The Parenting Science news feed alerts you to updates on the Parenting Science website and to new blog posts or articles written by Gwen Dewar about parenting and child development topics.
If you have a social media account, you can follow this site by clicking on one of the Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or RSS buttons.
Is your child afraid of the dark? Is your child’s fear severe enough to be considered a phobia? Here’s what research tells us about the signs and causes…and how to help kids to overcome their fears.
Observational fear learning is what happens when we use social cues to identify something as threatening. Can kids learn in this way? Yes!
Teaching kids to count is a good start, but it isn’t enough. Children also need to develop “number sense,” an intuitive feeling for the actual amount associated with a given number. Where does number sense come from, and what can we do to make sure kids really learn the concept of number? Check out these preschool number activities.
Do violent video games have any negative effects on kids? Parenting Science takes a critical look at the research.
Colicky babies respond differently to stimulation. Could it be that their nervous systems are different? Research suggests this is possible.
Night terrors in children are surprisingly common, though not as prevalent as nightmares. How do we tell the difference, and what can parents do to cope?
This simple technique for reducing nightmares in children gives kids a concrete way to think about taking control.
Preschoolers prefer cooperative board games, and these games are well-suited to their developmental abilities. It appears they lack some of the psychological skills needed to make use of competitive tactics.
When we rely on electronic media to calm kids down, our children may fail to learn crucial lessons about self-regulation. They may also develop symptoms of dependency…throwing severe tantrums when we take their media away.
What are the cognitive benefits of play? Read what scientific studies reveal about play and the developing brain.
Are kids confused by fairy tales? Is reading fantasy fiction a waste of time? No. Studies suggest fantasy can boost creativity, learning, and self-regulation.
If you learn about circadian rhythms and sleep cycles, you can make sense of your newborn sleep, and lay the groundwork for easier nights.