More children today are dealing with allergies and asthma than ever before. Can you actually prevent allergies and asthma in your child?

If you have allergies or asthma, you might worry your child will have them too. This is a very common concern. While family history matters, there are simple things you can do early in your child’s life to help lower their risk.

The article “Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children” explains that parents can take simple steps to support their child’s health. It shows that small choices like how you feed your baby and manage their environment can make a difference.

One idea that is discussed is the type of infant feeding method used. Breastfeeding for the first 4 to 6 months helps build a strong immune system and may lower the risk of some allergies. Hypoallergenic formula options also may help for babies at higher risk. When starting solid foods, introduce them slowly. This includes common allergens like eggs and peanuts (even though it may be scary). Waiting too long to give these foods may actually increase allergy risk!

Your child’s environment also matters. Try to keep dust low by washing bedding often and keeping humidity low. The role of pets is unclear as some research shows early exposure may even help. You should always avoid tobacco smoke, as it increases the risk of asthma and breathing problems.

Focus on simple, healthy choices. These steps can help support your child’s immune system and lower their chances of developing allergies and asthma.

Click here to read more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

How can we encourage kids to love learning from the inside out?

Intrinsic motivation starts early and grows when adults support children’s natural curiosity. Kids are naturally interested in exploring and learning about the world. When adults give them chances to play, explore, and try new things, children become motivated from their own interest instead of rewards.

Play is especially important because it is engaging and helps children learn from others. The article from Harvard also explains that adults should follow children’s lead during play. When adults notice what children are focused on and build learning around it, motivation increases. Children are also more motivated when learning includes social interaction. Playing and working with others helps them stay engaged. Giving children challenges that are not too easy and not too hard also supports motivation. When kids can succeed with effort, they are more likely to keep trying. The article also says children need some choice and control. When kids have a level of control, learning feels more meaningful. Praising effort and the process helps children stay motivated.

Click here to read more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday with UConn KIDS!

Last Week’s Question: Around what percentage of school-age children in the US have a learning disability?

Last Week’s Answer: 5%-15%

 

This week’s question is…

What is it called when kids learn by watching others?

A) Trial and Error

B) Habituation

C) Classical Conditioning

D) Observational Learning

Tune in next week for the answer!

As we head into springtime weather, it is important to take your children outside as much as possible.

This article explains that experiencing the exploration around nature helps children grow and improves their mental health. Research shows that spending time outside can greatly improve focus, creativity, social wellbeing, and physical health. Studies found that kids who live near parks or forests often have fewer mental health symptoms. The author explains that nature can act as a buffer. It does not remove challenges, but it can help kids handle them better.

Children can practice using their senses to observe their outdoor surroundings. Listening to the birds, watching the trees, feeling the wind, and smelling the rain can help children experience wonder when they slow down and pay attention to nature.

Taking time to explore nature this spring will help support your child’s development while also creating meaningful everyday experiences.

Click here to read more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

From the very first days of life, small moments can make a huge difference in a baby’s development. One simple activity that supports growth is tummy time. Tummy time should begin when a baby is a newborn and be practiced often while they are awake and supervised. Giving babies time on their stomach helps them build strong neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. These muscles are important for motor development and help babies learn skills like rolling, sitting, and crawling earlier. Starting tummy time early and practicing it every day helps babies grow stronger and supports their overall health and development. Pathways created an informational video to educate everyone on the importance of tummy time and ways to do it.

Click here to view the video and learn more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Talking in baby talk might feel silly, but babies are paying close attention. Language learning starts much earlier than you would expect, and baby talk is part of how babies learn. 

This article explains that even though babies actually understand a lot more language than people think. Linguistics professor Jeffrey Lidz has spent years studying how young children learn language. His research shows that babies start to understand important parts of language like sentence structure, much earlier than expected. 

In a recent study, Lidz and his colleague found that by around 18 months, children already have a strong understanding of syntax (how words are arranged in sentences). Toddlers still understand things like the difference between nouns and verbs and how words in a sentence connect to each other, even if they struggle to speak clearly.  

