Research programs focused on child health and development. Covers pediatric research standards, infant nutrition and sleep, rare disorders, and childhood diabetes.
A new video game called MindLight is being tested to see if it can help youth cope with and conquer their anxiety. The game, designed for children aged 8-16, uses neurofeedback technology to measure the player's level of relaxation or anxiety, providing a safe space for kids to practice regulating their emotions.
Eight researchers will be celebrated at the third annual Golden Goose Award ceremony for their work in improving the health of premature infants. Their research, including touch therapy, led to groundbreaking discoveries with significant impacts on society.
A longitudinal study by NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that exposure to parental verbal and physical aggression hurts children's emotional adjustment. Higher household chaos and poverty also take a toll on young children.
Researchers found that toddlers' abilities to accurately guess word meanings increase with age, while social cues become less effective. Children can retain around three new words per day, highlighting the importance of rich word-learning environments.
Adults who experienced childhood adversity show poorer health but those with high mindfulness report better health regardless of adversity levels. Nearly half of adults have multiple types of adverse childhood experiences, and those with higher mindfulness levels have a 50% lower risk of health conditions.
A new study found that mothers with positive childhood experiences and those who have come to terms with negative ones are more infant-oriented when seeing videos of crying babies. Mothers who responded negatively to crying were more likely to focus on themselves, indicating a need for stress management support.
Children show stronger food craving than adolescents and adults but can use a cognitive strategy to reduce it by 16%, according to new research. The study's findings have implications for interventions to curb childhood obesity and suggest that brain areas involved in regulating craving differ depending on body mass.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering found that socially-assistive robots can improve imitation behavior in children with autism by providing varied feedback. The study used humanoid robots to deliver 'graded cueing' prompts, which helped participants achieve improved or maintained performance.
A three-year study across five low- and middle-income countries found that orphaned children in institutions are as healthy as those in family-based care. The type of residential setting was a poor predictor of child well-being, with country, neighborhood, and community being stronger predictors.
A new study finds that children's sipping or tasting of alcohol is more closely related to perceived parental approval than psychosocial proneness for problem behavior. This suggests that early exposure to alcohol may not necessarily lead to later problem behaviors, but rather be a result of familial cultural norms.
Research on North Carolina's pre-kindergarten program reveals that dual-language learners, especially those with lower English proficiency, make significant academic progress. The study found that focusing on classroom quality and incorporating home language strategies can maximize gains for these children.
New research shows parents' reactions to anxious children can reinforce anxiety, but giving positive attention and minimizing reassurance can help. Parents can monitor their own reaction and give their child credit for facing fears, leading to decreased anxiety.
Researchers found toddlers as young as age 2 use mathematical concepts like probability to make sense of the world. They could detect differences in strategies and choose the more successful one, demonstrating an intuitive grasp of statistics and weighing likelihoods.
A team led by Arun Sharma has developed a system to protect against inflammatory reactions that can hinder tissue growth and function. Using self-assembling peptide amphiphiles, they demonstrated superior bladder function in a urinary bladder augmentation model.
A new study suggests that minor infections like colds and flu can increase short-lived stroke risk in vulnerable children. The study found that the risk of stroke was highest within a three-day period after an infection, highlighting the need for infection prevention and vaccination to protect at-risk kids.
A recent study found that minor infections like colds can increase the risk of stroke in children within a three-day time frame. The research, which reviewed a Kaiser Permanente database of 2.5 million children, suggests that infection has a strong but short-lived effect on stroke risk.
A new study from Stanford Medicine explains how children's brains reorganize themselves as they learn math facts. The research found that the hippocampus plays a crucial role in building a schema for mathematical knowledge and provides a scaffold for learning and consolidating facts into long-term memory.
A study found that preterm infants' ability to follow another's gaze emerges earlier than expected, implying the influence of early visual exposure. This challenges previous assumptions about cognitive development and suggests a potential link between visual experience and social cognition.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide found that a child's future health is shaped by more than genetic material. Stored environmental factors in eggs and sperm can influence development, leading to a higher risk of metabolic diseases, anxiety, and immune dysfunction.
