Healthy Child Development Research Articles

Nature as a Co-Teacher in Early Childhood Language Education

Abstract Playing in nature-based places supports early childhood development. In previous years, studies have shown the benefits of nature play for healthy child development, including language development. For early childhood teachers it is insightful to learn together how to develop language education in nature that is supportive of their student’s language development. The aim of this study is to investigate how early childhood education (ECE) teachers make nature-based places function as language learning environments in EC language education. The study took a collaborative action-based research approach and worked in communities of practice (CoP). In these communities, 55 teachers across five schools gathered six times. Based on the analysis of the shared conversations we defined the supportive aspects of nature-based places and related them to the expected outcomes of early childhood language education. We also described the professional changes they made to be able to teach language in nature. These changes were summarized in a model that informs early childhood teachers how to include the pedagogical and linguistic function of nature-based places to work towards the outcomes of EC language education.

Analysis of risk factors for the development of obesity in preschool children: a logistic model analysis

IntroductionObesity, characterized by abnormal fat accumulation, has become a significant global health concern. The prevalence of obesity in preschool children is rising across regions, highlighting the need for a thorough analysis of risk factors and effective interventions to address this growing epidemic. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the main risk factors for the development of obesity in preschool children and explore effective interventions.MethodsWe collected clinical data from 910 preschool children who underwent a physical examination at our hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. Based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, we categorized the children into two groups: the obesity group (149 cases) and the non-obesity group (761 cases). Using univariate analysis and logistic regression modeling, we identified risk factors associated with obesity development.ResultsOut of the 910 children, 149 were diagnosed as obese, representing 16.37% of the total. High birth weight, high parental body mass index (BMI), picky eating habits, preference for meat, frequent consumption of junk food, and binge eating were found to be significant risk factors for obesity in preschool children. Meanwhile, higher parental education levels and longer daily outdoor activity times were considered protective factors against obesity.DiscussionEffective interventions targeting the above risk factors are necessary to minimize the incidence of obesity and promote the healthy development of children.

The Effects of Parenting Styles on Children's Emotional and Social Skill Development: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Skills

Children's emotional and social skill development plays a crucial role in their social adjustment and mental health. Studies show that parenting style strongly influences this process, not only directly on the child's behaviour, but also indirectly on their emotional and social skills through emotion regulation. In recent years, scholars have increasingly focused on the mediating role of emotion regulation in parenting styles and children's social skill development, in an attempt to further reveal how parenting styles facilitate or hinder the formation and development of children's social skills by influencing emotion regulation. Therefore, with a particular focus on the mediating role of emotion regulation skills, this study will examine the effects of parenting styles on the development of children's emotional and social skills. Analyzing the effects of various parenting styles on emotion regulation can deepen our understanding of how effective parenting strategies can promote the healthy development of children's emotional and social skills. The study found that authoritative parenting, characterized by warmth and support, positively influenced children's emotional and social skills by enhancing their emotion regulation abilities. On the other hand, authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles were linked to poorer emotion regulation, hindering the development of children's social skills.

Nature’s way-our way: A journey through the co-creation and sharing of an Indigenous physical literacy enriched early years initiative

Early years are a critical time in the healthy development of young children. It is essential for children to develop healthy bonds with family members to increase well-being. Colonialism has resulted in the loss of many Indigenous activities, intergenerational teachings and relationship-building strategies that encourage wholistic health-promoting behaviours. Research focused on physical activity behaviours among early years children has had limited success. To address these challenges, the Western concept of physical literacy that applies a wholistic approach to physical activity by focusing on physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellness can align with many Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing. Purpose: Our multi-cultural team embarks on a journey to co-create, and expand a physical literacy enriched and culturally rooted initiative designed to promote wholistic wellness. Methodology: Etuaptmumk (Two-eyed Seeing) guides the team through braiding Indigenous Ways of Knowing,Being and Doing in early childhood wellness and land- and nature-based games alongside Western knowledge of developing physical literacy and promoting risky/ adventurous play. We apply a pre-mid-post design for the meaningful evaluation of the Nature’s Way-Our Way initiative. Impact: Partnering with communities, we aim to produce 40-45 activity cards to promote physical literacy and wholistic health in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Impact of Parenting Styles on Self-Esteem, Psychological Resilience, and Academic Performance

