Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
A study published in Child Development has linked children at risk for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to difficulties with auditory time perception, crucial for basic skills like walking and processing speech. The research suggests that music with salient beats could be used as a therapy to help treat children with DCD.
A study found that Black children have significantly higher rates of shellfish and fish allergies, as well as wheat allergy, compared to White children. The study also showed a higher prevalence of asthma in Black children with food allergies, highlighting the importance of reducing exposure to cockroaches.
Research at the University of Turku found that a father's childhood stress exposure is connected to faster white matter tract development in his child's brain. The study suggests potential epigenetic inheritance of this trait.
Researchers have developed tactile books with 3D mini-scenarios that allow blind children to explore and identify objects using gestures and body simulations. This innovative approach has been shown to narrow the perception gap between blind and sighted children, enabling them to recognize objects more easily.
A Wayne State University research team is developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model to help identify severe SARS-CoV-2 illness in children. The project aims to predict disease severity and risk stratify patients, enabling early detection and timely intervention.
A study by the University of Bristol found that one in every 30 children may have brain-related visual problems, which can affect learning outcomes. The research suggests that detailed vision checks could improve educational and wellbeing outcomes for affected children.
Research highlights three common risk factors for maternal mental health problems: changes to work, marital conflicts, and pandemic-related distress. Mothers with stronger support networks, including grandparents, are less likely to experience mental health issues.
Researchers found that genetic mutations, such as IKZF1 deletion and CRLF2 translocations, occur more frequently in Hispanic and Latino children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), leading to poorer outcomes. A novel therapeutic drug combination may help address this disparity.
Researchers at Swansea University developed the Play Cycle Observation Method to study children's play. The new tool has been tested with three-year-olds, demonstrating its reliability as a child-centred observational tool, and has shown promising results for supporting various stages of children's play.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences presents a computationally-based modeling approach that simulates infant language learning. The researchers found that infants do not learn consonant- and vowel-like phonetic categories, but rather learn to distinguish between speech sounds in a more nuanced way.
Rutgers researchers will develop predictive models for severe illness in children from COVID-19 infection. The study aims to identify pediatric patients or communities at-risk for serious illness due to SARS-CoV-2, enabling healthcare providers to prioritize resources.
A new study suggests autistic children may react more negatively to constructive parent conflicts, missing opportunities for learning healthy conflict resolution. Researchers recommend teaching autistic children to distinguish between destructive and constructive conflicts.
Researchers found that toddlers with high daily touchscreen use are quicker to look at objects when they appear and less able to resist distraction. The study suggests a potential link between increased screen time and difficulties with attention in young children.
New research by Durham University reveals that young children rely heavily on auditory cues to detect emotions, rather than visual stimuli. The findings have implications for parents and educators managing home learning and may also shed light on emotional recognition in children with developmental challenges like autism.
New estimates reveal that at least 630 million women and children worldwide are affected by armed conflict, contributing to over 10 million child deaths. The international community is called upon to prioritize women's and children's health in conflict zones.
A 15-year research campaign led by Rush pediatricians resulted in new national manufacturing standards making microwaves more difficult for young children to open. The change aims to protect kids from severe microwave-related burns that scar hundreds of children under 5 each year.
A longitudinal study in Germany found that autonomy-supportive parenting is positively associated with better child well-being and higher parental need fulfillment. This type of parenting requires parental energy but also reciprocally contributes to it.
A new study by Columbia University researchers found that children but not adults report 'mean' individuals becoming nicer after severe punishment. Adults, however, believe that 'nice' individuals become less nice following incarceration. The study suggests that with age, people in the US become increasingly pessimistic about punishmen...
A Baylor University study finds that variation in consumption of market-acquired foods is reliably related to indigenous Amazonian children's body fat, while energy expenditure remains relatively stable. The study suggests that change in diet may be the dominant factor driving childhood obesity globally.
A study found that during the COVID-19 shutdown, more than a third of couples relied on women to provide most or all child care. Egalitarian strategies, such as alternating work days and needs-based alternation, were associated with better outcomes for couples, including lower marital tension and improved job performance.
