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!

Most young children want a pet at some point in time, however what are the effects of taking on a new member of the family? 

Children learn through experiences, and having a pet at home can help increase responsibility and empathetic skills. 

A study was conducted to find the connection between empathetic tendencies and having a pet at home. A Personal Information Form was filled out to find out information about the children and their families and an Empathetic Tendency Scale was used to determine the empathetic tendencies within the children. The overall results found that having a pet at home was associated with a significant difference in the mean scores of empathetic tendencies. The results were interpreted as children are given responsibilities when having a pet, which is important factor contributing to empathy. 

If you have a child at home, it might be a good idea to consider taking on a furry friend as another member of your family!

If you want to read more, click here!

Kaitlyn Vitucci
UConn KIDS, Research Assistant

Children of immigrants grow up with ties to their country of origin as well as the country they grow up in. They’re raised with a mix of foods, music, beliefs, expectations, language, etc., from two (or more) different cultures. Not just in the United States, but around the world, many individuals balance their identify on such classifications. 

What separates us from our parents is that our parents were born in their country of origin whereas we were born in a different one. Therefore, the parents are viewed as first generation immigrants and their children as second-generation immigrants. 

Children who grow up in such families face many misconceptions, judgments, and overall challenges about their cultural identity. In their home country, they’re seen as a citizen of the country they grew up in, and in the country, they grew up in, they’re seen as citizens of their home country. But it’s important to consider that they can be both, and that we are all a “salad bowl.” 

To watch the full Ted Talk, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, 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