Parenting styles (PSs) have been a widely discussed topic in psychological research. The studies have shown that PSs influence self-esteem (SE), psychological resilience, and academic performance (AP) in different ways. SE, psychological resilience, and AP are key factors in individual development, playing an important role in promoting mental health and enhancing the ability to face challenges. SE boosts an individuals sense of self-worth, psychological resilience aids in overcoming difficulties, and good AP lays the foundation for future personal and professional growth. However, the underlying mechanisms and the extent of these influences remain inconsistent. This study, therefore, aims to conduct a literature review to synthesize recent findings on these three topics and provide a useful basis for educational and family interventions. The research findings indicate that authoritative parenting is positively correlated with childrens psychological resilience, SE, and AP, while negative PSs, such as authoritarian and permissive styles, are negatively correlated with these aspects of child development. These results emphasize the importance of encouraging caregivers to adopt authoritative parenting practices to support healthy development in children.

Equal Placement between choice and imposition

Parental separation can profoundly impact children, emphasizing the necessity to prioritize their holistic well-being. Physical joint custody, promoting equal or similar time with both parents, has gained traction based on international research. However, it's debated whether dual residence always meets children's best interests. Our systematic review from 2000 onwards, drawing from PubMed, Scopus, and various legal and psychological associations, explores this issue. Research suggests that predominantly placing children with one parent, with tailored visitation schedules aligned with their psychological, physiological, and situational needs, may better serve their welfare. Advocates argue that equal time arrangements can disrupt the stability crucial for healthy child development, despite increasing court and international support. This study seeks to inform custody decisions that prioritize children's needs over adult preferences, advocating for nuanced custody and visitation redefinitions in legal frameworks. The goal is to safeguard children during separations by focusing on their well-being above all else.

Dietary practice and associated factors among lactating mothers in Dangila District in the Awi Zone Amhara region Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study.

Lactation is the critical time for meeting the nutritional demands of mothers and infants. Mothers from low-income countries, including Ethiopia, are considered nutritionally vulnerable. Good dietary practices for mothers during lactation are therefore important for the good health of their children. The main objective of this study was to assess dietary practice and associated factors of lactating mothers in Dangila Zuria District, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2022. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 609 lactating women from March 1st to May 1st 2022. The study participants were selected using a straightforward simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected by using structured questionnaires. The data was entered in Epi-data and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were used to see the relevant associations. The variable significantly associated with dietary practice was identified based on a P-value ≤ 0.05. This study revealed that only one-third 204 lactating mothers, demonstrated good dietary practices. Notably, several factors were significantly associated with poor dietary practices: mothers with a family size greater than four had 3.01 times higher odds of inadequate dietary habits (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI: 1.56, 9.28), while those with birth intervals of <2 years faced 2.31 times greater odds (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.49, 3.56). Additionally, daily laborers exhibited a striking 9.35 times higher likelihood of poor dietary practices (AOR = 9.35; 95% CI: 8.02, 19.96), and food-insecure mothers had 4.93 times higher odds of inadequate nutrition (AOR = 4.93; 95% CI: 3.40, 7.16). In conclusion, the dietary practices of lactating mothers were found to be suboptimal, falling below WHO and FAO recommendations. Factors such as family size, birth intervals, maternal occupation (especially daily laborers), and food insecurity were identified as significant contributors. Addressing these issues is crucial. Key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), Regional Health Bureaus (RHB), and health professionals, must work together to alleviate food insecurity, promote optimal family planning, and educate mothers on proper nutrition. Addressing these challenges is essential to achieving global objectives such as reducing malnutrition, improving maternal health, and ensuring healthy child development.

