Healthy Child Development Research Articles

Experimental Evidence Shows That Housing Vouchers Provided Measurable Benefits, Including Parent Stress Reduction.

This article presents early findings on the causal effects of a housing voucher on family stress, which plays an important role in children's healthy development. Using the Housing and Children's Healthy Development study, which is the only randomized controlled trial of housing vouchers (conducted in the Cleveland, Ohio, and Dallas, Texas, metropolitan areas), we found measurable health and related benefits accruing to families who received vouchers even though half of those who leased housing with vouchers only lived in that dwelling for roughly one year or less. Vouchers also substantially improved cost burdens, sufficiency of space, adequacy of heat, and daytime neighborhood safety. Our analysis shows that the affordability secured by the voucher (reduction of cost burden) played the most important role in reducing parent stress. One policy implication of the affordability findings is the need to keep families' housing cost burden affordable.

Attachment-based Prevention Program Involving Mothers and Fathers: Seven-year Post-Intervention Outcomes of a Randomized Control Trial

The effects of a holistic attachment-based primary prevention program (SAFE), which is aimed at fathers and mothers during the transition to parenthood, were assessed over the 7-year post-intervention follow-up of a randomized control trial. A non-clinical German sample was included in the trial (fathers: n = 58, mothers: n = 71; children: n = 72). The children’s mean age was 7.30 years (SD = 0.41) and their attachment representations were assessed using a doll play procedure. Among the group of insecure mothers (n = 58), significantly more children (50%) in the SAFE group displayed a secure attachment representation compared to the control group (25%). No children of mothers with unresolved trauma displayed a disorganized attachment representation. In the parent domain, the increase in couple discord over time perceived by the SAFE mothers was significantly lower than that for the mothers in the control group. Furthermore, mothers in the SAFE group reported significantly higher partnership quality than the control mothers. The perceived benefits of the programs were significantly higher, in multiple domains, among SAFE fathers and mothers compared to control parents. The effect sizes were medium to large. Even after 7 years, program participation continues to have a positive impact on the children, and their fathers and mothers. The most important implication of this study for clinical practice is the need to support mothers with insecure or unresolved trauma in order to promote healthy child development. In addition, we think that it is important to support both parents during the transition to parenthood. TRN: DRKS00017050 (retrospectively registered, March, 28th 2019)

Child temperament as a longitudinal predictor of mother–adolescent interaction quality: are effects independent of child and maternal mental health?

Adaptive parent–child interaction plays a major role in healthy child development. Caregiver mental health problems can negatively impact parent–child interaction. In turn, interactional quality is often studied as a predictor of child outcome. However, child characteristics supposedly shape parent–child interactions as well. Given associations between child and caregiver mental health and child temperament, this study aimed at differentiating their effects on dyadic interaction quality in adolescence. Child temperament and character at age 5 were investigated as longitudinal predictors of observed mother–adolescent interactional quality at age 14 in a community sample (N = 76). It was examined whether these effects were independent of maternal and child mental health and earlier dysfunctional interaction. Lower novelty seeking, higher reward dependence, and higher cooperativeness separately predicted higher dyadic interactional quality at age 14. Controlling regressions for dysfunctional interaction at age 5, which was a significant negative predictor of later interactional quality, cancelled out the effects of novelty seeking and cooperativeness. Past or concurrent maternal or child psychopathology did not explain variance in mother–adolescent interaction. Applying backward selection, a model including reward dependence and dysfunctional interaction at age 5 and concurrent maternal stress showed the best fit for explaining dyadic interaction quality. Results suggest that enduring rather than transient child features predict interactional quality in a community sample. Effects of temperament are not better explained by those of psychopathology, but a combination of child, maternal, and dyadic features predicted dyadic behaviour best. Selective prevention should target parenting in the context of challenging child characteristics specifically.