Seventy experts argue that misunderstandings around attachment research are hampering its accurate implementation in family courts. The group outlines three principles from attachment research to guide decision-making, including the child's need for familiar caregivers and the benefits of networks of familiar relationships.
A new study from Arizona State University finds that conflict between divorced parents increases the risk of children developing physical and mental health problems. Children who experience fear of being abandoned due to parental conflict are more likely to develop future mental health problems.
A UMass Lowell researcher has received a $700,000 NIH grant to explore the effectiveness of virtual reality-based rehabilitation for young people with traumatic brain injuries. The therapy aims to improve cognitive functioning and enhance quality of life for these patients.
A study by McGill University researchers found that child marriage remains a practice in Canada, with the majority of marriages being common-law unions. The study highlights the need for innovative approaches to address the issue and sheds light on the persistence of child marriage in the country.
A new paper from Global TIES for Children presents a review of opportunities and challenges in designing rigorous research on the impact of conflict on child development and education. The study found positive impacts of remedial education and social-emotional learning programs on academic skills.
A cross-sectional study maps overlapping evidence syntheses on imaging findings of children with COVID-19, highlighting shortcomings in the field. The study aims to improve the quality and consistency of imaging-based research in pediatric COVID-19.
A large study tracked 1,000 people from birth to age 45 and found that those with higher self-control as children were aging more slowly. Their bodies and brains were also healthier and biologically younger. Higher childhood self-control correlated with slower aging in multiple measures, including physiological signs of aging.
A study from Cardiff University found that more than half of individuals with certain genetic conditions had significant autistic symptoms, despite not meeting formal diagnostic criteria. The research emphasizes the need for an individualized approach to assessing the needs of people with genetic conditions.
Research found that toddlers are more likely to look at the caregiver's hands when trying to feed themselves, rather than their face. The study suggests that the caregiver's behavior and the toddler's attention play a crucial role in facilitating this new skill.
A two-year grant from the New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research is funding a study by Dr. Jean Lengenfelder at Kessler Foundation to test a new treatment for emotional processing deficits in children with TBI. The research aims to improve emotional processing skills, social interactions, and quality of life for affected children.
A study published in Thorax found that higher intake of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) from non-seafood meats is associated with increased wheezing in children. Researchers examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found a significant link between AGE intake and respiratory symptoms.
Research published in Thorax journal links advanced glycation end products (AGEs) from cooked meat to increased risk of childhood wheezing and respiratory symptoms. Higher AGE scores were associated with increased odds of wheezing, sleep disruptions, and medication use.
Studies using longitudinal brain scans found a subtype of autism characterized by disproportionate megalencephaly and slower development in white matter tracts. Researchers also linked changes in white matter growth with autism traits and symptom severity.
A world-first study from the University of South Australia reveals that young people who experienced child abuse or neglect are nearly five times more likely to die from poisonings or substance-related deaths. The research also shows a nearly three-fold increased risk of suicide among these individuals.
A study by University of Oregon researchers found that children aged 3 prefer visual fractal patterns, similar to adults, indicating an early development of this preference. The study suggests that exposure to Euclidean geometry in childhood may shape this preference.
A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that exposure to small grocery stores with healthier inventories is associated with significant improvements in childhood obesity. In contrast, increased availability of convenience stores selling predominantly unhealthy foods was linked to a higher li...
Researchers found that police officers investigating child exploitation are vulnerable to moral injury, PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to exposure to traumatic images. The study suggests ways to enhance professional support to improve management of psychological distress.
A Rutgers University study found that fathers' engagement in their children's lives can improve mental health and behavior, reducing behavioral problems. The researchers analyzed data from 5,000 children born between 1998 and 2000 and found a significant gap between poor families and those with higher socioeconomic status
A study found a significant rise in depressive symptoms among children aged 7-12 in England during the UK-wide lockdown. The effect size was medium to large, indicating a substantial impact on mental health.
New research from the University of East Anglia found that households where mothers grow their own food have healthier children, with reduced stunting, wasting, and underweight. The study suggests home farming can complement Vitamin A supplementation programmes to control Vitamin A deficiency.
