All posts tagged: Toddlers

Toddlers are happier giving treats to others than receiving them, study finds

Toddlers are happier giving treats to others than receiving them, study finds

Published by José Betancourt

A new study published in Developmental Science suggests that the act of giving to others is intrinsically rewarding for humans, even at a very young age. Scientists found that toddlers express more happiness when sharing treats with someone else than when receiving treats themselves. This provides evidence that human cooperation is driven by a natural emotional reward from prosocial behavior, which refers to actions intended to benefit others. Across many different cultures, people routinely share their resources with friends and strangers. These generous acts often come at a personal cost, ranging from giving food to a neighbor to donating an organ. Scientists wanted to understand what motivates this type of deep cooperation. “Human beings are remarkably (pro)social, and some individuals are willing to share resources even at significant personal cost (as seen in surrogate pregnancy and organ donation). We are therefore very interested in exploring the developmental origins and motivational forces behind these generous sharing behaviors,” said study author Enda Tan, an assistant professor at the University of Victoria. Previous research suggests that helping others …

The Viral ‘Jessica’ Toddler Tantrum Hack Is Not A Long-Term Parenting Fix

The Viral ‘Jessica’ Toddler Tantrum Hack Is Not A Long-Term Parenting Fix

Published by Sam Flores

Parents are attempting to halt toddler tantrums by asking their children about a made-up person called “Jessica”. The distraction technique seems to work, too. In one clip shared on TikTok, a father is buckling his crying child into a car seat and says: “Jessica, come here.” “Are you going to stop crying? Because Jessica is coming. You want Jessica to come?” he asks his son, who promptly stops crying and looks around. In another clip, a crying toddler runs towards their caregiver, who calls out: “Jessica. Jessica. Where are you, Jessica?” Again, the toddler stops crying and looks around, wide-eyed. Dr Sasha Hall, a senior educational and child psychologist, certainly understands the appeal to parents of young children. Who wouldn’t want a magic ‘pause’ button to stop those mid-supermarket-shop meltdowns? But the expert warns it’s not an effective long-term solution for helping children navigate big emotions. Why calling out for ‘Jessica’ stops toddler tantrums It’s basically a form of distraction. “It can work initially because young children are highly responsive to novelty, unexpected input, and …

I Tracked My Toddler’s Sleep Score and Mine. I Didn’t Expect to Learn This

I Tracked My Toddler’s Sleep Score and Mine. I Didn’t Expect to Learn This

Published by skeptic

Earlier last month, I noticed my son’s baby monitor, the Nanit Pro, started showing a sleep score every morning. This number tells you how well your child slept the night before on a scale from zero to 100. Sleep scores track how long it takes to fall asleep, sleep cycles, heart rate throughout the night and any disruptions that may have happened. This is also one of our expert-recommended baby monitors, so it seemed appropriate that it would provide this information. As many parents know, infant and toddler sleep habits can be unpredictable.  I previously tested the Oura Ring, one of CNET’s favorite smart rings, which tracks your health and sleep data. It also provides a sleep score based on data collected by its sensors on your finger (movement, temperature, heart rate and more). I started using the Oura Ring to hold myself more accountable for going to sleep on time. Seeing that my son has his own sleep score made me think, “I bet he has a better sleep score than I do.” I …

UK Government’s New Screen Time Limits For Children Under Five

UK Government’s New Screen Time Limits For Children Under Five

Published by Sam Flores

New screen time limits have been revealed for children in the UK under five. The guidance, from the UK government, comes as almost one-quarter (24%) of parents of three‑ to five‑year‑olds say they find it hard to control their child’s screen time, and 98% of two‑year‑olds watch screens every day. In response to parents calling for support on how much screen time is too much, as well as how to build healthy habits, the government shared new evidence-informed guidance for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. What are the new screen time rules? Under twos should avoid screen time other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation (ie. FaceTiming family), per the new guidance. Meanwhile two- to five-year-olds should stick to no more than one hour of screen time a day. The government also advises avoiding screen time at mealtimes and in the hour before bed, so as not to disrupt sleep. What else does the guidance say? Opt for slow-paced, age-appropriate content. Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be …

Toddlers Catch Up To 19 Illnesses In First Year At Nursery – Study

Toddlers Catch Up To 19 Illnesses In First Year At Nursery – Study

Published by Sam Flores

Toddlers who start nursery for the first time can expect to catch up to 19 – yes, 19 – illnesses during that first year, a new study has found. So if it feels like you’re spending a lot of time at home with them, unable to work, you’re certainly not alone. While it’s possible for kids to still attend nursery with some illnesses (like coughs and colds), the research found children would typically have about 13 days off due to sickness. Researchers from UCL, the University of Cambridge, Cornell University and North Middlesex University Hospital, were struck by how often their own children became ill after starting nursery. So, they set about investigating how often a child starting nursery will get sick in their first year of attendance and what, if anything, can be done about it. Which illnesses do toddlers catch at nursery? The authors said a typical one-year-old starting nursery will experience: Around 12-15 respiratory infections (which explains the almost year-round cough and snotty nose) Two gastrointestinal illnesses (diarrhoea and vomiting), And one …

