Children are constantly hearing about threats to their safety. Sometimes they find it hard to know if a danger is real, and they need help processing their fears. Here’s what they need you to know.
Young people may have a harder time processing violent footage, as their brains are still developing.
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A developmental psychologist explains how she uses Harry Potter books to make child development more relatable to first-year college students, many of whom grew up on the wildly popular books.
Little kids have a tendency to look on the bright side.
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Human beings seem to be born wearing rose-colored glasses. Psychologists are interested in how this bias toward the positive works in the very young – and how it fades over time.
Children develop the ability to compensate for memory failures only gradually as they get older.
Annie Spratt
Instead of nagging younger kids “not to forget”, and trusting the power of the child’s developing memory alone, try to help them “offload” as much of the work as possible.
Do take comfort, a teddy is usually fine.
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At the ages of 6-7, when children are transitioning to starting school, 14% have high levels of emotional problems, including depression and anxiety. This percentage is higher in the later years.
Some children are born more resilient to change; others can need more support to manage.
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Children feel worried or nervous in a new situation if they think something bad might happen or if they feel they won’t be able to handle the situation.
Computer training can decrease children’s biases.
Jeff Inglis
Racial bias is associated with dehumanizing social groups different from your own. Psychologists trained kids to differentiate individuals of another race – with lasting effects on their biases.
It’s hard for parents to know whether, or how, they should address suicide with their children.
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In this episode of the podcast, we take in the history of Victorian humour, why kids find poo so hilarious and whether academics should try and be funny.
A child’s exposure to violence can lead to lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm.
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With the pressure on parents rising, we could all learn something from the concept of ‘good enough parenting’ proposed half a century ago.
Culturally biased psychology research and the advice based on it ends up in textbooks. But it’s not appropriate for everyone.
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Childhood trauma from abuse, neglect and even divorce increases the risk for physical, mental and developmental problems. To prevent the poisonous consequences, safety and stability are essential.
Children currently in – or who have histories with – residential care services are more likely to have contact with the justice system.
AAP/Julian Smith
Knowing why people with troubled childhoods may be more likely to engage in criminal activity is necessary to inform the development of effective prevention and early intervention initiatives.
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary
Assistant professor, School of Psychology, Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa