Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
Research suggests that formal nursery care is associated with better psychological development, including lower emotional problems and better social skills. Children who attended nurseries for a year or more had even lower odds of emotional issues, difficulties making friends, and poor social skills.
A new study by Child Mind Institute researchers found that specially-designed wearables can quantify child vocalization features affected by SM, providing standardized measurements for diagnosis and treatment. The technology has the potential to advance SM research and aid clinicians in determining treatment efficacy.
The University of Rochester has received a $8.39 million grant from the NIH to create a national center for child maltreatment studies. The TRANSFORM Center will focus on preventing child maltreatment and addressing its consequences through research, policy, and training initiatives.
A new study from CHEO Research Institute found that children aged nine and 10 who meet Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep time have superior global cognition. The results suggest a positive relationship among childhood global cognition, future academic success, and lower all-cause mortality.
Vittorio Gallo, Children's Chief Research Officer, has been awarded the prestigious Senator Jacob Javits Award in the Neurosciences. The award extends federal funding for his lab for at least seven years, supporting his research on developmental delays in children who experienced neonatal brain injury.
A study found that body mass index (BMI) alone fails to identify preschoolers with excess stomach fat, highlighting the importance of using waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool. The method is easily made and cost-effective, but needs more research for implementation in young children.
A study examining prescription medicines in New Zealand children found significant increases in antibiotic and pain relief use, but also decreases in systemic antibiotics. The research highlights the importance of educational campaigns and monitoring to ensure safe prescribing practices.
Research led by the University of Bristol found that children aged 11-19 can effectively use collective intelligence to make group decisions, revealing a geometric mean rule-of-thumb approach. The study revealed that pupils used their original guesses to come to a final consensus, even in cases of disagreement.
A new study from Imperial College London found that removing tobacco displays from shops reduced the proportion of children buying cigarettes by 17 percent. However, more than two-thirds of child smokers reported being refused cigarettes when trying to buy them, suggesting that enforcement is still crucial.
Research by American Psychological Association reveals that girls exhibit better reading and writing ability than boys as early as the fourth grade. The achievement gap widens further with age, particularly for writing tasks. Experts attribute this to factors such as peer pressure, learning disabilities, and differences in brain function.
A high-gluten diet during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes in children, according to a large observational study. The researchers found that the child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes increased proportionally with the mother's gluten intake during pregnancy.
A new psychology study suggests that using verbs to talk about actions with children can lead to more resilience following setbacks. In contrast, asking children to be helpers or readers may hinder their perseverance.
Research finds higher levels of organochlorine compounds during pregnancy associated with reduced lung function in children. The study suggests that even low exposure can have an impact on lung development and health.
Children with childhood asthma are at a disadvantage in education, leaving them more likely to drop out of university and struggle to enter non-manual occupations.
Researchers found that toddlers aged 21-31 months prefer the high-status puppet in a conflict of interest scenario, but avoid the one that wins by force. This suggests that human nature is aware of social status and acknowledges it, unlike other primates.
Research finds that experiencing homelessness for over six months can cause long-lasting harm to a child's physical and developmental health. The study also reveals that prenatal and postnatal homelessness increase the risk of negative health outcomes.
Children are dying from the indirect impact of armed conflicts in Africa, which is three to five times greater than direct casualties. This burden remains elevated over years and even after a conflict has ended, raising the risk of death for infants by over 30 percent.
New York University researchers discovered two ways to blow bubbles: pushing a steady wind on a soap film through a circular wand and gently driving an already-inflated film. This study has potential applications in consumer products with bubbles or droplets, such as sprays and foams.
A new study finds that toddlers are attuned to how others may be judging them and modify their behavior accordingly. Children between 14 and 24 months show inhibition when being watched with a neutral or negative expression, but press the buttons associated with positive responses more often.
By 24 months old, children demonstrate awareness that their behavior can be positively or negatively evaluated by others. The study found that even young toddlers are attuned to the judgments of others and adjust their behavior accordingly.
