Logo

Get Healthy!

Results for search "Child Development".

18 Nov

Long Hours in Day Care Won’t Cause Behavioral Problems, Study Finds

Researchers find little evidence that spending extensive time in day care causes behavioral issues from biting to bullying.

Health News Results - 509

Attachment theory sounds like a complicated concept, but when you're a parent it can sometimes boil down to a crying, clinging child who does not want to be separated from you.

Put simply, attachment theory explores the lasting psychological and emotional bonds between individuals.

Developed by British psychologist John Bowlby and then expanded by scientist Mary Ainsworth, think of ...

There’s a lot of buzz about "gentle parenting" right now, but what exactly is this style of child-rearing?

Here, the creator of the concept breaks down gentle parenting, including what it is, the mindset that underpins it, some gentle parenting examples and what gentle parenting discipline looks like.

What is gentle parenting?

Psychologist and parenting expe...

The problem of "food deserts" in many parts of the United States has gained attention in recent years. Now, researchers are highlighting a similar issue: play deserts.

In a recent study, investigators at the University of Georgia found that in many areas of the country -- particularly the South -- families have few safe, free parks and playgrounds for their kids to enjoy.

That's a p...

About 7 in 10 American parents are concerned that social media trends related to appearance and editing apps and filters are harming their children’s body image, a new survey shows.

Among those polled, about 69% of parents expressed worry about these editing apps and filters, which can completely change the look of someone's face and body. This may make them appear to meet some supposed...

Parenting styles play a significant role in children's development and well-being. Permissive parenting, as a distinct contrast to authoritative or authoritarian styles, has gained attention for its impact on children.

This article delves into permissive parenting, examining its definition, traits, techniques employed by permissive parents and discipline within this style.

...

Need an activity to do with your kids on spring and summer days? Go to the park.

Outdoor play is good for physical health, mental well-being and reduced stress in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

“Whether it’s sunny or snowing, playing outside is good for children, physically and mentally,” said pediatrician

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • May 20, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • When parents talk to their toddlers, they are not only teaching them words, but may be shaping their developing brains, too, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that toddlers whose parents spent a lot of time talking to them day to day showed a particular brain characteristic: a greater concentration of myelin in language-related parts of the brain.

    Myelin is a protective layer ...

    As recreational marijuana use rises, some dispensaries are recommending it as a remedy for morning sickness, but new research warns that using it during pregnancy may significantly affect fetal growth.

    While fetal exposure to cannabis in early pregnancy can reduce birth weight, those effects can become more severe if use continues throughout the pregnancy, according to researchers at Cen...

    It's easy for kids to get drawn into Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok, and a leading U.S. psychologists' group warns they need some training in social media literacy beforehand.

    The American Psychological Association on Tuesday issued 10 science-based recommendations for teen and preteen social media use, the first time it has done so. The APA compares training in social media to getting a ...

    About a third of children with autism aren't able to speak -- but that doesn't mean they're unable to listen and comprehend, a new study reports.

    About 1 in 4 kids and teens who have autism and are minimally verbal understand significantly more language than they're able to produce, said lead researcher

    "Mindfulness" practices may help parents of young children with autism manage their daily stressors, and it could benefit their kids in the process, a preliminary study suggests.

    Parenting is stressful, and studies show that parents of kids with autism often have particularly high stress levels.

    Autism is a developmental brain disorder that, to varying degrees, impairs communication...

    Half of U.S. parents think social media is bad for their kids' mental health, a new survey reveals.

    The finding highlights growing concerns about how these platforms affect children's and adolescents' well-being, according to the On Our Sleeves Movement for Children's Mental Health, which had the Harris Poll conduct the survey.

    The program encourages parents to help their kids by t...

    In U.S. states that provide financial assistance for low-income families, the difference is evident in children's brains, researchers report.

    Their study found disparities in brain structure between children from high-income households compared to low-income households. However, the disparity was more than a third lower in states offering greater cash assistance to low-income families, c...

    Children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows.

    Climate change can affect learning, physical health and housing security, which can last throughout the child's life, according to the report.

    “Understanding health risks to children is critical for developing effective and equitable strategie...

    Researchers have long tried to pinpoint a reason that some people have autism or autistic traits.

    A new study from the United Kingdom builds upon evidence about one potential factor, finding that young children with ear, nose and throat problems were more commonly diagnosed with autism later.

    This isn't to sa...

    A leading doctors' group recommends that toddlers get screening for autism at 18 months old. That may not be a moment too soon — and earlier may be even better, researchers say.

