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child development

·April 24, 2026·9 min read

Everyday Skills Protect the Developing Brain from Prenatal Stress

Children born during Superstorm Sandy shows that early behavioral skills act as a "buffer," preserving healthy limbic system activation after prenatal stress.

This shows a child in a cape looking at an imaginary castle and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 22, 2026·8 min read

Early Imaginative Play Predicts Better Mental Health

A longitudinal study of 1,400 children links early pretend play to improved mental health outcomes, suggesting play builds brain resilience.

This shows a toddler kicking a soccer ball.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 12, 2026·10 min read

Toddler Habits Predict Teenage Fitness

A decade-long study reveals that movement habits at age 2.5, active play, limited screens, and sleep, predict physical activity levels at age 12.

This shows the outline of a baby touching a hand.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 24, 2026·7 min read

Why Human Babies Evolved to Be So Dependent

A new study suggests that human infant helplessness is a unique evolutionary trait that drives social collaboration. By being sensory-rich but motor-poor, human babies are "designed" to trigger the deep social bonds and care systems that make us human.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 24, 2026·11 min read

COVID-19’s Stalling Effect on Children’s Executive Function

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly stunted the growth of children's executive function skills regardless of family income. This delay in self-control and attention development may be a primary driver of post-pandemic academic and behavioral struggles.

This shows a brain of fresh foods and processed foods, representing how diet affect brain and cognitive development.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 16, 2026·11 min read

Early Life Diets Quietly Shape IQ Years Later

New research shows that a toddler's diet can predict their IQ in elementary school, and ultra processed foods are the primary culprit.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 22, 2026·4 min read

Early Intervention Helps Most Autistic Children Acquire Spoken Language

Summary: New research reports that approximately two-thirds of initially non-speaking children with autism develop spoken language following evidence-based early intervention....

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 15, 2024·6 min read

Childhood Adversity Accelerates Brain Development

A new study revealed that early life adversity (ELA) accelerates brain development in children, particularly during the preschool years. This acceleration, an adaptation to adverse circumstances such as a mother's health challenges during pregnancy, may increase the risk of cognitive and mental health issues later in life.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 4, 2020·4 min read

Mother nose best: Child body odor provides olfactory clues to developmental stages

Olfaction plays a role in signaling key dynamic changes in the mother-child relationship.

This shows children playing in a tulip field

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 14, 2020·4 min read

Mother nature and child development: Reshaping modern play spaces for children’s health

Allowing a child to play in nature helps improve their physical health, motor skills, learning ability, social development, and emotional wellbeing.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 18, 2020·5 min read

Mix of stress and air pollution may lead to cognitive difficulties in children

Children who experience elevated prenatal exposure to air pollution and exposure to early life stress have an increased risk of developing both attention problems and cognitive difficulties.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 4, 2018·4 min read

Mothers Whose Responses to Infants’ Facial Cues Increase Reports Stronger Bonds with Babies

Researchers report increases in cortical responses to infants' faces between the prenatal to postnatal period is associated with more positive relationships with the baby after birth.