Music helps young children recognize emotions from an early age
I remember a mom, let’s call her Maria, sitting in my clinic, her hands twisting a tissue. "Dr. Anya," she said, her voice quiet, "my son, Ben, he’s so smart with words, with building things... #childdevelopment #dyscalculia #educationalsupport #learningdisorder #mathdifficulties #neurodivergent #numbersense
United Press International: Excessive screen time for children linked to later heart health risks. “The time children and teens spend video gaming, scrolling through social media or watching TV could be putting their future heart health at risk, a new study says. Each additional hour of screen time is associated with an increase in heart risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood […]
Update: This piece is getting some interesting pushback from parents who think I'm being alarmist about AI toys over on my other social platforms.
On the other side of that, I'm hearing so many people taking the usual "AI BAAAAD" stance, some of those people thinking I agree with them simply because I took a hardliner stance in this post.
For clarification: I'm not anti-AI. I use these tools daily for my research and writing as well as accessibility aids to offset some of the disadvantages I face due to my blindness. I study AI from the computer scientist perspective and am studying to be an elementary teacher precisely because I see AI's educational potential. I'm not even entirely against the idea of AI companionship, if it's framed right.
What actually bothers me is the business model. When Moxie robots suddenly "died" last year because the company went under, kids had to grieve their artificial friend. Parents got a scripted letter to explain why their $799 companion stopped talking which provided little comfort to kids who experienced digital abandonment. Trust me, the videos I've seen of kids crying because their beloved friend unexpectedly died over night is truly heartbreaking.
That's no glitch, that's what happens when you outsource childhood relationships to venture capital that only cares about investment returns.
The real question isn't whether AI toys are inherently bad. It's whether we're okay with corporations experimenting on our kids' emotional development while claiming it's "age-appropriate play."
What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kaylielfox/p/the-toys-are-listening?r=2pewuq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
#AIToys #ChildPrivacy #ChildDevelopment #DigitalRights #TechEthics #SurveillanceCapitalism #COPPA #DataPrivacy #ChildSafety #TechRegulation #DigitalLiteracy #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #EdTech #CorporateAccountability #TechCriticism #EthicalTech
Plymouth welcomes The Little Gym this August - innovative child development center offering comprehensive learning programs for kids ages 4 months to 12 years. Community-focused approach to building confidence and skills. #ChildDevelopment #Learning
Milestones in baby's development, 0-12 months:
New study shows that parental work intensity moderates the link between poverty and children’s development. Parental work intensity acts as a resilience mechanism, especially for girls and Hispanic children. #Poverty #ChildDevelopment https://www.demographic-research.org/articles/volume/53/4/
I built a toy music controller for my 5yo with a coding agent
#CFP: Interpreting the #HungerGamesPrequels #hungergames
submissions/questions to Tom Paradis tparadis@butler.edu by Sept 30 2025 #childdevelopment #classics #dystopia #Enlightenment #history #mediastudies, #literature #music #philosophy #YA www.patheos.com/blogs/religi...
Hunger Games Prequels Call For...
#CFP: Interpreting the #HungerGamesPrequels #hungergames name, affiliation, 100wd bio, 250-500 wd abstract by Sept 30 2025. submissions/questions to Tom Paradis tparadis@butler.edu #childdevelopment #classics #dystopia #Enlightenment #history #mediastudies, #literature #music #philosophy #YA
I'm not always a fan of worrying about what the developmental milestones are "supposed to be," but understanding when your child isn't keeping up can help you better support your child.
Read here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/growing-up-healthy/202412/why-emotional-milestones-matter
#ChildDevelopment
#ParentingSupport
#EmotionalHealth
#Parenting
‘No Cocomelon!’ Woman Says She’ll Raise Her Kids On Clear Speech, Classic Cartoons, And No ChatGPT Until They Can Spell https://shinemycrown.com/no-cocomelon-woman-says-shell-raise-her-kids-on-clear-speech-classic-cartoons-and-no-chatgpt-until-they-can-spell/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Parenting #ClearSpeech #ClassicCartoons #NoCocomelon #ChildDevelopment
Psychologist Alice Miller: "It is up to us adults, depending on how we treat our newborn infants, either to turn them into future monsters or to allow them to grow up into feeling, and hence responsible, human beings." #ToxicMasculine #HealthyMasculine #ChildDevelopment #Empathy https://bit.ly/4lfah8J
Really interesting, on the effects of #mother-child interactions on the development of the 'social brain' and Theory of Mind.
The Alchemy of Dad: How Paternal Chemistry Affects Your Child’s Brain and Body
#FatherhoodScience #PaternalChemistry #ChildDevelopment #ParentingTips #Oxytocin #Microbiome #EarlyBrainDevelopment #StressRegulation #FamilySupport #ParentingScience
The Incredible Role of Fathers in Shaping Children's Brain and Emotional Development
#Fatherhood #ChildDevelopment #Neuroscience #ParentingTips #InvolvedDads #BrainGrowth #EmotionalHealth #FamilyScience #ParentSupport #ResilientKids
Apples & Bananas launches innovative learning app for children 0-8, offering comprehensive, personalized educational experiences that support whole-child development across cognitive, emotional, and creative domains. #EarlyLearning #ChildDevelopment
30-May-2025
#Singing to #babies improves their #mood
A new study highlights how singing is a simple yet effective way to support infant well-being.
- may partially explain #evolution of #musicality?
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1085802 #science #childDevelopment #pscyhology #parenting
Singing to Infants Boosts Mood and Bonding
https://friendica.world/display/84b6ef2b-6268-38b1-8d44-40e452625548
