University of Iowa, published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, found that if a TV programme is on in the background, rather than being watched intently, it can take a child's attention away from play and learning.

This was particularly apparent among low-income families and households in which the parents have not been well-educated.

The team behind the study has therefore suggested that once a youngster has finished sitting down to watch a certain show, the television should be turned off.

Flights of Fancy | Free play shapes a child's brain—and bestows a lifetime of benefits

Flights of Fancy | HMS: Play fosters empathy and makes possible complex social groups, according to researchers who study brain development and behavior. Early childhood educators, as well as managers in diverse fields who need to hire skilled problem solvers, find that a strong foundation of childhood play is at the core of imagination and innovation. Play may even serve as a short-term boost for problem-solving skills: cognitive scientists have found that young children who approach problems within the context of play are able to solve logic problems often considered beyond their cognitive abilities.

Is misused neuroscience defining early years and child protection policy? | Education | The Guardian

Is misused neuroscience defining early years and child protection policy? | Education | The Guardian: Neuroscience is huge in early years policy. This week, in what's been characterised as the largest shake-up of family law in a generation, the 26-week time limit for adoption proceedings has come into force, much of it justified by the now-or-never urgency of this set of beliefs, that the first three years (or sometimes first 18 months) hardwire a baby's brain, either give it or deny it the capacity for a full life. This is the engine of what is known as the First Three Years movement, which has transfixed politicians from across the spectrum. Allen and Duncan Smith's report opened with an illustration of the "normal child's" large brain and the shrivelled, walnut brain of the neglected child.

Understanding and responding to the increase in teen depression | Deseret News National

Understanding and responding to the increase in teen depression | Deseret News National: The World Mental Health Survey, which was supported by WHO, found that half of those who suffered from mental health problems, including depression, first experience symptoms at age 14. In high-income countries, like the United States, fewer than half of adolescents with a mental health problem receive treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that a survey of students in grades 9-12 at schools in the United States revealed “16 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide, 13 percent reported creating a plan, and 8 percent reported trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey.”

In America today, high school and college students are five to eight times as likely to suffer from depressive symptoms as were teenagers 50 or 60 years ago, according to Psychology Today.

Bed-Sharing Linked to SIDS

Bed-Sharing Linked to SIDS: Risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) appear to change with the age of the infant, researchers say.

They found that younger babies are more likely to die when they're sharing beds, while older babies face a higher risk of sudden death when there are objects in the crib with them, such as pillows and toys.

Parents who Share a Bed with their Baby Dramatically Increase SID Risk

Parents who Share a Bed with their Baby Dramatically Increase SID Risk: Findings revealed that close to 69 percent of the infants from the sample who died were sharing a bed with an adult. Study results also showed that deaths of close to 73.8 percent of younger infants below the age of four mounts were due to bed-sharing.

Researchers said more attention regarding the risks of bed-sharing should be discussed among parents with infants three months or younger. According to Dr. Jeffrey Colvin of the university, parents should be warned about such sleeping areas for babies. If an infant rolls near a parent or objects where he or she is sleeping, the chances of suffocation dramatically increase.

Reading aloud to toddlers: how it helps your child's development

Reading aloud to toddlers: how it helps your child's development: Head Start may be too late. The iconic federal preschool program targets low-income kids between 3 and 5, but the brain forms critical language connections in its first thousand days, experts say.
That’s the message the American Academy of Pediatrics sent to doctors who care for low-income children in a recent policy statement. A child who is read aloud to and has a rich language environment enjoys distinct advantages, the report argues, which linger well into the school years.
A 2012 study, cited in the APP report, found that 60 percent of high-income children were read to daily, while only 34 percent of those well below the poverty line were read to.
“Children from low-income homes are much less likely to have a language rich environment,” said Dr. Pamela High, director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. “They hear fewer words and they know fewer words at age 3 than their more advantaged peers.”
Those differences play out in vocabulary and reading ability, said High, the primary author of the APP statement.

said that autism spectrum disorder was now found in 1 in 68 children

said that autism spectrum disorder was now found in 1 in 68 children



Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that autism spectrum disorder was now found in 1 in 68 children, based on monitoring that the agency conducts in ten states.

The numbers marked an upward spike in autism prevalence: in 2008, the estimate was that approximately 1 in 88 children in the monitored states had been diagnosed with an ASD. In 2006 the ratio was 1 in 110, and in estimates for 2002 and 2000, it was 1 in 150. 

But are these numbers accurate? 

Developing 'domains' is key to helping a child

Developing 'domains' is key to helping a child: Nurturing, supporting and guiding children within the domains of early childhood development will greatly increase their chances of being ready.

What are the "domains" of early childhood development? How a child grows and learns developmentally in various aspects of their lives such as their language, physical abilities, cognitive skills and social/emotional competency are domains of early childhood development.

Report: Reading to young children benefits brain development

Report: Reading to young children benefits brain development: A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that reading daily to young children, starting in infancy, can help with language acquisition and literacy skills. But, the report says, many children are missing out. Jeffrey Brown takes a closer look at the consequences and opportunities to improve with lead author of the study, Dr. Pamela High of the American Academy of Pediatrics.