Imaginary friends are often seen as a fun and innocent aspect of childhood. However, for only children, these imaginary companions can serve a much deeper role than just a playmate. Being an only child presents certain social and emotional challenges, with loneliness often at the top of the list. That’s where imaginary friends come into play! 

A recent study revealed that imaginary companions provide important emotional, social, and cognitive support for only children. Researchers interviewed several only children, concluding that these playful fantasies offer an emotional outlet and a safe space for self-expression. Imaginary companions are critical to their emotional well-being and play a key role in developing their social skills. 

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Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Think back to your educational history. Many people can relate to the feeling of being taught a lesson in school, attempt to memorize it, and then move onto the next topic without ever looking back. The key word in that sentence was memorize.  

In his TED Talk “Let’s Teach for Mastery—Not Test Scores,” Sal Khan talks about how memorization should be replaced with mastery. Schools and parents hyper-fixate on test scores with a one-size-fits-all approach. Khan proposes a mastery-based model where students do not progress until they have fully grasped the material. He puts a major emphasis on personalized learning to help students unlock their truest academic and personal potential. Sal Khan is the founder of Khan Academy which is a tool that students and teachers can use to learn through repetitive practice opposed to strict memory. Khan argues that a grade, such as a “B” or a “C” does not reflect on a person’s potential, just reveals they have not yet mastered that material, and they should not be shamed for it. 

Interested in watching this TED Talk? Click here!! 

  

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant

A typical bedtime routine for a child may look like brushing their teeth, putting on pajamas and then going to bed. What researchers found was that incorporating a language-based activity into a child’s bedtime routine can significantly improve their sleep and cognitive growth. This can take the form of reading, storytelling, or even singing.  

The study that this article focuses on revealed that children who regularly experienced these language-based activities slept longer and scored higher on verbal tests by the age of 5. It was also shown to have links to lower levels of anxiety and aggression. Something as simple as reading a bedtime story at bed proved to have a profound impact on children’s development. 

Interested in reading more? Click here! 

 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

If I were to ask you what babies think, your response would most likely be nothing. We think of babies as having blank minds and slowly absorbing the world around them. According to research, babies are far more ahead than we first imagine. In her Ted Talk, Gopnik talks about different studies that showcase babies’ abilities to learn. She even goes as far as that babies are designed to learn due to their powerful brains.  

She draws a comparison between babies and scientists in the sense that they both observe, hypothesize, experiment, and draw conclusions. While they do not do this to the same degree, the idea is still there!

Interested in learning more? Click this link here to watch! 

 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

In today’s digital world, children are spending more time in front of screens than ever before. But how does this impact their development? A recent article was posted discussing the effects that technology has on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development. The article stresses that while technology has its positives, there is an overwhelming number of negatives. 

 It is crucial that screen time is limited for children. Prolonged screen time can lead to sleep disturbances, obesity, attention problems, and even emotional disorders mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. With that being said, technology is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to enhancing education and developing early literacy skills. Strategies such as encouraging face-to-face interactions, and focusing on high-quality, educational content are ways to minimize those negative effects. 

Interested in learning more? Click on the link here! 

 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Sign language has been shown to help successful communication in individuals unable to communicate vocally. Additionally, it can be a tool to develop communication for those under 2 years old before vocal language is developed. In the early stages of life, both parents and infants experience frustration due to an infant’s inability to properly communicate their needs. A common skill that can be used to bridge that gap is the use of American Sign Language.  

In this article, a few researchers decided to conduct a study where they taught infants signs tied to specific needs or actions. The results showed that infants who were trained in sign language at that young age possessed stronger communication skills between them and their caregivers. It can also contribute to evaluating young children who may be at risk for behavioral problems.  

To learn more about Sign Language and childhood language development, click here! 

Rachel Silverman, UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Have you ever wondered at what point in a child’s development they begin to gain social awareness? Developmental psychologist Sara Valencia Botto explores this concept in her TED Talk. What Botto discovered through her research was that children develop these skills much earlier than we might expect.

Botto studied children starting at 14 months old and observed that even toddlers begin to adjust their behavior when they know that they are being watched. Behaviors such as sharing when someone is watching them reflect a deeper understanding of social dynamics at this young age. The speaker invites the audience to think about the values that we broadcast in our day-to-day interactions and how they might shape the behaviors of others around you.

Botto goes into detail on how understanding this early emergence of social awareness can help parents, educators, and caregivers create an environment fostering healthy social growth. To watch this full TED Talk, click here!

 

Rachel Silverman, UConn KIDS Research Assistant

Siblings are often our first friends, rivals, and role models, and research shows they play a big role in shaping who we become. This article delves into what can be learned by exploring sibling interactions and how they influence our social, emotional, and behavioral development. Siblings generally spend a lot of time together where they learn to share, deal with conflict, and support one another. With that being said, all sibling relationships differ. The context and roles that they play within families also influence one’s development. For example, older siblings tend to be more influential role models.  

An interesting finding was that individuals who grew up with a sibling with a disability or chronic illness display warmer characteristics. They tend to take on more parenting roles in life and have more of an aptitude for adjusting in life. 

This research highlights the importance of fostering good sibling relationships and recognizing the lasting impact they can have throughout a person’s life. Positive sibling relationships can lead to better social skills, academic success, and emotional health. On the flip side, negative sibling relationships can contribute to conflicts and behavioral issues. 

 

If you want to read more, click here! 

 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Hi! My name is Rachel Silverman and I am a research assistant for UConn KIDS. I am a junior Allied Health Major with a double minor in Psychology and American Sign Language. My career goal is to become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist. I have always had a passion for working with children and knew that it was something that I wanted to tie into my future career.

Some fun facts about me I am from Tinton Falls, NJ. I love the beach, it is my absolute happy place. I have a dog named Pudding! I love to travel, I had the opportunity to go to Italy, France, and Greece this past summer. It was amazing! I volunteer for an early intervention program where I was introduced to the world of Occupational Therapy and instantly fell in love. Learning about childhood development is something I learned that I am passionate about and am always eager to learn more.