Developmental Psychology

Over the last two decades, nearly every U.S. state passed laws to support students with dyslexia. A new analysis of national education data shows these legislative efforts have yielded highly mixed results for special education diagnoses and reading test scores.

Pretend play is often seen as just for fun, but new research links early imaginative skills to better long-term mental health. The findings suggest that encouraging creative play in toddlers reduces behavioral difficulties years later.

A new study reveals that preteens living in areas with high air pollution show slower brain and cognitive development compared to their peers. These findings highlight the potential physical and mental impact of neighborhood air quality.

Researchers have mapped how specific puberty hormones shape the adolescent female brain. The findings reveal that estradiol and testosterone organize distinct neural networks involved in emotion, memory, and spatial awareness long before physical puberty signs appear.

A new study reveals that East-Asian infants cry significantly more than Western infants when separated from their mothers during a classic psychological test. The findings suggest researchers must consider cultural differences before labeling highly distressed babies as "insecurely attached."

Children who struggle to control their emotional outbursts at age seven are significantly more likely to develop anxiety and depression as teenagers, according to a new study.

A recent study published in the journal Appetite suggests that breastfeeding provides infants with early practice at self-regulation. This daily routine helps babies recognize when they are full, which predicts better impulse control by preschool age.

As children grow, the left and right hemispheres of their brains begin working more independently. A new study reveals that this division of mental labor happens at an accelerated rate in adolescents with superior intelligence scores.

A new study shows that even the smartest high schoolers rely on slow, deliberate thought to solve logic puzzles. Fast and accurate psychological intuition takes years of education to fully develop.

A new study reveals that between ages three and four, children’s brains undergo a major structural shift. As specific white matter pathways mature, they unlock the ability to process complex grammar rules, explaining sudden leaps in preschooler language.

As children grow, their capacity to memorize associations and their ability to solve novel problems actively reinforce each other. New research suggests that these core cognitive skills develop together in a bidirectional loop during elementary school.

In a surprising twist, a new psychology study reveals that explicitly giving young children permission to lie in a game actually makes them more honest. The findings show that kids view even simple games through a deeply moral lens.

A new study suggests giving to others is naturally rewarding for humans from a very young age. Scientists found that toddlers express significantly more happiness when sharing treats than when receiving treats themselves.

A new study reveals that feeding infants kūmara—a New Zealand sweet potato—as a first food may help them settle back to sleep faster during the night, thanks to its natural, gut-friendly prebiotics.

A large survey of adolescents reveals that strong parent-child communication significantly boosts a teen's emotional and social skills. Interestingly, researchers found these character-building benefits are particularly strong for urban teenagers and only children.