Developmental Psychology

Infants from four months old can anticipate and react to objects moving towards them, showing early signs of understanding spatial interactions and developing self-awareness through sensory integration.

Studies indicate that low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure subtly alters fetal craniofacial features and specific brain regions, yet appears to have no significant impact on broader socio-cognitive development in early childhood.

Spanking is consistently linked to negative outcomes in children’s cognitive, social-emotional, and motor skills across diverse cultural contexts, according to a recently published study.

Though it may seem like a paradox, children do not laugh for joy. Scientific studies show that there is something much deeper than joy or mirth in a child’s laughter.

A study found that children show greater brain activity linked to focused attention when reading from paper compared to screens, suggesting that traditional reading may enhance comprehension and cognitive engagement more effectively than digital formats.

Infants whose mothers display higher sensitivity during interactions show enhanced brain activity in response to happy faces, highlighting the importance of nurturing caregiving in the early development of emotional and social competencies.

A study found that 9 and 10-year-olds drinking caffeinated soda daily are twice as likely to start drinking alcohol within a year, showing increased impulsiveness and reduced working memory.

Parental paranoia predicts their children's safety behaviors, indicating an intergenerational transmission of these traits.

Toddlers who experienced severe abuse had reduced brain volumes, which was associated with lower cognitive abilities, according to research published in Neurobiology of Stress.

A study found that lower family income is linked to changes in children's brain connectivity, particularly areas related to cognition and sensory processing, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic status on brain development and cognitive performance.

A study found that Israeli mothers' exposure to the 2006 war did not directly affect their children's sleep, but mothers' emotional distress from the war was linked to increased sleep problems in daughters. This suggests maternal well-being post-conflict influences child...

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications reveals how maternal and fetal genes, influenced by food availability, play a crucial role in the growth of a baby's cerebral cortex, linking higher birth weight to an enlarged brain area. This research...

A study found that 24-month-olds remember screen-based information better than 15-month-olds, especially if they nap within 4 hours of learning. Longer naps further improved recall. This highlights sleep's role in enhancing memory consolidation in infants, offering insights for integrating screen...

Recent research in Biological Psychiatry reveals a genetic link between early language development and ADHD risk, with a notable shift from infancy to toddlerhood. This study of 17,298 children highlights the crucial role of genetics in vocabulary growth and its...

While parents favor free play for educational value, experts advocate for guided play, which is goal-oriented and supports learning in areas like math and literacy. This discrepancy underscores the need to educate parents on the benefits of guided play for...