Aplikasi dan Sistem Pemantau Gizi Balita melalui Berat dan Tinggi Badan Bayi untuk Pelayanan Posyandu Anyelir 1 Surabaya Berbasis Internet of Things

Based on Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia (IDAI), one of the indicators used to monitor the physical growth and development of healthy children is body weight. It is recommend that in infancy, parents routinely monitor the baby's weight and height. In Indonesia, there is a program of Posyandu that facilitates regular checking of a baby's weight. Currently, the monitoring system for baby weight and height at Posyandu Anyelir 1 Surabaya is still do manually, namely weighing babies on traditional scales and manual height, then manually recording them on the Towards Healthy Card (KMS) both in the cadre records and parents of toddlers. This makes monitoring less well recorded, especially if the KMS is lost. So the PENS Community Service program makes Smart Posyandu Products: Applications and Toddler Nutrition Monitoring Systems Through Baby Weight and Height for Posyandu Services Based on the Internet of Things. By applying the case study method to implementing Smart Posyandu Products at Posyandu, Smart Posyandu Products can be accepted by the Posyandu. So the results of community service activities can help the duties of Posyandu cadres and parents of toddlers in monitoring toddler nutrition effectively and efficiently.

Psychometric properties of the Marschak Interaction Method of Psychometrics and the Assessment of Parent-Child Interaction within residential care and non-referred settings.

Assessment and identification of children with developmental needs and their interaction with primary caregivers are critical for emotional and social development. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a scarcity of valid observation-based tools that guide the work with family communication, which is essential for the child's healthy development. The Marschak Interaction Method of Psychometrics (MIM-P) and Assessment of Parent-Child Interaction (APCI) are both interaction and observation-based assessment tool, and they were explored for their validity and reliability in assessing caregiver-child interaction. The study included 30 trained and certified professionals who recruited referred and non-referred caregiver-child dyads over 11 months. Assessment data was collected from 139 caregiver-child dyads for the MIM-P with 278 individuals (100 referred and 178 non-referred) and 129 caregiver-child dyads for the APCI with 257 individuals (95 referred and 162 non-referred). The psychometric analyses show that both the MIM-P and APCI presents relevant sources of reliability and validity for assessing caregiver-child interaction including interrater reliability, internal consistency, test re-test reliability as well as concurrent and construct validity. The study highlights the need for observation-based assessment tools within social work and contributes to the understanding of the importance of relationships and interaction in children's emotional and social development. However, further research is needed to explore norms and further strengthen implementation and quality of the tools.

Benefits of the Growing up Together Online Parenting Program for Families in Social Services in Croatia

Parenting programs have the ability to enhance parenting quality and healthy child development, but the overwhelming majority of evidence for their effects comes from a small minority of countries and research-intensive contexts. More evidence is needed from effectiveness studies (rather than highly controlled efficacy studies) and from countries less well-represented in the international literature. We examined changes in parental cognitions and parenting behavior in 62 families completing a 10-week online group program (Growing up Together Online) as part of social services in Croatia in 2020 and 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic and earthquake. Parents reported on their cognitions and behaviors before and after the intervention. Paired-sample t-tests show significant improvements in parent-reported general self-esteem, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting experience and morale. Parents also reported significant reductions in angry, harsh, and violent parenting. Parents did not report increased attempts to understand children’s perspectives and positive interactions (e.g. joint play). Reliable change index analysis showed that reliable improvement was most common in parenting self-efficacy and least common in positive involvement and reinforcement. Findings provide preliminary evidence for the program’s potential to optimize the parenting conditions of children growing up in an environment at risk for child abuse and neglect.

Transportation, childcare, lodging, and meals: Key for participant engagement and inclusion of historically underrepresented populations in the healthy brain and child development birth cohort.

