Babies learn so much from looking at faces. At the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many parents around the world began to worry that face masking could hinder child development and facial recognition. A study done by researchers at the University of California, Davis, alleviated this concern and found that babies can still form memories of faces even when they’re masked.

In this study, researchers used eye tracking to study the impact face masks have on facial recognition in infants. With the background knowledge that babies look at unfamiliar images longer than familiar ones, the study found that babies could recognize a masked face when it was unmasked. However, babies had a hard time recognizing masked faces that they initially saw unmasked. This was something many other individuals also experienced. 

Facial recognition is a crucial part of cognitive development. It helps babies learn how to communicate, understand emotions, establish relationships, and navigate the world around them. Babies are continuing to learn and thrive today, even with face masking. 

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Oftentimes, parents know when their kids’ schedules are too full but succumb to the pressure of making sure their kids do not miss out on anything. They want their children to have all the experiences and resources possible. However, packing too much into a child’s daily schedule can hinder development. The challenge becomes knowing how much is too much for children.

One major consequence that can result from overscheduling children is stress. Children and teens often complain that they have no time to relax. Parents are constantly asking them to complete new tasks and criticize their child’s methods of relaxing. This can lead the child to feel guilty, ruining the entire purpose of taking a break. 

A second consequence that can be seen from overscheduling children is their inability to fill time on their own. This can lead to false expectations of children thinking their parents will constantly create a schedule for them. Children have a hard time entertaining themselves and thus become even more dependent on their parents.

Ultimately, it’s important for parents to recognize that implementing free time into their child’s daily schedule is equally as important as providing them with the necessary resources and activities. Free time helps children figure out solutions on their own, fostering frustration tolerance, problem-solving, and flexibility. These are all traits that are essential for the rest of their lives. 

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Emma Dineen

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Emma Dineen is a research assistant at UConn KIDS. She is a sophomore at UConn double majoring in Psychological Sciences and Human Development and Family Sciences. This is Emma’s first semester working with UConn KIDS, and she is very excited about everything she is going to learn this semester.

Emma developed her love of working with kids through babysitting and working in an elementary school. After she graduates, Emma plans to go to graduate school to further her education in developmental psychology.

On campus, Emma is a Floor Mentor for the Public Health House Learning Community and a member of the UConn Kickline team. Her favorite thing to do at UConn is going to sports games; especially basketball. In her spare time, Emma loves to dance, hike, read, and spend time with her two dogs: Izzy and Pippa.

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