Happy Babies Need Happy Moms
Postpartum depression affects an estimated one out of nine women. These new moms must not only acclimate to raising a newborn child, but also with the symptoms of this newfound depression. That’s no small feat.
Resources
When a Mom Feels Depressed, Her Baby’s Cells Might Feel It, Too (Scientific American)
Laptops To Leapfrogs
Children have been sitting in front of screens ever since the advent of television. From TVs to smart phones, and laptops to LeapFrogs, children and adults are fascinated by the near endless possibilities of these devices.
Resources
What if Children Should be Spending More Time with Screens? (The Wall Street Journal)
Child Care Subsidy Is Good For Md
If Maryland increases the Child Care Subsidy rates so that we are subsidizing parents up to the federally-recommended 75% of child care settings in their communities, families will have more choices and access to better programs.
Resources
Food Insecurity
When a young child experiences regular bouts of food insecurity they are more likely to be unprepared for kindergarten than children who know where the next meal is coming from.
Resources
The Kids Are Not All Right
We’ve all made bad decisions before. But adverse experiences during the first five years of life can make it very difficult to ever make good decisions.
Resources
How Childhood Trauma Adversely Affects Decision-Making (Pacific Standard)
Are Babies Reading Between The Lines
Recent research suggests that the quality of what is read to children during the first year of life may be just as important to their development as the quantity of what is read.
Resources
For Baby's Brain to Benefit, Read the Right Books at the Right Time (The Conversation)
Evidence Based Approach to Promoting Early Child Development (Reach Out and Read)
Book List for Infant and Toddlers (Read Aloud America)
Evidence Based Approach to Promoting Early Child Development (Reach Out and Read)
Book List for Infant and Toddlers (Read Aloud America)
Spanking And Violence
Spanking a child has long-term consequences. New research suggests that people who are spanked during early childhood have a greater likelihood of perpetrating violence toward romantic partners.
Resources
Childhood Corporal Punishment and Future Perpetration of Physical Dating Violence (The Journal of Pediatrics)
Risks of Harm from Spanking Confirmed by Analysis of Five Decades of Research (University of Texas at Austin)
The Case Against Spanking (American Psychological Association)
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities (CDC)
Risks of Harm from Spanking Confirmed by Analysis of Five Decades of Research (University of Texas at Austin)
The Case Against Spanking (American Psychological Association)
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities (CDC)
Too Many Toys
The holidays are a tempting time to shower children with toys. At the risk of sounding like the Grinch, a new study suggests that there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to children and toys.
Resources
The Influence of the Number of Toys in the Environment on Toddlers' Play. (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
Giving Toddlers Fewer Toys Makes One Major Difference to Their Playtime (Science Alert)
Giving Toddlers Fewer Toys Makes One Major Difference to Their Playtime (Science Alert)
Cute Aggression
That impulse to take a little bite out of a baby due to his or her overwhelming cuteness actually has a name…and a purpose. Listen and find out more!
Resources
Dimorphous Expressions of Positive Emotion (Association for Psychological Science)
When We See Something Cute, Why Do We Want to Squeeze It? (National Geographic)
When We See Something Cute, Why Do We Want to Squeeze It? (National Geographic)
Stick To It.
Young children who watch adults remain committed to a task are more likely to try harder when performing their own tasks. Find out why this matters!