If you think your toddler’s often ill, you’re right – what going to nursery means for catching colds and building immunity

If you think your toddler’s often ill, you’re right – what going to nursery means for catching colds and building immunity

Published by skeptic

There’s no nice way to put it: small children are snotty. A research study that tested children for multiple respiratory viruses every week for a year found that under-fives are carrying one or more viruses 50% of the time. A child aged 15 months will have 12-15 colds per year and eight or nine of those will show symptoms, such as a runny nose. If parents feel their small children are sick with a cold half the time, that’s backed up by evidence. Our new study brings together information from different sources to understand how the immune systems of small children differ from adults, why children pass germs around so effectively and what parents can do to help. Babies and toddlers are encountering a whole host of infectious diseases for the first time, which makes them more likely to have symptoms; this can make them more likely to pass these bugs on to others. We also found that going to nursery often accelerates a natural process of building up immunity that would otherwise take place …

This is how many times toddlers get sick at nursery – and what can be done | UK News

This is how many times toddlers get sick at nursery – and what can be done | UK News

Published by skeptic

Researchers have revealed how many illnesses children get in their first year of nursery – and why it makes them more resilient to bugs when they start school. It comes after experts decided to put together the first major study of the impact of illness among youngsters after noticing how frequently their own children were sick during the first year of formal childcare. The authors also said that vaccination is one of the most effective things parents can do to protect their children from illnesses. Toddlers and pre-schoolers will get 15 illnesses in their first year of nursery, leading to around 13 days off through sickness, the study found. This also means employers should have “realistic expectations” about the levels of sickness absence for children, parents and carers, the authors wrote in Clinical Microbiology Reviews. The nursery settings can serve as an immune system “boot camp” which helps children to build up resilience against bugs in the years ahead, according to the research. During their first year of formal childcare, babies and children are expected …

Higher skin carotenoid levels in toddlers predict better motor and language development

Higher skin carotenoid levels in toddlers predict better motor and language development

Published by José Betancourt

A longitudinal study of toddlers initially between 12 and 18 months of age found that higher levels of skin carotenoids at the start of the study predicted trending improvements in cognitive development in the period up to 30 months of age. These toddlers also showed stronger fine motor skills improvements across the entire 12-month period, and increased gains in their ability to understand spoken words in the latter part of this period. The research was published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. Skin carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that accumulate in human skin after being consumed in the diet. They mainly come from fruits and vegetables that are rich in carotenoids, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes. Carotenoids include compounds like beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein, which are known for their antioxidant properties. When these compounds are absorbed into the bloodstream, some of them are deposited in the skin where they can be detected and measured. Skin carotenoid levels are considered a noninvasive biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. Researchers sometimes use specialized optical …

Babies And Toddlers Are Already Masters Of Deception, Study Finds

Babies And Toddlers Are Already Masters Of Deception, Study Finds

Published by Sam Flores

If you’ve ever had the sneaky suspicion your toddler’s a master manipulator, prepare to feel vindicated. A new study suggests around one-quarter of children start to understand deception by as early as 10 months old (!!), and this rises to half of kids by the time they’re 17 months. Previous research has often focused on deception as something “very sophisticated”, however researchers in the new study were able to document much earlier forms of trickery in young kids. The study’s lead author, Elena Hoicka, Professor of Education at the University of Bristol, said: “It was fascinating to uncover how children’s understanding and usage of deception evolves from a surprisingly young age and builds in their first years so they become quite adept and cunning ‘little liars’.” What did the study involve? The parents of 750 children aged 0-47 months were asked a range of questions about their child’s deception development. Some parents noted their children’s deceptive ways began as early as eight months old. Once children learned the art of deception, this activity was found …

Nursery worker who raped and abused toddlers jailed | News UK Video News

Nursery worker who raped and abused toddlers jailed | News UK Video News

Published by Sam Flores

A nursery worker who carried out multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against toddlers as young as two has been given a 30-year sentence. Nathan Bennett, 30, was found guilty last month of two counts of raping a child under 13, four counts of the sexual assault of a child under 13 and two charges of sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration. Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall described the case as “every parent’s nightmare”. Bennett was told he’d spend at least 24 years in custody, with six years on licence. The sexual offences against the five boys aged between two and three years old took place at the Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol. A parent of a child that was under Bennett’s care told Sky News the revelations were “horrifying”. Image: Nathan Bennett. Pic: Avon and Somerset Constabulary They said: “You think that this can only happen in TV shows and films and to other people. “And I never thought that I would be in a situation where my children had been …