Participant recruitment and retention (R&R) are well-documented challenges in longitudinal studies, especially those involving populations historically underrepresented in research and vulnerable groups (e.g., pregnant people or young children and their families), as is the focus of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) birth cohort study. Subpar access to transportation, overnight lodging, childcare, or meals can compromise R&R; yet, guidance on how to overcome these "logistical barriers" is sparse. This study's goal was to learn about the HBCD sites' plans and develop best practice recommendations for the HBCD consortium for addressing these logistical barriers. The HBCD's workgroups developed a survey asking the HBCD sites about their plans for supporting research-related transportation, lodging, childcare, and meals, and about the presence of institutional policies to guide their approach. Descriptive statistics described the quantitative survey data. Qualitative survey responses were brief, not warranting formal qualitative analysis; their content was summarized. Twenty-eight respondents, representing unique recruitment locations across the U.S., completed the survey. The results indicated substantial heterogeneity across the respondents in their approach toward supporting research-related transportation, lodging, childcare, and meals. Three respondents were aware of institutional policies guiding research-related transportation (10.7%) or childcare (10.7%). This study highlighted heterogeneity in approaches and scarcity of institutional policies regarding research-related transportation, lodging, childcare, and meals, underscoring the need for guidance in this area to ensure equitable support of participant R&R across different settings and populations, so that participants are representative of the larger community, and increase research result validity and generalizability.

INTERIOR DESIGN IN A PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

The purpose of the article is to investigate the specifics of the influence of interior design on the personality of a preschool child. Preschool is a unique place where children spend most of their time. This is where training and recreation, development and personality formation take place. Children spend a significant amount of time in daycare, and the environment they are in can have a significant impact on their physical and intellectual development. A well-designed kindergarten can create a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere that can encourage learning, exploration and development.That's why it's important to create a cozy, comfortable, and most importantly, safe place. One of the main challenges is to highlight a safe and attractive interior that will not harm the personality of the preschool age and the environment. It was found that when creating the interiors of a preschool educational institution, a kindergarten, it is necessary to use exclusively high-quality and ecological materials for the child's environment to prevent various types of diseases, allergies, and for a comfortable and pleasant stay in this institution. Interior design in kindergartens is a very important component for ensuring the healthy and happy development of children. Parents look at many factors when choosing a daycare center, including safety, comfort, curriculum, and convenient location. And interior design also plays an important role in creating a favorable environment for a child's development. the interior design of preschool educational institutions plays an important role in creating a safe, functional, aesthetic and comfortable environment for children. By considering factors such as lighting, color, furniture and layout, preschools can create a positive, engaging and supportive space for young children to learn and grow, which can have a significant impact on a child's development and well-being.

Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Nucleus Accumbens Volume and Youth Tobacco or Marijuana Use Following Stressful Life Events.

Exposure to stressful life events (SLEs) can upset balance and affect the healthy brain development of children and youths. These events may influence substance use by altering brain reward systems, especially the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which plays a key role in motivated behaviors and reward processing. The interaction between sensitization to SLEs, depression, and substance use might vary between male and female youths, potentially due to differences in how each sex responds to SLEs. This study aims to examine the effect of sex on the relationship between SLEs, Nucleus Accumbens activity, and substance use in a nationwide sample of young individuals. We utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (ABCD), a longitudinal study of pre-adolescents aged 9-10 years, comprising 11,795 participants tracked over 36 months. Structured interviews measuring SLEs were conducted using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS). Initial linear regression analyses explored if SLEs could predict volumes of the right and left NAc. Subsequently, Cox regression models were used to investigate how SLEs and NAc volume might predict the initiation of tobacco and marijuana use, with the analysis stratified by sex to address potential sex differences. Our findings reveal that SLEs significantly predicted marijuana use in males but not in females, and tobacco use was influenced by SLEs in both sexes. A higher number of SLEs was linked with decreased left NAc volume in males, a trend not seen in females. The right NAc volume did not predict substance use in either sex. However, volumes of both the right and left NAc were significant predictors of future tobacco use, with varying relationships across sexes. In females, an inverse relationship was observed between both NAc volumes and the risk of tobacco use. In contrast, a positive correlation existed between the left NAc volume and tobacco and marijuana use in males, with no such relationship for females. This study underscores that the associations between SLEs, NAc volume, and subsequent substance use are influenced by a nuanced interplay of sex, brain hemisphere, and substance type.

