Recent highlights
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Preschoolers prefer cooperative board games, and these games are well-suited to their developmental abilities. -
When we rely on electronic media to calm kids down, our children are at higher risk for behavior problems and "withdrawal" tantrums. -
What are the social and cognitive benefits of play? Read what scientific studies reveal about play and the developing brain.
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Are kids confused by fairy tales? Is fantasy a waste of time? On the contrary. But we need to consider certain developmental factors. -
If you learn about circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, you can make sense of your newborn sleep, and lay the groundwork for easier nights. -
Parenting Science reviews the research. Which toys support the development of spatial intelligence? Can educational games teach math skills?
Praise for Parenting Science
“[A] welcome antidote to the opinion dressed up as science that parents are constantly fed. Tear up your parenting books and get yourselves over there…”
– Charles Fernyhough, Ph.D., developmental psychologist and author of A Thousand Days of Wonder: A Scientist’s Chronicle of his Daughter’s Developing Mind
“…[O]ne of the most awesome websites I’ve seen in a long time…In addition to being helpful to academic parents, I see this site being useful in anthropology courses on human sexuality, life history, parenting, evolutionary medicine, evolutionary psychology, etc. Please check it out!”
– Julienne Rutherford, Ph.D., University of Illinois biological anthropologist and founder of the Biological Anthropology Developing Investigators Troop (BANDIT)
“I came across a great website run by Gwen Dewar, one I wish it had been available to me when my children were young. I hope everyone interested in math and kids will look at In search of the smart preschool board game and other pages on this site.”
– Bill Marsh, Ph.D., in mathematics and author of MathInking, a blog about teaching math