© 2016 – 2020 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Parenting stress puts a strain on the whole family — sapping patience, damaging relationships, eroding well-being. What can we do about it? Here are some suggestions inspired by the latest research. 1. Need social support? Reach out — even if it’s just a phone call … Continue reading
Unconscious race biases can make us perceive anger where none exists. How many “behavior problems” in children are caused by adults getting it wrong?
Green spaces defuse stress, and may help prevent depression and childhood psychiatric disorders. But not every green space is equal.
© 2019 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Parents can help children recover from stress by offering physical affection and words of support. But is there more? Maybe secure attachment relationships also help kids develop the ability to self-soothe. What happens when you soothe your baby’s tears? When you make eye contact, engage your baby … Continue reading
© 2019 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Vitamin A supplements are helpful for children who have a vitamin A deficiency. But most healthy, well-nourished kids don’t need supplements. And some kids may be getting too much vitamin A — consuming excessive levels of preformed vitamin A in liver, dairy products, fish oil, multivitamins, and … Continue reading
Oxytocin is often called the “hormone of attachment” because it seems to help individuals bond with other members of their in-group. A surge of oxytocin makes us feel more trusting and generous toward our social partners (e.g., Baumgartner et al 2008; Zak et al 2007). It encourages us to tend and befriend. It can help … Continue reading
Outdoor learning benefits kids in many ways – reducing stress, lifting moods, & boosting concentration.
© 2010-2014 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Recent research confirms that fish are high in nutrients essential for brain growth. Pregnant women who eat fish, and parents who include fish in their children’s diets, are providing their families with omega-3 fatty acids that may boost cognitive development (Strain et al 2012). But unfortunately there … Continue reading
© 2009-2014 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Putting nutrition for kids in an evolutionary context It’s become a cliché. Paleolithic people were athletic, fit, and free from the chronic diseases associated with modern, affluent, sedentary lifestyles: obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. Why? They exercised regularly, walking an average of 8 miles a day. … Continue reading
New research offers important insights about nutrition for kids. For example, studies confirm that, for their body weight, children burn more fat (Kostyak et al 2007). These and other observations suggest that many seemingly natural, healthful diets for adults are inappropriate for children. What else should parents keep in mind? Here is an index to … Continue reading
What’s wrong with the status quo? © 2006-2013 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Childbirth trauma in cross-cultural perspective In Western countries, parents are expected to respond to childbirth with happiness and joy. But when anthropologist Wenda Trevathan reviewed childbirth in other cultures, she discovered that joy is not very common (Trevathan 1987). In many … Continue reading
© 2009 – 2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Like probiotics, prebiotics are a popular new food additive. Should your family be consuming them? Experiments suggest that prebiotic supplements are safe. They are probably healthful, too. Here is an overview of the subject: What prebiotics are, where you can find them, and why you … Continue reading