‘’Parent School’’ Evaluation of the Program: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Implementation of systematic education programs for the healthy development of children can contribute to learning the basic building blocks for the cognitive, social, emotional, motor, and language development of children while improving the knowledge and behaviors of parent. This study was conducted to evaluate the contributions of the “Parent School” program to parents. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on July 1-15, 2023, using the focus group technique using the phenomenology study design, one of the qualitative research models. A total of 23 parent actively participated in the “Parent School” program. Among the parent, 11 parent who agreed to do post-program evaluation constituted the sample of this study. A descriptive data form consisting of 5 questions and a semi-structured interview form consisting of 3 questions were used to collect data. Three nurses analyzed participants’ opinions, and thematic coding was performed. Results: In the interviews conducted with the parent, four themes (Emotional change in the parent, behavioral change in the parent, change in the child, and difficulty in transition) and 14 sub-themes (Awareness, consistency in discipline, self-confidence, self-compassion, selfefficacy, playing, effective communication, spending time together, behavioral change, contribution to growth and development, emotional state, comparison with others, family elders and feeding behavior) were determined. Conclusion: In the interviews with the parents at the end of the program, it was determined that there were changes in themselves and their children and that they had difficulty with some changes. In particular, they stated that they had difficulties with comparison, conflicts with family elders or feeding. Keywords: Parent, parenting education, qualitative research, nursing.

Experiences and meanings of trans men about breastfeeding in light of the Theory of Social Representations.

To analyze the experiences and meanings attributed by trans men to the breastfeeding process in light of the Theory of Social Representations. A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, carried out nationwide, with an intentional sample of five trans men who experienced breastfeeding and aged 18 or over. A semi-structured interview script was applied as a data collection instrument, using the Google Meet® platform, from September to October 2021. The data were described, integrating them with content analysis, resulting in two analytical categories. Trans men in labor were willing to breastfeed their child, anchoring their representations of breastfeeding in the idea that it is a phenomenon performed exclusively by women and also recognizing this phenomenon as an event that constitutes their masculinity, in addition to describing it as a pedagogical and learning experience with the objective of guaranteeing the healthy development of children. This study may promote reflections for changing nursing and health practices in different care settings, especially during prenatal care, childbirth and the postpartum period.

The quantitative parameters derived from IDEAL-IQ in the lumbar vertebrae of healthy children: a pilot study of bone development.

Early childhood bone development affects that of bone disease in adolescence and adulthood. Many diseases can affect the cancellous bone or bone marrow. Therefore, it is of great significance to quantify the bone development of healthy children. The evaluation methods of bone development include bone age (BA) assessment and dual-energy X-ray bone mineral densitometry (DXA), both of which have strong subjectivity. The present study was conducted to improve our understanding of the bone development of healthy children using the quantitative parameters derived from iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation quantification (IDEAL-IQ) sequence. Our study enrolled healthy children between January 2022 to December 2022 consecutively in Children's Hospital of Shanxi. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (I) age ≤18 years; (II) no contraindications (surgical and interventional devices for ferromagnetic materials, cardiac implantable electronic devices, cochlear implants, insulin pumps, dental implants containing metal or alloy) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (I) previous malignant disease, (II) previous chemoradiotherapy, (III) previous spine surgery, (IV) previous or acute vertebral compression fracture, (V) artifacts present in images. Participants underwent MRI scans using IDEAL-IQ sequence in the lumbar vertebrae. The IDEAL-IQ parameters [proton density fat fraction (PDFF), 1/T2* (R2*)] were obtained. The factor analysis of variance was applied to compare the differences of PDFF and R2* in different lumbar vertebral groups. The Kruskal-Wallis H test or Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the differences of quantitative data among different gender or age groups. Spearman correlation analysis was applied to study the relationship among the age, PDFF, and R2*. A total of 145 participants (76 males, 69 females) were evaluated. There were no significant differences in PDFF and R2* of different lumbar vertebrae (PPDFF=0.338, PR2*=0.868). The average age was 36 [13-72] months. They were assigned into 4 groups (0-11, 12-35, 36-71, and 72-144 months). As the age increased, the average PDFF and R2* both increased significantly (rPDFF=0.659, rR2*=0.359, P<0.001). There were significant statistical differences in PDFF and R2* between the 4 age groups (ZPDFF=46.651, ZR2*=27.537, P<0.001). Moreover, the PDFF was also positively correlated with R2* (r=0.576, P<0.001). No association was found between the gender and PDFF, R2* (PPDFF=0.949, PR2*=0.177). The quantitative parameters derived from IDEAL-IQ in the lumbar vertebrae of healthy children will improve our understanding of bone development and provide a basis for further exploring the diseases that affect children's bone development.