Researchers identified vulnerabilities to target in a high-risk pediatric tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, through an integrated analysis of cellular origins and epigenetic changes. The study promotes precision medicine by prioritizing drug development and highlighting the importance of preclinical models in streamlining treatment strategies.
A study by Penn State researchers found that mothers who engage with their children during playtime and gently guide them to clean up can help toddlers with poor regulation skills maintain a healthy weight. As preschoolers, these children tend to have lower BMIs compared to those with good regulation skills, suggesting that parents' be...
Researchers found that Evf2 RNA regulates key genes during embryonic brain development, affecting GABA neurotransmitters and leading to seizures or neurological disorders. The discovery could help identify therapeutic targets to prevent neurological diseases.
Bilingual children develop each language at a slower pace due to divided input from the majority and heritage languages. Research by Erika Hoff finds that quantity of input and quality of exposure influence language growth.
A study found that nearly 2 in 5 teen drivers texted while driving at least once in a month, with prevalence varying by state. Parents can take steps to limit their teens' texting while driving behavior by setting clear rules, being patient and monitoring new drivers.
A new roadmap for improving health has been developed by UCLA researchers using software that aggregates data on how to treat conditions of children with complex medical situations. The team identified 10 key health outcome domains, including social integration and family support, to help provide a comprehensive model of care.
Researchers found that predictable situations enhance language learning in toddlers by reducing the need for them to track unexpected events. This design separated the content of what children were learning from the predictability of the situation, showing a cascade effect on learning something new.
Research highlights that babies in prams are exposed to up to 60% more pollution than their parents, posing potential risks to frontal lobe development and cognitive abilities. The study suggests innovative technological solutions, community activism, and exposure-centric policies as key to improving air quality for children.
A new study found that eight- to nine-year-old children are vulnerable to poor body image as hormone levels rise with the onset of puberty. The research, led by Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, suggests that strategies in schools and at home can help maintain a positive body image prior to puberty.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in developing a new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, identifying a drug that inhibits HIF-2α and reverses established PAH, suppression of vascular remodeling and right heart failure, and increased survival.
Researchers aim to safeguard fetal brain health in pregnancies complicated by CHD by identifying vulnerable regions and correlating with infant development. Early findings suggest impaired fetal brain growth and metabolism, highlighting the need for interventions during the prenatal period.
Cynthia Pine, a renowned researcher at Queen Mary University of London, has received the IADR E.W. Borrow Memorial Award for her groundbreaking work on preventing childhood dental caries. Her research focuses on promoting oral health in disadvantaged communities and developing interventions to improve parents' key dental health behaviors.
A mother's presence can modulate serotonin levels in her pup's developing brain, according to a rat study published in eNeuro. The research found that maternal care increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region rich in serotonin receptors.
A new study found that paying parents to read to their children leads to significant gains in reading test scores for kids with language impairment. The innovative approach, which offered just 50 cents per reading session, was more effective than other techniques, including positive feedback and encouragement.
A new study from the University of Waterloo found that younger children make better decisions by considering all available information. By six years old, children start using cognitive shortcuts to weigh information, similar to adults.
A randomized controlled trial found that therapy dogs significantly improved attention and social skills in children with ADHD. The study also showed that the presence of therapy dogs enhanced traditional psychosocial intervention and is feasible and safe to implement.
Professor Stephen Robertson's research team identified the cause of Recessive Spondylocarpotarsal Synostosis Syndrome, a condition resulting in bone fusion. Genome sequencing revealed multiple genes implicated in the disorder, offering diagnostic and therapeutic options.
A new study reveals that black children are more likely to be suspended or expelled from elementary school due to factors such as school characteristics rather than behavior problems. The researchers found that about 40% of African-American boys were suspended or expelled, compared to 8% of white boys or from other ethnic groups.
Researchers at CHOP developed a new method to determine which premature infants should be screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which leads to blindness in 400-600 US infants each year. The criteria were highly sensitive and accurate, reducing the number of premature infants who would require examinations by 30.3%.
