Why toy blocks rock: The science of construction play
Toy blocks can help kids develop better motor skills, spatial skills, and math skills. But to unleash all of these skills, kids need to do more than move blocks around.
Cognitive development
Can preschool board games boost mathematics skills?
Studies suggest that children can learn math lessons from a preschool board game — if the game has these features.
The Mozart effect: The truth behind the claims
Depending on how you define it, the Mozart effect either doesn’t exist, or is a weak phenomenon with an extremely misleading name. But studies do hint that music can make us feel more alert and focused, giving us a brief cognitive boost. It may also deliver health perks.
How to support language development in babies
Babies possess amazing learning abilities. But to master language, they need our help. Studies suggest we can support language development by engaging babies in conversation, and by providing them with a variety of special cues and communicative experiences.
Can musical training help babies learn language?
Research suggests that playful, age-appropriate musical training can help babies learn language-related skills.
When do babies say their first word?
Babies make lots of communicative noises, but coos, gurgles, and cries aren’t true speech. When do babies say their first words? Most babies can say at least one or two words by the end of their first year, but the timing may vary considerably from individual to individual.
Compassionate deception: Do children tell prosocial lies?
Do children tell prosocial lies – lies intended to protect another person from harm? Fascinating experiments indicate that many kids are capable of this by the age of 7, and some children show the capacity even earlier.
STEM books and learning resources for kids: Parenting Science recommendations
STEM books for kids? Math and science games? Resources to get kids thinking, coding, building? Recommendations from Parenting Science.
Structured block play: Can construction toys boost STEM achievement?
There are many ways to play with blocks. One approach — structured block play — may be especially helpful for promoting STEM achievement.
DIY Preschool math games that help kids develop “number sense”
These preschool math games have helped young children develop an intuitive understanding of numbers. Here’s how to make them, and how to play.
At what age do children begin to tell lies?
Most kids begin telling lies between the ages of 2 and 4, as they develop better “mind-reading” skills and self-control. But understanding the morality of lying? That comes later.
How do babies respond to music in the womb?
In the last trimester, fetuses can hear music in the womb. And if they hear the same tune many times, they may learn to recognize it.