Practice examples: Baby observation tool supports interactions

IN SUMMARY Tool used by health visitors to observe babies' social behaviour helps promote stronger parent-infant interactions and identify emerging concerns that could impact on children's healthy development.

Establishing a model of peer support for pregnant persons with a substance use disorder as an innovative approach for engaging participants in the healthy brain and child development study.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. The goal is to recruit over 7000 caregiver-child dyads across the United States, with 25 % of the study population comprising children exposed in utero to substances to better understanding the effects of prenatal substance exposure on fetal and child development. However, barriers of mistrust for pregnant persons who are substance involved can create challenges to recruiting and retaining this population. The HBCD Study is utilizing a novel approach in research, the inclusion of support professionals (i.e. study navigators) as research team members to boost recruitment, engagement, and retention in this population and other marginalized and underrepresented groups. This article describes the conceptualization and early implementation of a support model utilizing certified peer support specialists, and the evolution to a broader study navigator model (SNM). Core skills, training, and support necessary for integrating such support professionals onto the research team are outlined. A reflection on challenges and next steps describes how the early implementation of the SNM encourages a paradigm shift in longitudinal research that humanizes and centers the participants.

Social contexts and black families' engagement in early childhood programs.

In the U.S., the federal government and dozens of cities have invested in home visiting programs intended to be universally available at scale to support caregivers of young children. Evaluations find that participation in these programs reduces maternal mortality, improves maternal mental health, and supports children's healthy development. Yet, many parents of young children who are invited to participate in home visiting programs do not enroll. This study fills gaps in the literature by examining how the broader social context affects Black families' engagement in home visiting programs. Via focus groups, survey data from a socioeconomically diverse sample of Black parents across the U.S., and a pre-registered field experiment, we capture views of and experiences with early childhood home visiting programs. We assess the responsiveness of these views to the broader social context and examine implications for interest and participation in home visiting programs. Focus group participants described benefits of home visiting while also expressing concerns about being unfairly judged about their parenting practices and the risk of a home visit resulting in child welfare system involvement. One out of four Black parents surveyed associated the term "home visit" with surveillance (i.e., government scrutiny of parenting), and associating "home visit" with surveillance was empirically correlated with lower participation in home visiting programs. Further, our pre-registered survey experiment showed a causal link between surveillance fears and home visit engagement. Reading a news article about a family's experience with the child welfare system decreased interest in home visiting among Black parents, while labeling a program as "new baby wellness" rather than "home visit" increased interest. Collectively, the findings point to ways in which the broader social context of parenting/parental surveillance negatively affects Black parents' participation in early childhood home visiting programs despite their interest.

아동그룹홈 시설장의 시설경영 인식에 관한 포토보이스 연구

This study utilized the Photovoice method to analyze the managerial perceptions and experiences of children's group home facility managers, exploring operational issues and improvement strategies. The study involved five female managers with an average of 10 years of experience, and data were collected through pre-group and individual interviews conducted from January to March 2023. The results identified major operational issues such as children's maladjusrment and behavioral problems, conflicts with biological families, and conflicts among staff members. Additionally, excessive workloads and staff shortages emerged as ongoing challenges that negatively impact the efficiency of group homes and child welfare. These issues were found to hinder the primary functions of group homes and the healthy growth and development of children. Based on these findings, the study proposed policy recommendations to improve the group home system. These recommendations aim to enhance child protection systems, improve the qualiry of internal programs, increase operational efficiency, and promote child welfare. Furthermore, the study sought to understand the difficulties faced by managers and staff members in group homes and provide specific solutions to address these challenges, thereby fostering the overall development of the group home system. The study's limitations include the small number of participants and the restricted regional scope. Future research should expand the study's scope to include managers from diverse backgrounds and delve deeper into various aspects of group home operations. 1his research is expected to make a significant contribution to solving practical problems in group homes and developing effective measures for child protection.