A study found that listening to the sound of a ticking clock can influence women's desire to start a family at an earlier age. The effect was particularly pronounced among women from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who were more likely to prioritize having children over other life goals. Men were not affected in the same way.
Researchers identified associations between community and neighborhood land uses and community participation among adults with acquired chronic disabilities. Living in communities with diverse land use and open spaces was linked to decreased reporting of social and physical participation.
Research by Nina Kraus and Margaret Martin finds that musical training improves neural function, learning abilities, and communication skills in low-income youth. The study shows that music programs can help close the academic gap between affluent and disadvantaged students.
Research at the University of Michigan found that lead exposure in mouse mothers is associated with increased weight and obesity in male offspring, as well as impaired insulin response. The study suggests that toxicant exposures during pregnancy can contribute to the obesity epidemic.
A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that preterm children's cognitive abilities as teenagers can be comparable to those born at term, if they experience no brain injury early on. The quality of the home environment plays a crucial role in brain development and cognition.
A new study found that preschoolers with special needs are more influenced by their peers' language skills, particularly those with weak skills. Children with disabilities show stronger effects when surrounded by highly-skilled peers, improving their language skills over the course of the school year.
A University of Iowa study found that background TV can divert children's attention from play and learning, negatively affecting cognitive development. Parents who create a loving and nurturing environment with set rules and expectations can help buffer these impacts.
Children with spina bifida face challenges in self-care, mobility, and social function due to spasticity, urinary and fecal incontinence, and neurocognitive retardation. A study found that low-level lesions, muscular strength, and independence in mobility are crucial for functional independence.
Researchers found that imprinted genes influence puberty timing, linking it to breast cancer, diabetes, and heart disease risks. The study suggests a possible biological conflict between parents over their child's development, with the genetics involved potentially contributing to age-related conditions.
A meta-analysis of 49 studies found that community service with reflection has a substantial, beneficial effect on adolescents' academic, personal, social, and civic development. Structured reflection is crucial to the overall impact of community service.
A new study reveals that early life stress affects the way genes are activated, leading to long-term emotional and physical health problems. Researchers found an association between a particular gene and parenting styles, which can impact children's brain development and stress response.
A study of over 180,000 women found that imprinted genes, active only when inherited from one parent, influence the age of puberty in girls. These genetic variations were associated with a difference in development between boys and girls.
Researchers found that preschoolers aged 3-5 can assess the strength of their memories and make decisions based on self-assessments. The study suggests that even young children display some ability to reflect on their own knowledge, which has important implications for educational practices.
Research shows that infants' brains stimulate areas for motor movements of speech at 7-11 months, laying groundwork for word formation. This practice may contribute to the developmental transition to native language sensitivity.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a molecular pathway in the esophagus that causes eosinophillic esophagitis, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the esophagus. The study suggests new therapeutic strategies by targeting an enzyme called calpain14, which can be inhibited by drugs.
A new oral medication has improved visual function in blind patients with Leber congenital amaurosis, a devastating retinal degeneration. The study found that the drug awakened dormant retinal cells, allowing patients to see and improving their visual fields and acuity.
Researchers found that early life stress can alter brain structures involved in learning, memory, and emotion processing. Children who experienced physical abuse or neglect had smaller amygdalas and hippocampal volumes, linked to behavioral problems and cumulative life stress.
The university will support six new implementation sites with the SafeCareTM model, a child maltreatment prevention program, and provide training and implementation support. Georgia State aims to establish six new sites, deliver SafeCareTM to over 2,400 families, and expand its use through training.
A study by McMaster University researchers found that 14-month-old babies were more likely to help another person after bouncing up and down in time to music. The findings suggest that synchronous movement with others helps form social bonds between adults and infants, leading to increased altruistic behavior.
Researchers will analyze genetic information from 10,000 UK families affected by intellectual disability, focusing on behavioral adjustments and medical history. The study aims to provide comprehensive genetic knowledge to help manage childhood behaviors and prevent poor mental outcomes in adulthood.
Researchers at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute have identified a biomarker to accurately characterize mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the body. This breakthrough finding could improve the success of clinical trials using MSCs for conditions such as bone fractures and osteoarthritis.
