Developmental Psychology

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.

Trying to drown out a noisy street with pink noise? You might be making things worse. New research indicates combining environmental noise with continuous pink noise degrades overall sleep architecture more than the traffic alone.

Frequent digital media use tends to be linked with poorer developmental outcomes in children and teens, according to a massive review of longitudinal research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, that analyzed data from hundreds of thousands of youth.

Proponents of physical punishment often cite historical experiments to justify the practice. However, a new analysis published in Child Abuse & Neglect suggests these older studies are deeply flawed and fail to prove spanking works.

New research shows a child’s home environment is closely linked to how their brain matures. A recent study associates parental acceptance with faster brain development, while exposure to household abuse correlates with delayed microstructural brain changes.

A new longitudinal study reveals that toddlers with higher levels of plant-based pigments in their skin at 12 to 18 months of age show greater improvements in fine motor skills and language comprehension over the following year.