    A new randomized clinical trial, the gold standard for studies, backs up the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Intervention at 18 months for children on the autism spectrum led to be...

    As summer nears, teens may want to apply for their first job or try to boost their hours for the season.

    Not all parents think this is such a good idea though, according to a new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital poll.

    “Teen jobs can be super positive and I think we see that in...

    Children whose mothers took antiretroviral medication for HIV while pregnant may have higher risks for developmental delays at age 5, according to new research.

    Nonetheless, researchers said it's important for women with HIV to take antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy to prevent HIV transmission to their fetus. Women who have HIV and know it should start on antiretroviral therapy in c...

    It's important for children to learn about body safety and boundaries.

    Empowering them with information can help them recognize unsafe situations and may help protect them from abuse.

    “Children and teens who feel in control of their bodies are less likely to fall prey to sexual abusers,” said

    Does it sometimes feel like your young picky eater is turning every meal and snack into an epic power battle — and you're just not sure how to get them the nutrition they need?

    If so, you're not alone.

    According to an article published recently in the journal

  • Kirstie Ganobsik HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • April 6, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Parents who harshly discipline their young children may be putting them on a path toward lasting mental health symptoms, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that among 7,500 children followed from age 3 to 9, about 10% fell into a "high risk" group where mental health symptoms -- ranging from persistent sadness to acting out -- worsened over the years.

    And children whose parents...

    While research has shown that having pets can lower the chances of respiratory allergies in children, a new study finds it might also reduce the risk of food allergies.

    Japanese investigators found that young children exposed to dogs in the home were less likely to experience egg, milk and nut allergies, while those exposed to cats were less likely to be diagnosed with egg, wheat and soyb...

    Children's screen use could be altering their developing brains as they enter adolescence and increasing their risk for mood disorders, a major new study finds.

    Children ages 9 and 10 who spend more time on smartphones, tablets, video games and TV exhibited higher levels of depression and anxiety by the time they were 11 and 12, researchers found.

    Further, the investigators linked s...

    Boys born to women who had COVID-19 during pregnancy may be at risk for developmental delays, a new study suggests.

    Delays in speech and motor function were the most commonly diagnosed conditions in these children at 12 months. They were seen in boys but not in girls, the study authors said.

    "

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • March 27, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Teenagers with the nighttime breathing disorder sleep apnea may have brains that look a little different from their peers', a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that among nearly 100 teens who underwent brain scans, those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) tended to have thinner tissue at the brain's surface, and some signs of inflammation in a brain area key to memory and learning.

    When Yoni Silverman, now 13, was a toddler, his parents fretted as he missed milestone after milestone. The New York City couple took their son to a host of specialists, searching for answers about why he wasn't speaking and had difficulty with balance, among other developmental issues.

    Fast forward a few years later, and a Boston couple was going through something similar with their now ...

    Even modest weight gain above the average puts kids at risk for high blood pressure, new research shows.

    “Hypertension during youth tracks into adulthood and is associated with cardiac and vascular organ damage," said lead study author Corinna Koebnick of Kaiser...

    Kids and teens are struggling with their mental health in America, and one new report suggests the overinvolvement of parents may be partly to blame.

    Kids don't get to roam any more. They've lost time for free play and risk-taking amid parents' fears about the dangers of the world, said report co-author David Bjorklund<...

    Children who have developmental delays may be at greater risk for complications after a tonsillectomy, researchers report.

    “This elevated risk of complications should be included in pre-operative counseling and has potential implications for pre-operative decision making and treatment plans in this high-risk population,” said

    Most food and water contains "nano-sized" microplastics, and new animal research suggests these tiny particles pass from pregnant rats to their unborn offspring and may impair fetal development.

    The same could be true in humans, the study suggests.

    “Much remains unknown, but this is certainly cause for concern and follow-up study,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • March 1, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • You're 38 weeks pregnant and so uncomfortable you can barely move, so you ask your doctor if labor can be induced early.

    That's not necessarily a good idea, according to new research that found children born after elective induced labor may do worse in school.

    Dutch researchers found that 12-year-olds who as newborns were delivered after elective induced labor scored lower on tests...

    Adults use a special part of their brain to solve tough problems. Now, new research shows that kids do the same.

    Scientists used brain scans and challenging work to assess how kids and adults might work through these tough problems and whether or not their problem-solving processes were the same.

    Turns out they were.

    The researchers found that while the multiple demand network...

    More than a decade ago, the Obama administration passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 as a way to counter the toll the obesity epidemic was taking on children's health.