Mental health and well-being in children and adolescents.

The guideline discusses the various milestones in typical neurodevelopment and the various checkpoints where atypical development can be picked up. There is also a remarkable influence of epigenetics and parenting on child development and well - being. It is also essential to establish effective communication to facilitate healthy child development. Well being in children is largely impacted by schooling, curricular design, inclusivity, teacher training and awareness of newer developments, parent teacher interaction. A clinician must also be well acquainted with the National Education Program and its impact. A healthy environment, exercise, adequate nutrition, microplastics on children and adolescents, global warming are key factors in the development of children. It is indispensable for clinicians to approach well- being in a scientific way and get a clear understanding of the laws and policies for child welfare and protection.

The Implication of Mothers’ Full-Time Labour Force Participation on Early Childcare and Outcome: A Case Study of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

In the last two decades, in Tanzania, female labour force participation outside the home has grown significantly along with their male counterparts challenging the traditional view that women are reproducers and producers in the home-based economy. Full-time employment leads to higher levels of self-esteem, autonomy, and independence, which may influence sensitivity in caregiving. Many mothers also participate in multiple roles which might limit exclusive time for childcare necessary for the development of healthy children. Qualitative methods were used to collect data both from workplaces and homes. Purposive sampling was utilized to identify 42 full-time working mothers with children under the age of five. In-depth interviews, non-participant observation and documentary reviews were used to gather data which was then analysed thematically. The findings indicate that employment imbues women self-esteem, autonomy and independence which improve sensitivity. Children gain from improved nutrition, health services, and access to better secondary care services. However, balancing family demands was difficult, and this affected the nature of maternal care of children. Work-family conflict demands were the main source of stress in mothers, which was detrimental on children's wellbeing. The study recommends that families should devise mechanisms for investing quality time with children, and develop crèches for early childcare in order to mitigate the rising challenges of working and raising healthy and secure children in an urban setting.

Challenges for children’s rights in connection with the development of artificial intelligence