EFFECT OF SOCIAL INTERACTION ON NEGATIVE VOCABULARY ACQUISITION IN 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

This study aims to describe how social interaction affects the acquisition of negative vocabulary in 6-year-old children. This research was conducted using descriptive qualitative method. The subject in this study is a 6-year-old boy. The data in the study are negative vocabulary utterances produced by 6-year-old children. The data collection technique applied in this research is direct observation through interviews. The results show that children who communicate less with parents and interact more with the outside environment tend to use more negative vocabulary. Environmental factors, such as home, school, and playground, play an important role in this process. Therefore, it is important for parents and educators to create a conducive environment and provide positive social stimulus to support children's healthy language development.

Mindsets of Parenting Ability: Coping With Challenges and Engaging in Parenting

ABSTRACTParenting can bring both joy and stress. Identifying factors that foster greater engagement and enjoyment while also helping parents cope with inevitable stressors is critical for healthy child development and parental wellbeing. In the current work, we build on growth mindset theory to explore individual differences in beliefs about the changeable nature of parenting ability. Specifically, across three correlational studies (N = 1170), we investigated if growth mindsets about parenting related to coping in the wake of parenting setbacks and to parental engagement. Growth mindsets predicted more positive expectations and less avoidant coping after parenting challenges, and these processes, and growth mindsets, correlated with parental engagement. Across the three studies, average links between growth mindsets and the two primary outcomes of interest—avoidant coping and engagement—were r = −0.31 and r = 0.20, respectively.

Associations Between Fundamental Movement Skills, Muscular Fitness, Self-Perception and Physical Activity in Primary School Students.

Background/Objectives: Positive self-perception, physical activity and fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency are important aspects of a child's healthy development. The objective of this research was twofold: first, to explore associations between FMS, muscular fitness, self-perception and physical activity in school children; and second, to identify key predictors of FMS proficiency, athletic self-perception, physical activity levels in these participants and the differences between biological sexes. Methods: Primary school-aged children (n = 104; 53.85% female) from 8 to 10 years old (M = 9.04, SD = 0.69) engaged in two days of testing. All students were measured on FMS, standing long jump (SLJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), seated medicine ball chest throw and self-perception, followed by correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The findings revealed significant positive correlations between FMS proficiency, lower body muscular fitness (CMJ, SLJ), and athletic self-perception for the entire cohort, with varying results between male and female subgroups. Additionally, athletic self-perception showed strong relationships with other self-perception domains. Notably, forward stepwise regression analysis identified FMS proficiency as a significant predictor of physical activity levels, explaining 12.8% of the variance. SLJ, scholastic perception, and physical activity explained 45.5% of FMS variance for females. In males, FMS proficiency significantly predicted physical activity, accounting for 13.3% of the variance. SLJ and athletic competence self-perception explained 42.1% of FMS variance in males. Conclusions: The study indicates that FMS, self-perception, muscular fitness, and physical activity levels may mutually enhance each other, and that there is a need for biological sex-specific strategies to be considered in physical education programs.

Birth characteristics and the risk of childhood brain tumors: A case-control study in Ontario, Canada.

Various birth characteristics may influence healthy childhood development, including the risk of developing childhood brain tumors (CBTs). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between delivery methods, obstetric history, and birth anthropometrics with the risk of CBTs. This study used data from the Childhood Brain Tumour Epidemiology Study of Ontario (CBREO) which included children 0-15 years of age and newly diagnosed with CBTs from 1997 to 2003. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to explore the association between delivery methods, obstetric history, and birth anthropometric variables, with subsequent CBT development. Models were adjusted for maternal and index child characteristics, and stratified by histology where sample size permitted. The use of assistive instruments (forceps or suction) during childbirth was significantly associated with overall CBTs (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.61) and non-glial tumors (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.60-4.13). Compared to first-born children, those second-born or greater had a lower risk of overall CBT development (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55-0.98), and glial histological subtype. All other birth characteristic variables explored were not associated with CBTs. The use of assistive devices such as forceps or suction during vaginal delivery carries potential risks, including increased risk of CBT development. There is an inverse association between birth order and CBTs, and future studies examining early childhood common infection may be warranted.