    The goal was to markedly improve the nutritional value of federal food programs that regularly put free and/or low-cost breakfasts, lunches and snacks on the plates of nearly 30 million American students.

    Some toddlers who don't interact with their parents may have early signs of autism, a new study suggests.

    Researchers showed kids between 12 and 48 months of age "split-screen" moving images, then used eye tracking to evaluate their attention. Some toddlers who paid closer attention to scenes without people rather than to someone saying playful phrases a mother might use were later diagno...

    The heart health of children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is similar to that of their naturally conceived peers, researchers have found.

    The large study found no robust difference in blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and glucose mea...

    American schoolchildren could be getting school lunches that have less sugar and salt in the future, thanks to new nutrition standards announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday.

    These are the first school lunch program updates since 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    What's diffe...

    Autism services are harder to find in many of the places where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live, new research shows.

    It's known that there are racial disparities in U.S. families' receipt of autism services — ranging from diagnosis and behavioral therapy to school and community programs.

    The

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
  • |
  • January 30, 2023
  • |
  • Full Page
  • Just like adults, children need lots of fiber in their diets.

    Fiber is part of what fuels a child's normal growth and development. It helps them feel full longer, controls blood sugar levels, reduces cholesterol and promotes regular bowel movements, according to Children's Health of Orange County, Calif. (C...

    A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.

    Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

    “Our findings sug...

    By the time they're teenagers, babies born prematurely may be getting poorer school grades than their non-preemie peers.

    Researchers found that babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy had lower scores on math and language tests during their teen years compared to kids born at 40 weeks.

    However, the study did not find a significant difference in later brain function in babies born b...

    While childhood obesity gets a lot of attention, some kids struggle with the opposite issue — they have trouble gaining weight.

    So, how can parents know if their child is “too skinny?”

    While the best resource is likely a child's pediatrician, experts have also weighed in on the topic.

    “Underlying health conditions can result in children and adolescents being underweigh...

    A Texas-based education initiative has found that enrolling children in poor communities in gardening and cooking classes may help boost their long-term health.

    Called “Texas Sprouts," the program covered one full academic year and exposed elementary school children in 16 low-income schools access to outdoor gardening instruction, nutrition information and cooking lessons. Parents were ...

    When teenagers feel good about themselves and their lives, it may also do their hearts good in the long run, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that teenagers who generally felt happy, optimistic and loved went on to show better cardiovascular health in their 20s and 30s, versus kids who lacked that level of mental well-being.

    Overall, they were more likely to maintain a healt...

    Social media's impact on young people is a hot topic, with most kids and teens wanting to do whatever their friends are doing and parents worrying about setting limits.

    A new study examines whether frequent checking of social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat) is associated with changes in functional brain development in these early adolescents, about age 12.

    Using brain...

    When children have autism, it's possible to recognize the symptoms as early as when they are 18 months old.

    Although it takes a doctor to diagnose the condition, parents and caregivers should be aware of the signs, advises the Autism Research Institute, offering some other tips for noticing early symptoms.

    Children with autism may have variety of social, communication and behaviora...

    Those seemingly random kicks or wiggles a newborn baby makes have a purpose.

    With each movement, the baby is developing its sensorimotor system, which it will later use to perform sequential movements. The sensorimotor system lets a person control muscles, movement and coordination.

    Researchers studying these “spontaneous” newborn movements and comparing them to babies a few mon...

    Preteens who spend much of their free time watching online videos or playing video games may have a heightened risk of developing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that among 9,200 9- and 10-year-olds they assessed, the odds of developing OCD inched up ...

    It's easy to blame the childhood obesity epidemic for growing cases of type 2 diabetes, but a new study finds nearly one-quarter of all diagnoses are not related to obesity.

    “The finding was somewhat surprising,” said Dr. Constantine Samaan, an associate professor in the department of pediatri...

    It's an all-too-familiar scenario for many parents: Your preschooler starts to act up just as the phone rings or you start dinner.

    Maybe you hand over an iPad or smartphone to soothe the child so you can get down to business.

    And this probably does the trick. But if this is your go-to strategy, your child may be at risk for developing longer-term behavioral issues — especially boy...

    Children with type 1 diabetes miss more school than their peers without this condition, but the good news is these absences don't have to affect their grades or chances of going on to college, new research shows.

    Kids who had the tightest control of their diabetes missed seven sessions a year, while those who had challenges managing their blood sugar levels were absent for 15 session...

    Show All Health News Results