How toxic stress affects child development
Recent studies reveal how toxic stress “gets under the skin” — disregulating hormones, turning genes “on” and “off,” and altering a child’s brain.
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.
Punitive environments encourage children to tell lies
It’s not unusual for kids to tell lies, but their readiness to deceive depends on how adults treat them. What can we do to foster honesty?
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.
Machiavellian kids? Understanding the moral reasoning of bullies
Studies suggest that many bullies are popular, confident, and socially-savvy. What’s missing? Empathy, and a sense of social responsibility.
How to help kids make friends: 12 evidence-based tips
How can we help kids make friends? Here are twelve tips based on the latest research.
Not actually angry: Black children and boys more frequently misjudged
Unconscious race biases can make us perceive anger where none exists. How many “behavior problems” in children are caused by adults getting it wrong?
Disruptive behavior problems: 12 evidence-based tips for handling aggression, defiance, and acting out
Psychologists call them “externalizing” behaviors — acts of disruption, aggression, defiance, or anti-social intent. Just about every parent has to cope with them at some point, particularly during the toddler years. Young children are still developing the ability to regulate their emotions and impulses; they need to learn what is expected of them. Research suggests … Continue reading
Spanking children: Why does it happen, and what are the effects?
Spanking children doesn’t help them learn self-control or social skills, and studies consistently show that spanking increases a child’s risk of developing behavior problems. But how can we be sure that spanking is harmful, and what can parents do instead when their children misbehave?
The sexualization of girls: How the popular culture harms our kids
© 2010-2019 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved What do psychologists mean by the ” sexualization of girls? “ According to the American Psychological Association, sexualization occurs when “individuals are regarded as sex objects and evaluated in terms of their physical characteristics and sexiness.” That isn’t something that children should ever have to contend with. … Continue reading
Empathy in children and teens: A guide for the science-minded
Empathy in children is a hot research topic, and a subject of great practical importance for families and communities. Empathy seems to be a crucial component of social intelligence, and many scholars argue that empathy is the basis for morality. So people want to know when and how children become aware of the feelings of … Continue reading
Empathy and the brain
Human empathy depends on the ability to share the emotions of others, to feel what other people feel. It is regarded by many people as the foundation of moral behavior. But to some, the concept seems rather airy-fairy. What does it mean to say “I feel your pain”? Isn’t that just a fanciful flight of … Continue reading
Pure bullies: Aggressors who are socially-savvy, popular, and smart
© 2008 – 2013 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Pure bullies are a distinctive group In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter learns a terrible truth: His late father had been a school bully. How disturbing. After all, Harry Potter’s father hadn’t been a social oaf—a slow-witted outsider who couldn’t … Continue reading