A Case Western Reserve University study found that children exposed to domestic violence need tailored interventions, including emotional and coping skills education. Service providers highlighted the need for increased trauma-informed care and better collaboration among agencies.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that three percent of primary school-aged children have self-harmed by age 11-12. Factors associated with self-harm include persistent symptoms of depression or anxiety, bullying, and poor emotional control. Early intervention strategies are necessary to address these issues.
A new study found that popular kids' TV shows and films depict up to 8.66 painful incidents per hour, often focusing on extreme violence, and fail to show empathy towards characters in pain, with boys more likely to experience severe pain than girls.
Adults can acquire a complex language through cross-situational statistical learning, solving the chicken-and-egg problem of word meaning and sentence structure. By keeping track of associations between words and scenes across hundreds of trials, learners can figure out word meanings and roles in sentences.
A £1 million international project is working to create an affordable insect-based porridge using mopane worms, a traditional delicacy in Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to improve the health and nutritional status of primary school children in some of the country's poorest communities.
Analysis of audio recordings from infants' homes reveals that certain types of vocal interactions are associated with larger infant vocabularies. Infants tend to have a greater vocabulary if they produce speech-like babbling sounds and receive adult responses incorporating similar sounds.
Women who experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, such as domestic violence or physical abuse, were more likely to engage in at-risk drinking and illicit drug use. The study highlights the importance of trauma-informed care for urban ER patients, particularly women from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that children born via cesarean section have a higher risk of infection-related hospitalization up to five years of age. Researchers analyzed data from over 7 million children and observed a 10% greater risk of infection among cesarean-born children.
Researchers found a link between microorganisms in bed dust and children's bacteria, suggesting a potential reduction in asthma and allergy risks. The study analyzed bed dust samples from 577 infants and respiratory samples from 542 children, revealing a correlation between the two.
A single institution study found that half of children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C) developed cardiac complications, including coronary artery abnormalities. The study highlights the need for further research into the syndrome's specific differences from Kawasaki disease.
Research finds no direct link between early language environment and literacy skills at age 11, but suggests identifying 'learning pathways' during primary school can help teachers devise personalized strategies to support children who fell behind. The study used data from over 7,000 children to map out the interdependencies between ea...
Researchers identified diverse groups of cortical stem and progenitor cells with distinct gene expression profiles, contributing to neural complexity in the adult cerebral cortex. The study's findings support the protomap theory, which suggests that early cell diversity paves the way for later neuronal diversity.
Girls living in single-parent households before age two are at higher risk of starting puberty earlier than their peers. The study, published in BMC Pediatrics, found that infant attachment insecurity and socioeconomic status may contribute to this association.
A new robotic device called TruST helps children with cerebral palsy improve their trunk and reaching control, allowing them to sit stably and perform daily activities without assistance. After a two-year pilot study, four children aged 6-14 showed significant postural and reaching control improvements.
A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that American infants relaxed when played unfamiliar and foreign-language lullabies. The researchers discovered universal elements of songs that produced relaxation effects independently of experience, supporting the idea that there is something universal about lullabies.
Researchers compared two popular autism interventions and found that more intensive treatment did not lead to better results. The study, led by UC Davis Health, suggests that therapists can adapt their approaches to meet individual child needs.
A new study has identified three gene variants that may help predict which children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are likely to respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication therapy. The research found that children carrying these variants are at increased risk of relapse after one year of PPI maintenance therapy.
A new study finds that patients with single gene disorders like Bardet-Biedl syndrome carry three times as many additional mutations, clustered around specific genes, which contribute to disease severity. This discovery challenges the traditional view of simple vs complex disorders and opens up new avenues for therapy development.
Researchers found that male voice, female voice, and hybrid voice-tone alarms awakened 85-89% of children and prompted 84-89% to escape, outperforming the high-frequency tone alarm. These alarms may reduce residential fire-related injuries and deaths among children.
A new study has found that both mothers and fathers with mental health problems are more likely to have a baby born prematurely. Men with persistent mental health issues were more likely to have a preterm birth, while women with anxiety and depression during pregnancy also increased the risk.