Bad role models: What happens when adults lie to children?
What happens when adults lie to children? Kids tend to become more dishonest, and they might be at higher risk for aggressive and antisocial behavior problems.
Growing up
To get along in society, children need to learn social and emotional skills. These Parenting Science articles offer insights about the development of empathy, friendship, self-control…and more.
Permissive parenting: An evidence-based guide
Permissive parenting might seem like the “no discipline” approach. A threat to civilization? Probably not, but outcomes depends on we define this parenting style.
The Strange Situation test: Is your child securely attached?
Researchers use the Strange Situation procedure to measure attachment in young children. How does it work, and how can we raise secure kids?
Emotion coaching: Helping kids cope with negative feelings
Emotion coaching is the practice of tuning into children’s feelings, and helping kids learn to cope with negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness.
Teaching empathy: Evidence-based tips for fostering empathic awareness in children
Can we nurture empathy in children? Yes. Evidence-based tips for teaching empathy, based on the latest discoveries.
Why kids rebel (and how we can encourage cooperation)
Most kids are ready to be cooperative. But they recognize limits to our power. When we overreach, kids reject our authority as illegitimate.
Teaching self-control: Evidence-based tips
Teaching self-control? Kids benefit when we remove temptations and distractions; offer timely reminders; and show kids how to stick to a plan.
Evidence-based social skills activities for children and teens (with teaching tips)
25 social skills activities to help kids communicate, connect, empathize, read minds, cooperate, negotiate, and befriend.
Taming aggression in children: 5 strategies for effective parenting
Good news from researchers who study aggression in children: By changing our mental habits, we can help prevent aggression before it erupts.
Delayed gratification isn’t just about willpower
Delayed gratification isn’t always a matter of willpower. When adults appear unreliable – or downright untrustworthy – kids choose instant rewards over future benefits. And children show an increased willingness to wait if they believe their peers will do the same.
The effects of violent video games: What does the research tell us?
Do violent video games have any negative effects on kids? Parenting Science takes a critical look at the research.
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.