Welcome back to Trivia Tuesdays!

The answer to last weeks question is… 1.5-3 years! This is when children start to feel independent and capable of doing things on their own. If they aren’t encouraged or supported, they might feel unsure about their abilities.

This weeks trivia question is… What do we call the ability to understand that other people have different thoughts and feelings from our own, usually starting around ages 3-4?
A) Object Permanence
B) Theory of Mind
C) Cognitive Dissonance
D) Self-Esteem

Tune in next week to find out the answer to this week’s question!

One Laptop per Child (OLPC), is a program aimed to help children in disadvantaged areas by providing them with access to technology. The researchers gave laptops to some children and not to others to see how it affected their education. They looked at how the laptops impacted the children’s schoolwork and thinking skills. The study found that the laptops didn’t make a big difference in how well the children did in school or in their thinking skills. Even though they had laptops, many kids spent time playing games or doing other things instead of learning.

These results demonstrate that giving children laptops isn’t enough to help them learn. Technology can help with education, but it needs to be used the right way with good teaching and support. In addition, It’s not just about giving out laptops carelessly, it’s how they’re used and how teachers help is more significant.

To read more, click here!

Jess Vo, UConn KIDS Research Assistant

The answer to last week’s Trivia Tuesday is… The Primacy Effect! This term describes how people are more likely to remember the first few items on a list compared to those in the middle or at the end. The reason for this is that the first items are usually better encoded into long-term memory.

At what age do most infants start to smile in response to others’ smiles’?
A) 1-2 months
B) 3-4 months
C) 7-8 months
D) 12 months

Tune in next week to find out the answer to this weeks’ question!

 

Parents who actively support their child’s language skills can play a big role in improving their language development.

When parents are trained to engage more effectively with their children, it can enhance the children’s ability to both understand and speak. Teaching parents the right techniques can lead to long-term benefits, particularly for children with language delays or at risk for language disorders. Children whose parents participated in these programs demonstrated better language development compared to those whose parents did not receive training.

However, the authors also point out that more research is needed to figure out the most effective ways to implement these programs and which methods work best for different children. Ultimately, parent training is an important and beneficial way to support children’s language development.

To read more, click here!

Jess Vo, UConn KIDS Research Assistant

 

Jess is a research assistant for UConn KIDS from Canton, Massachusetts. She is a junior Psychological Sciences major at the University of Connecticut, with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. This is Jess’ first semester working as a research assistant with UConn KIDS, and is excited to meet the UConn KIDS community and get involved.

After she graduates, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She has been a summer camp counselor for 8 years now, and that is where she learned that she loved working with children!

In her free time, Jess loves to hang out with her friends, go to the beach, travel, and go to concerts! \

Children born very prematurely or with very low birth weight are at a higher risk of experiencing developmental delays, making it crucial to understand the factors that influence their growth and development

Key factors include how early the baby was born, how much they weighed, and any brain injuries they had after birth are key factors in whether they will have cognitive issues later. Other components like the family’s living situation, maternal education, and health problems that arise after birth also play a significant role in cognitive outcomes.

Early identification of children at risk and prompt interventions are essential for supporting their cognitive development. Despite advances in medical care that have increased survival rates, these children still face a higher likelihood of developmental delays, with both prenatal and postnatal factors impacting their outcomes.

To read more, click here!

Jess Vo, UConn KIDS Research Assistant