How to distract a 2-year-old (to avoid an emotional meltdown)
How to distract a 2-year-old? The best approach doesn’t just steer kids away from bad moods. It also teaches a crucial self-regulation skill.
Self-regulation
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.
Evidence that spanking alters the brain
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved As disciplinary tactics go, spanking is ineffective, and it may be harmful, too. A new study suggests that spanking alters the brain, making kids more reactive to potential threats, and more at risk for developing behavior problems. Over the years, I’ve followed the research on spanking, and … Continue reading
Video games and attention: Gaming enhances some attention skills, and hinders others
Studies of video games and attention reveal mixed effects. Some games can boost visual attention, and they may help kids with dyslexia. But there’s a downside.
ADHD in children: What parents need to know about attention and hyperactivity problems
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved The difficulty of identifying ADHD in children Diagnosing ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is intrinsically problematic. The symptoms—distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity—are consistent with the normal behavior of young children. So when young children are diagnosed, the implication is that they are more distractible, impulsive, or hyperactive than … Continue reading
Exercise for children: How physical fitness benefits the brain — and helps kids learn
© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Experts recommend that kids get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each day. Why? Such activities are crucial for cardiovascular health. But exercise for children is important for other reasons too. It appears to stimulate brain growth. It helps kids focus, and stick to a plan. … Continue reading
When does peer pressure start? Early. Very early in life.
Peer pressure and social conformity starts long before adolescence. When faced with a choice between telling the truth and backing a popular falsehood, even 4-year-old children will buckle. Yet kids also possess the ability to question — and even reject — majority opinion. What can we do to encourage children to think for themselves? You … Continue reading
Working memory tips: How to help kids focus and stick to a plan
© 2017 – 2020 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Working memory (or “WM”) is the system we use to keep information immediately available in our thoughts. We use working memory when we perform calculations in our heads, track the meaning of a conversation, and remember what we’re supposed to do next. As you can … Continue reading
Raising helpful kids: Tips for teaching generosity and kindness
© 2020 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved How do you teach kids to be helpful? To be generous and kind? Studies suggest we should avoid heavy-handed tactics and bribes. Instead, we need to respect — and nurture — our children’s natural inclinations to do good. Helpful? Generous? Caring? Psychologists call these behaviors “prosocial,” and … Continue reading
Infant crying, fussing, and colic: A thinking parent’s guide
Are you coping with infant crying, fussing, or colic? Babies everywhere cry, especially during the first 3 months after birth. Even chimpanzees follow this pattern (Bard 2004). Like it or not, crying is a universal mode of communication for our species. But that doesn’t mean we’re helpless to improve the situation. Parents can have an important … Continue reading
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
The permissive parenting style: Does it ever benefit kids?
© 2019 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Some studies have linked the permissive parenting style with optimal child outcomes. But the results depend on how researchers define “permissive.” Kids don’t benefit when parents ignore anti-social behavior. But being supportive of autonomy? That’s different. Studies suggest that kids thrive when parents are less bossy and punitive, and more … Continue reading