A new study from the University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences reveals that parents who experienced severe childhood trauma are more likely to have children with behavioral health problems. The study found a strong association between parents' adverse childhood experiences and their children's behavioral health issues, par...
A new study by University of Washington researchers has found that infants as young as 2 months old display a well-formed body map with distinct neural signatures for different body parts, including the lips. The research uses infant brain imaging to gauge how the hand, foot, and lips are represented in the brains of 2-month-olds.
Researchers found a clear association between the metabolite profile, sugar in diet, and NEC risk. Feeding lactose-containing formula protected piglets from NEC, while corn syrup solids increased risk.
The International Journal on Child Maltreatment will publish research on prevention, control and mitigation of child abuse and neglect. The journal aims to present innovative programs and policies for enhancing children's safety and wellbeing.
Researchers found that children in the 2000s waited an average of two minutes longer to receive a larger treat than those tested in the 1960s and 1980s. The study attributes this change to increased access to digital technology, preschool education, and parenting practices.
A new study from Durham University found that men's testosterone levels are largely determined by their environment during childhood. The research suggests that men who grew up in challenging conditions may have lower testosterone levels in later life.
A recent study published in BMC Bioinformatics has found that DNA methylation patterns in circulating blood cells can help identify children with spastic cerebral palsy. The researchers used next-generation sequencing data to analyze these patterns and identified distinct markers that distinguish children with CP from those without it.
A new study from WashU Medicine demonstrates that an interactive Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) can reduce depression rates and lower symptom severity in children as young as 3. The therapy program focuses on enhancing emotional development and also improves parent mental health.
Researchers have adapted Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to target early childhood depression, showing promising results for 3-6 year olds. The PCIT-ED intervention improved children's emotional regulation skills and reduced symptoms of depression.
Researchers found that parents' explanations of how peers interact help young children view their peers' behavior with less hostility. Framing social situations in a positive way can reduce the likelihood of aggressive behavior.
New research indicates that children incorporate market concerns, such as fairness and equity, into their distribution decisions from a young age. As they grow older, children become more willing to abandon equal norms for distribution when offered more money.
A 15-year study found that siblings' warmth and perceived parental treatment influenced their education levels, with warmer siblings more likely to achieve similar education. The researchers suggest that family experiences beyond school can impact academic achievement.
A study published in Pediatric Research found that parents who use digital devices to escape their child's bad behavior are making it worse. The 'technoference' can lead to more frustration, hyperactivity and tantrums in children, as well as increased stress for parents.
Researchers found that a specific composition of human oligosaccharides in breast milk was associated with lower rates of food sensitization in one-year-old infants. The study's findings highlight the potential health benefits of human milk oligosaccharides and underscore their role in preventing future allergic disease.
A new study by Purdue University researchers found that semi-structured block play can improve math skills such as numeracy and shape recognition. Additionally, the intervention also enhanced two indicators of executive functioning, including cognitive flexibility and global executive functioning.
Children with critical parents show less attention to emotional facial expressions, according to new research from Binghamton University. This behavior may affect their relationships with others and increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
A study by San Francisco State University and UCSF found that higher opportunity neighborhoods can protect children from negative health impacts associated with growing up poor. Living in such neighborhoods may mitigate stress, improve physical health, and lower cortisol levels.
A new study by Drexel University finds that childhood trauma experienced by parents can lead to poorer health and asthma in their own children. The research suggests that each type of ACE (adverse childhood experience) increases the risk of poor health and asthma in children by 19%.
New research from UC Riverside psychologist Kalina Michalska finds that children's experience of pain is significantly influenced by their expectations. The study, involving healthy and anxious children, reveals that simply telling them they will experience pain can actually increase the severity of their pain. In contrast, distracting...
A study by Michigan State University found that children who can self-regulate earlier develop higher language and learning skills through second grade. Self-regulation enables children to keep information in their working memories, pay attention to tasks, and inhibit behaviors.
Research is lacking on the effectiveness of early childhood development programs in humanitarian settings, which are plagued by war, disaster, and displacement. The article calls for further investigation into the implementation processes that lead to successful outcomes.