If you're a parent, chances are you have swamped yourself with a myriad of questions running in your mind. Be it about parenting style, children’s education, discipline, behaviour, routine or setting boundaries. All these questions are often met with varied answers from different sources. Parenting can be a daunting journey, often leaving parents feeling perplexed by the plethora of advice and information bombarding them from various sources. With every acquaintance offering their own set of suggestions, it makes the complexities of raising children even more overwhelming.

 

To help and empower parents to better understand and connect with their children, we are here with the latest research findings on children and parenting.

 

Need all your wellness solutions in one place? A whole new world awaits just a click away.

 

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The Lasting Impact of Parental Love on Children's Mental Health

A 2024 study published by the Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that positive relationships with parents during childhood are associated with better mental health in adulthood, regardless of exposure to adverse childhood experiences.

 

This proves that the care, affection and love parents give goes a long way and has an ever lasting impact on children.

 

Creativity Leads to Fewer Behavioural Problems

For those parents who have consistently emphasised academic achievement over creative pursuits like drawing even for the kids and toddlers, this is an important revelation to consider.

 

Another 2024 study published by the University of Surrey, early drawing and building skills are linked to enhanced education and behaviour in children.

 

The study suggests that preschool fine motor skills such as folding paper, block building, drawing, sketching might play an important role in developing fewer behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence.

 

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Influence of Language on Sleep

Did you know that the power of words extends even into our sleep? Recent studies from the University of Liege shed fascinating light on how language impacts different aspects of your children’s lives, even when they are resting.

 

According to a 2024 study by the University of Liege, Belgium, Europe, relaxing words slowed down cardiac activity as a reflection of deeper sleep and in comparison to neutral words that did not have such a slowing effect. This proves that the human body is not truly disconnected from the external world during sleep.

 

The Power of Reminiscing

Book reading is considered as one of the finest  ways by which parents can engage young children in conversation. While many parents enjoy reading books with their young children, not everyone feels comfortable with this activity, and not all children enjoy it either. Fortunately, research offers an alternative approach

 

As stated by the 2024 research by Florida Atlantic University, USA, to boost the quality of a preschooler's language experience and skills, parents should consider reminiscing with them. Findings show reminiscing is really helpful for your children to speak well. It's considered just as good as reading books together.

 

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The Ill-Effects of Television

We all have heard that exposing your babies and toddlers to television or mobile phones is not considered healthy and now there is research to back up the same.

 

According to a 2024 study by the Drexel University, USA, children exposed to TV or video viewing might affect the ability to process the world around them. They may be more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviours, such as being disengaged and disinterested in activities, seeking more intense stimulation in an environment, or being overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights.

 

It further concluded that screen time in infants and toddlers leads to issues such as language delay, autism spectrum disorder, behavioural issues, sleep struggles, attention problems and problem-solving delays.

 

Understand Child Development and Health

A 2024 study published by the University of Waterloo, Canada found that certain characteristics seen in children, like being very excited, curious, and responding positively to new things, along with family influences, could make some kids predisposed to develop signs of ADHD. This research shows that parents can play a big role in preventing ADHD by being more involved and giving clear guidance to their child, especially when they face new experiences.

 

According to a 2024 study by the Ohio State University, USA, stress can cause inflammation in the body, which is connected to metabolic syndrome. It also suggests that simple stress management techniques could be helpful in improving overall health.

 

According to a 2024 study by the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Netherlands, Europe, how well children learn to talk at a young age can predict how well they'll do with language, reading, and learning later on. In simpler words, there is genetic association between children’s early vocabulary size and later-life ADHD and general cognition skills. Also, having trouble learning language at a young age might be connected to conditions like ADHD and ASD.

 

Need all your wellness solutions in one place? A whole new world awaits just a click away.

 

By incorporating these evidence-based strategies into parenting practices, you as a parent can enhance your children's development, health, and overall well-being. With a commitment to staying informed and adapting to new findings, you can foster positive outcomes and strengthen your relationships with your children for years to come.