Occupational therapy is a very powerful tool that can and should be utilized to help children grow and develop. In the article “Role of Occupational Therapy in Pediatric Primary Care: Promoting Childhood Development” by Bonnie Riley and Stephanie de Sam Lazaro, occupational therapy is highlighted as a key support in early childhood development. The authors discussed multiple examples of how influential OT can be.  

By incorporating OT early on, developmental screenings can be done to detect potential challenges in the future. An advantage that OT provides is that practioners are able to adapt to each family cultural and personal needs to ensure meaningful support. Overall, the article discusses advocacy to integrate OT into primary care so that there is easier access to families. 

Interested in learning more? Click here! 

 

Rachel Silverman, UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

In children’s development, schools are one of the most prominent places where children receive quality education. However, it is also a place where mental health is promoted, especially for young children where it is the most crucial time in their overall psychological development.  

The assessment that teachers give children in addition to the children’s own rating of their life satisfaction is key in understanding the mental health of the children. Furthermore, it is important to intervene to stop any adverse mental health conditions from worsening as early as possible! 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Psychologist Anne Marie Albano shares her story of anxiety as a young girl, and how her current interest in childhood anxiety stemmed from her own personal experiences. Anxiety disorders, she explains, can start as early as four years old and can create great suffering in the child as well as their parents. If anxiety is left untreated during early childhood, it can lead to depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal ideation.   

She notes that her parents performed their own version of exposure therapy to get young Albano to overcome her anxiety. Such professional therapy is one of the most beneficial treatments for anxiety. Through her research, she discovered that the combination of exposure therapy sessions and SSRIs in adolescents can alleviate anxiety, but not fully get rid of it. Thus, she discovered that parents with good intentions for their children unintentionally cause more anxiety in them by not letting them take risks. 

Taking risks is a key factor in reducing anxiety. If they don’t, then they continue to get increasingly anxious and lower self-esteem. Compared to children able to take risks, they display more confidence and are able to manage situations. The best practice for parents is to help them face their fears and solve problems. Only then will the child be able to develop coping mechanisms and deal with situations on their own. 

To watch the full Ted Talk, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Majority of the children in the US spend most of their time in child-care, where physical activity is an important aspect of their day and development. As this study mentions, the levels of physical activity vary and the aim of the study was to figure out why. 

The overall conclusion was that physical activity may vary due to the clothing worn by children. The two noted major themes were: children’s clothing was a barrier to children’s physical activity in child-care and clothing choices were a significant source of conflict between parents and child-care providers. 

Inappropriate clothing, such as lack of a winter coat or inappropriate foot-wear, could prevent the entire class from being able to go outside. Conversely, this issue of clothing can lead to conflict between parents and teachers, an example given was a child lost a piece of jewelry and the parent was upset with the teacher because of it.

The implications of this study were that schools should make a clear policy about appropriate clothing for the children, as well as educating parents on the importance of play.

If you want to read more, click here!

Kaitlyn Vitucci
UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

 

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday!

This weeks question is…True or False: As defined by the American Psychological Association (2018), those with an external locus of control “tend to behave in response to internal states and intentions and to perceive their life outcomes as arising from the exercise of their own agency and abilities.” 

A. True
B. False

Last weeks question was “A mesosystem is defined as ‘the groups and institutions outside the home (ex. day care, school, a child’s peer group) that influence the child’s development and interact with aspects of the microsystem (ex. relations in the home)'” The answer was true!

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

As discussed before, play has so many important aspects that promote different areas of development. The environment a child has can impact their amount of and type of play. Other influences, such as the social aspect of the environment, can impact play as well.

This article dives into how parents can influence gender differences in motor development within play. It recognizes the differences of verbalization of play between infants, which ultimately impacts how their child develops. This can help us address how we can better support child development and ensure that every child is receiving the support they need to develop.

To read more, click here!

Mikayla Clemens

Research Assistant, UConn KIDS

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. 

Interested in learning more? Click here!! 

 

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

Characteristics of the performing arts can be essential to the well-being of children. Although not mentioned or heavily encouraged by parents, the arts are a key factor in improving the life of children. They are alive but should also be living a fulfilling life regardless of age. Combining imagination, play, and performing arts can lead to many benefits in children.

A prime example of performing arts is role play. All children engage in play, whether solo or group play. Imaginative play can lead to a more artistic play, meaning that there is a possible connection between imagination and the performing arts.  

There are four functions that the arts can provide children with: activity, belonging, identity and ownership, all important in contributing to the needs of their development as well as their quality of life. Overall, there is more meaning to when parents tell their children to “go and play,” it also means to outwardly express themselves and expand their knowledge that there is a figurative world to engage in.  

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday!

This weeks question is…True or false: A mesosystem, according to the American Psychological Association (2018), is defined as “the groups and institutions outside the home (ex. day care, school, a child’s peer group) that influence the child’s development and interact with aspects of the microsystem (ex. relations in the home)”

A. True
B. False 

Last weeks question was “What is an example of multifinality: ‘any one component may function differently depending on the organization of the system in which it operates.'” The answer was A, “the same childhood experience can lead to different outcomes in adulthood”!

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