Using baby talk with simplified speech and exaggerated tone helps babies pay better attention to sounds and patterns, making it easier for them to learn language. 

Click here to learn more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday with UConn KIDS!

Last Week’s Question: Around what week of pregnancy do babies begin to smell the same smells as their mother?

Last Week’s Answer: 20 weeks

 

This week’s question is…

What is the recommended amount of daily exercise for elementary age children?

A) 30 minutes

B) 60 minutes

C) 15 minutes

D) 90 minutes

Tune in next week for the answer!

All children should have swimming lessons. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4. It is important to do everything you can to prevent accidents from happening, but what are the age-appropriate steps to take with swimming lessons?

Start early by helping your child get familiar with the bathtub. Use this controlled, safe environment to get your child used to the feeling of water on their face and their head briefly under water. Try filling up the bathtub more to help them feel what it means to float. Practicing blowing bubbles underwater also helps with breath control and reduces the risk of swallowing water. Confidence in swimming begins at home with active supervision in the bathtub.

Every child’s development is different in terms of their readiness for swimming lessons, but around the age of 4, children typically gain the cognitive skills necessary to follow instructions and retain new information. This is the perfect time to introduce your child to swimming lessons to keep them safe in the water. Knowing how to float, tread water, and swim to a surface are skills that can save their lives.

Getting some resistance from the child because they are scared of the water is normal, as swimming can be a strange, new experience. That being said, it is so important to keep persevering for the sake of your child’s safety. Gradually increasing familiarity with the use of active support and positive reinforcement can help make the process less scary.

As they master the basics of swimming safety and get older, they can move on to learn different strokes. Spending more time in water with family and friends increases their knowledge of the different ways to move underwater.

Prevention of accidents does not only include swimming lessons, but it also includes constant active supervision by an adult, use of proper floatation devices, and accessibility to a safe area to swim.

Click here to learn more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Almost every parent has experienced the moment when a child suddenly starts screaming, crying, or throwing themselves on the floor. These tantrums can feel overwhelming and confusing, leaving many parents wondering what they did wrong or how to make it stop. Tantrums are a pretty typical part of childhood, according to Jen Lumanlan’s article “Six Ways to Respond to Your Child’s Tantrum”. Tantrums are used by young children to communicate bigger emotions that they are unable to verbalize.

Lumanlan discusses several studies on why tantrums occur. Tantrums are more common when a child is exhausted, frustrated, hungry, or seeks attention from a parent. Children also frequently become irritated when they try to do something that is too difficult for them or when they want to do something on their own but can’t quite execute it. These overwhelming breakdown moments are usually about the childs actual emotions and needs.

The article also provides parents with helpful advice on how to respond. One important approach is to be calm yourself when entering the situation because children frequently ‘borrow’ or mirror the emotions of people around them. Grounding yourself and leading with compassion will benefit both the parent and the child in this circumstance. Another tip is to wait until the child has let it all out and calmed down before discussing what happened in order to assist them put their emotions into words by explaining what just happened. Lumanlan also really stresses the need of acknowledging the child’s emotions rather than punishing them or surrendering to every demand from the child.

Parents can help their children learn to handle big feelings and develop stronger emotional skills over time by recognizing what a tantrum is truly saying, and communicating this to the child.

Click here to read more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) published this helpful article introducing several strategies to promote writing development in children!

Your family works a team that encourages and supports your childs proper development so that they can thrive. By providing different fun activities that families can engage in with their kids, advanced writing skills become more accessible. These activites can be practiced to build fine motor skills, stamina, and confidence in themselves.

Incorperating writing activities into your family’s daily life can help children see it as a natural and enjoyable part of life. Making lists, labeling pictures, writing cards, and creating stories allow children to practice writing in ways that feel meaningful. Celebrating effort and creativity rather than perfection leads children to more likely feel proud of their work and motivated to continue developing their writing skills.

Click here to read the article and learn more!

Grace Hoey

UConn KIDS Research Assistant