‘A two-person job’: the role of a supportive matrix for ‘good enough’ parenting

ABSTRACT This paper employs the psychoanalytic method of observation over 12 months to examine the development of an infant (Andrea) and her caregiving environment through weekly one-hour visits. Initially, the observations focused on interactions between Andrea and her mother, who was a single parent during pregnancy and Andrea’s early weeks. As the father became more involved, the focus broadened to include him, shifting the family dynamic from a dyadic to a triadic structure. This transition offers nuanced insights into the complexities of parental roles and the factors that enable ‘good enough’ parenting and healthy child development. The observations highlight that parenting, particularly caring for a newborn, is a challenging task requiring a collaborative family environment, with active parental involvement and broader support systems for both the caregiver and the child. This support helps ensure adequate parenting, which in turn fosters the infant’s emotional security and overall well-being. Drawing on psychoanalytic theories, these observations seem to show that while the primary caregiver-infant dyad is crucial, the effectiveness of caregiving and the child’s development are greatly enhanced by the larger support network. This underscores the need for stronger societal support systems to help caregivers and infants thrive, particularly in increasingly individualistic Western cultures.

Analysis of the Impact of Parenting Styles on Children

Children's growth and development are affected by many factors, especially the parenting style among family factors. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the problem of the influence of parenting styles on children and explore the factors that influence them. Based on the current literature and data investigation,the authors focused on the issue of the influence of parenting styles on children's behavior, academic performance, and emotional intelligence. The results of this study show that the influence of parenting styles on children is both positively and negatively correlated, depending on what type of parenting style the parents have. Positive parenting styles, such as authoritative parenting styles, are usually positively associated with children's development, while negative parenting styles, such as authoritarian parenting styles, are negatively related to the impact on children. This is an area of research that is useful for exploring how to improve parenting styles to promote healthy child development and motivate children to do things right.

A068: A Case Study of HIPPY Family Intervention on Motor Ability in Children with Developmental Delays

Background: The phenomenon of motor retardation caused by serious insufficient physical activity of children is increasing. Improving the family's parenting knowledge and skills can promote the family's healthy lifestyle and have a positive impact on the healthy development of children. Method: The children with developmental delays were followed in their natural state for three months, combined with the "HIPPY family intervention model" to improve their family's parenting knowledge and skills, and to intervene in the behavioral performance and physical activity of children with motor development delays. Results: After 3 months of HIPPY family intervention, TGMD showed an overall upward trend, and the promotion effect of mobility skills and manipulation skills was strong. The test data of exercise ability before and after improved, in which balance coordination, agile response, flexible stretching, muscle strength and aerobic endurance all significantly increased, with balance coordination, agile response and flexible stretching improving the most. Conclusion: (1) HIPPY family intervention core "family-centered", targeted to improve the motor ability of children with developmental delays. (2) Pre-improved the parenting style of parents and provided a guarantee for the improvement of the motor ability of developmentally delayed children. (3) The content of family intervention is rich and interesting, which effectively promotes the gross movement improvement of children with motor retardation.

How the early life microbiome shapes immune programming in childhood asthma and allergies.

Despite advances in our understanding of their diagnosis and treatment, pediatric allergies impose substantial burdens on affected children, families, and healthcare systems. Further, the prevalence of allergic diseases has dramatically increased over the past half-century, leading to additional concerns and concerted efforts to identify the origins, potential predictors and preventions, and therapies of allergic diseases. Together with the increase in allergic diseases, changes in lifestyle and early-life environmental influences have corresponded with changes in colonization patterns of the infant gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays a key role in developing the immune system, thus greatly influencing the development of allergic disease. In this review, we specifically highlight the importance of the proper maturation and composition of the gut microbiome as an essential step in healthy child development or disease progression. By exploring the intertwined development of the immune system and microbiome across pediatric allergic diseases, we provide insights into potential novel strategies for their prevention and management.

Assessment of maternal health and behavior during pregnancy in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study: Rationale and approach

Assessment of maternal health and behavior during pregnancy in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study: Rationale and approach