The RRate app uses a touch screen to measure respiratory rate in an average of 9.9 seconds, compared to 60 seconds with traditional manual methods. The app is a significant step towards diagnosing pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses in children more effectively.
Researchers have discovered the mechanism by which NEDD8 attaches to cells' protein machinery, enabling them to adapt to changing conditions. This breakthrough provides new understanding of how cells regulate proteins and could lead to cancer prevention strategies.
A new study found that securely attached children are more responsive to peer partners, adapting their behavior to meet expectations. Children's temperament also plays a role, but it's essential to distinguish between attachment security and temperament.
A new study from MIT reveals that the Tsimane' children's understanding of numbers develops through universal stages, with exposure to numbers playing a critical role in their learning process. The findings suggest that number learning follows a fundamental pathway, but the timing depends on the child's environment.
A study found that stories praising honesty, such as the tale of George Washington, inspire children to tell the truth. In contrast, cautionary tales like 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' had no effect on honest behavior.
Researchers developed a new design for preventive health care from birth to age 3 in low-income communities, focusing on family-centered, effective, and efficient care. The study suggests two working groups improved well-child visits by providing longer visit times, trained health educators, and online resources.
Research found that children from low-income families had higher cognitive skills if their mothers went back to work before they were 9 months old, and fewer conduct problems if their mothers worked between 9-24 months old. For middle-income households, there were no ill effects of maternal employment.
Research suggests that children of parents using subsidies for center-based care at age 2 are more likely to use Head Start or public prekindergarten two years later. This finding highlights the potential benefits of early subsidy programs in strengthening low-income children's development.
Researchers found that heart rate variability can predict the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. The study showed that decreased high-frequency energy distribution was associated with increased risk, while higher values were linked to a lower risk. This discovery offers new hope for early detection and intervention.
A national research project found Canadian physicians' breastfeeding knowledge was suboptimal, with deficits in techniques, latch, and recommendations. Factors associated with higher knowledge and confidence included being female, between 30-50 years old, and having personal breastfeeding experience.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that spending 30% of income on affordable housing is associated with improved cognitive development in children, while spending too little or too much has negative effects. Families who invested more in housing spent less on other essential items like books and educational outings.
Research reveals that young children use gestures to segment information and reorganize it into language-like sequences, mirroring how languages break down complex info into simpler units. This finding suggests that generations of young children's preference for communication may have shaped the structure of languages.
Children who are physically fit have faster and more robust neuro-electrical brain responses during reading, corresponding to better language skills. The study found higher amplitude N400 and P600 waves in fitter children, suggesting they processed information more quickly and efficiently.
According to a Yale University study, nearly 12% of American children experience confirmed maltreatment by age 18, affecting over 5.6 million children between 2004 and 2011. Black and Native American children are disproportionately affected, with one in five and one in seven experiencing maltreatment respectively.
Research from the University of Leeds suggests that exposing infants to new vegetables early on encourages healthy eating habits. Studies found that younger children consume more artichoke than older kids and that repeated exposures can increase intake over time.
Leslie L. Robison, a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital researcher, has received the Pediatric Oncology Award for his contributions to childhood cancer survivorship research. Studies funded by Robison have shown that childhood cancer survivors are at an increased risk of developing new cancers and chronic health problems.
A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found a significant link between prenatal exposure to flame retardants and lower IQs in five-year-old children. The researchers discovered that elevated levels of PBDE concentrations were associated with a 4.5 IQ decrement, comparable to environmental lead exposure.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that too much visual stimulation can distract young children from learning. The study showed that children in highly decorated classrooms were more likely to be off-task and demonstrated smaller learning gains compared to those in sparse classrooms.
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health found no link between fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Study followed nearly 1,000 people born in 1972-1973 up to age 38, controlling for factors like socio-economic status and breastfeeding.
A recent study found that low-income Latino children who attended Montessori pre-K programs showed dramatic improvements in early achievement and behavior. In contrast, low-income black children made similar gains in school readiness when enrolled in Montessori classrooms, but slightly greater gains were seen when they attended more co...