This article explores the importance of protecting children’s rights in the context of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has the potential to change many aspects of a child’s life, and while it can have positive effects, its negative impact also needs due consideration.&#x0D; The article focuses on four key aspects: privacy, security, discrimination and ethics. It analyzes the risks associated with the collection and processing of children’s personal data by artificial intelligence and requires the establishment of effective privacy protection mechanisms. In addition, it considers the safety of children, especially in the context of the use of autonomous robots and toys, and safety standards that are required to be taken into account in the development of such systems.&#x0D; The article also focuses on the problem of discrimination that may arise from the systematic use of artificial intelligence. It demands developers to ensure the fairness of algorithms and avoid discrimination against children. Finally, the article considers the ethical aspects of the use of artificial intelligence, namely the question of the responsibility of developers and the need for ethical principles in all aspects of its use.&#x0D; In conclusion, the article emphasizes the need for constant monitoring and regulation of the development of artificial intelligence in order to protect the rights of the child. It recommends the implementation of an effective legislative framework that defines standards for the protection of children’s rights in the context of artificial intelligence. In addition, the article puts forward the idea of developing ethical directives and codes of conduct for developers, researchers and users of artificial intelligence from the perspective of children’s rights.&#x0D; In general, this scientific article emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights of the child in the context of the development of artificial intelligence. It calls for action at the level of legislation, technological standards and ethical principles, ensuring safety, privacy, non-discrimination and ethical responsibility in all aspects of the use of artificial intelligence to ensure the healthy development and protection of children’s rights in the digital age.&#x0D; Also, the article is devoted to the analysis of the controversial issue of the relationship between child rights and artificial intelligence. The article examines the consequences of the use of artificial intelligence in the context of children’s rights, the main issues related to the legal protection of children in the field of artificial intelligence, and suggests possible solutions for these problems.

Cohort profile update-overview of over 35years of research in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study.

To provide an update on the cohort profile of the DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study, including objectives, study design, methods and description of the comprehensive data pool, as well as to summarize the most important research findings of recent years. In 1985, the open (dynamic) cohort started to collect information on diet, growth, development, and metabolism of healthy children and adolescents in Dortmund, Germany. Detailed data are collected annually during infancy, childhood, and adolescence of the participants, including a 3-day weighed dietary record, a 24-h urine sample, anthropometric and medical examinations as well as interviews on lifestyle. Even if the basic examination modules have not changed since the start over 35years ago, the DONALD study has been continuously further developed by introducing new modules. As such, participants are also invited for follow-up examinations during adulthood since 2005, including an additional fasting blood withdrawal. Overall, 2375 (♂: 1177; ♀: 1198) participants were recruited in the DONALD study between 1985 and 2022. Data from ~ 30,700 anthropometric measurements, ~ 19,200 dietary records, ~ 10,600 24-h urine and ~ 1300 blood samples are available from an observation period of over 35years. The DONALD study provides a large data pool for longitudinal studies on nutrition, growth, and health in childhood and adolescence, its impact on the development of diseases in early adult life as well as dietary intake trends over more than three decades.

The Effects of Digital Addiction on Brain Function and Structure of Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review.

The escalating prevalence of studies investigating digital addiction (DA) and its detrimental impact on the human brain's structure and functionality has been noticeable in recent years. Yet, an overwhelming majority of these reviews have been predominantly geared towards samples comprising college students or adults and have only inspected a single variant of DA, such as internet gaming disorder, internet addiction disorder, problematic smartphone use, tablet overuse, and so forth. Reviews focusing on young children and adolescents (ages 0-18), or those which amalgamate various types of DA, are decidedly scarce. Given this context, summarizing the effects of DA on brain structure and functionality during the vital developmental stage (0-18 years) is of immense significance. A scoping review, complying with the PRISMA extension for such reviews, was conducted to amalgamate findings from 28 studies spanning a decade (2013-2023) and to examine the influence of assorted forms of DA on the brains of children and adolescents (0-18 years). The synthesized evidence indicated two primary results: (1) DA exerts harmful effects on the structure and functionality of the brains of children and adolescents, and (2) the prefrontal lobe is the region most consistently reported as impacted across all research. Furthermore, this review discerned a notable void of studies investigating the neural indices of digital addiction, along with a shortage of studies focusing on young children (0-6 years old) and longitudinal evidence. This research could provide the necessary theoretical basis for the thwarting and intervention of digital addiction, a measure indispensable for ensuring healthy brain development in children and adolescents.

Configurations of actual and perceived motor competence among elementary school children in China: differences in physical activity.

Actual motor competence (AMC) and perceived motor competence (PMC), as determinants of children's active participation in physical activity (PA), were important for children's healthy development. The correlation between the two had been confirmed. To further understand this relationship, this study investigated the current status of AMC, PMC, and PA in Chinese school-age children, used a person-centered approach to reveal the characteristics of the development of motor competence (MC) in Chinese school-age children and the differences in the level of PA among different MC profiles of children. A total of 532 children (age: M = 9.37, SD = 1.80 years-old) from grades 1 to 6 participated in this cross-sectional study (male, n = 284, 53.4%; female, n = 248, 46.6%). The Test of Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) was used to measure children's AMC, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) to measure children's PMC, and the revised Chinese version of Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) to assess children's PA levels. There were some gender differences in AMC but no significant gender differences in PMC and PA in children. AMC and PA levels increased as the children aged, while PMC showed some decline. Cluster analysis identified four groups of children with different MC profiles. Two groups of children had corresponding AMC and PMC levels (the "high-high" cluster, N = 200, 38.91%; the "low-low" cluster, N = 63, 12.26%), and the other two groups were inconsistent in AMC and PMC (the "high-low" cluster, N = 100, 19.46%; the "low-high" cluster, N = 151, 29.38%). Significant differences in PA levels were found between children with different MC profiles. The "high-high" cluster children had the highest PA levels, whereas the "low-low" cluster children demonstrated the lowest PA levels. AMC, PMC, and PA in Chinese school-age children were consistent with the pattern of child growth and development. Children with high AMC and high PMC usually had high levels of PA. Therefore, it was recommended to seize the best opportunity to intervene with children, and family, school, and community should synergize to help children improve AMC and PMC, and then actively participate in PA.

The Impact of Social Distancing on Children and Adolescents and their Long-term Use of the Internet and Technology During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Study seeks to remedy the impact of social distancing of children as one of the most important forms of problems that impede the normal and healthy development of children, which affect their behavior and interaction with the outside world significantly. Despite of the variety of the proportions of the children who suffered from social distancing around the world, the impacts of this phenomenon has affected most of the children around the world. The problem of this research is the need to shed some light on the negative consequences that affect various health, psychological and social aspects of children’s and adolescents’ personality, resulted by imposing social distancing or “home quarantine” in an attempt to reduce the outbreak of the Virus, which has negative impacts on children and adolescents in particular. The importance of the Study lies in the fact that this incident is the first of its kind in our era; we have not experienced social distancing and home quarantine imposed on societies because of COVID-19 pandemic and its continuity for a long time, and the importance of the age stage which the research targets, childhood and adolescence, that are pivotal in the life of the individual, where his/her personality is formed and influences the rest of his/her life stages. The findings of the Study show that despite of the significant decrease in the number of infections with COVID-19 the return of life to its normal form, the period of social distancing, which the world spent, resulted negative impacts exceeded the adults while affected the children and adolescents because of the lack of experience. Therefore, the types and forms of that impacts are varied from a child to another, but all scientists, researchers and doctors agree unanimously that there is a gap in the personality of children. The proposals and recommendations affirm the importance to unite all the concerned individuals and parties about dealing with children and adolescents, such as families, schools, universities, media establishments, Ministry of Health and society in order to implement treatment plans and disseminate the necessary awareness to ensure overcoming the negative impacts which affected the children and adolescents during the period of social distancing.

Implementation of The Independent Learning Curriculum in Kindergarten

This research focuses on the independent curriculum applied in Karana Jaya Kindergarten, Jati Agung District, South Lampung. The independent curriculum impacts the implementation of education in Karana Jaya Kindergarten. Karana Jaya Kindergarten is very important in providing healthy and optimal child growth and development facilities following the community's values, norms, and expectations. This research uses qualitative methods with a descriptive approach. Data is collected through documentaries, literature studies, observations, and surveys. The subjects of this study were 40 children and six teachers. The results showed how Karana Jaya Kindergarten implements an independent curriculum by providing various interesting experiences and activities that stimulate the growth and development of children. Therefore, an environment that supports the growth and development of children is needed. The play-based learning paradigm that encourages independent learning has been successfully implemented.