General Growth and Development Articles

It's so amazing to watching our children grow and develop. The articles below are for children of any or all age categories and cover a wide range of topics including early childhood development, speech and language development, puberty, general emotional development and more.

Our rating system for these Diseases and Illnesses articles is:

• - Best, in depth and most helpful overall
• - Very Good, but more specific in focus
• - Good reference material

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	Child Health Guide - Put Prevention into Practice This is an outstanding 30 page guide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that has information on preventative care and on good health habits. Use it as a permanent record to help you keep track of your child's health and care through the years. This guide contains many great growth charts, immunization tables and other quick-reference information that can help your child get a healthy start on life.
	Continuing on Track...As Your Child Grows and Learns (Ages 5 to 8) This article outlines specific traits and skills, by year for children ages 5 to 8. It's a great way to see how your child changes as he or she gets older!
	Summer Home Learning Recipes for Parents and Children Grades 9-12 This is part of a series of fun filled activities, compiled by grade level. For teens, this article focuses on problem solving and getting control of ones emotions.
	Helping Your Child Be Healthy and Fit To enjoy good health now and in the future, children must learn how to eat, exercise, sleep, control stress, and be responsible for personal cleanliness and reducing the risk of disease. Your child's ability to learn these skills, and the chances for a longer and more productive life can be greatly improved by developing and following good health practices. This article contains many practical suggestions and has a wide variety of activities for children aged 4 through 11.
	Joy and Loss: The Emotional Lives of Gifted Children As Ellen Winner explains in her outstanding book, Gifted Children, there is a myth that gifted children are better adjusted, more popular, and happier than average children. The challenging reality is that more frequently, nearly the opposite is true. For most gifted children, childhood is more pleasurable and more fulfilling because they derive joy from challenge and reward from work. At the same time, it is a childhood that is more painful, more isolated, and more stressful because they do not fit in with their peers and they set high expectations.
	Assessing the Development of Preschoolers Parents often wonder if the development of their preschooler is going well. This article focuses on the question of individual growth - is the preschooler's development going so well that he or she can be described as thriving? As parents look at their own children's behavior and achievements in the categories given, they can determine if any aspect of their child's development needs special encouragement, support, or intervention.
	Biters: Why They Do It and What to Do About It Although biting isn't "abnormal" in the sense that one out of ten toddlers and two-year-olds does it, it is a disturbing and potentially harmful behavior that parents and educators must discourage from the very first episode.
	Brain development research-What it means for young children New insights into brain development affirm what many parents and caregivers have known for years, 1)good prenatal care, 2)warm and loving attachments between young children and adults, and 3)positive stimulation from the time of birth, really do make a difference in children's development for a lifetime. This article is taken from Rethinking the Brain: New Insights into Early Development by the Families and Work Institiute.
	Early Childhood Growth Chart An Early Childhood Growth Chart for families and caregivers which gives age-appropriate activities to promote language development for young children.
	Early Identification of Speech-Language Delays and Disorders Early identification includes the evaluation and treatment provided to families and their children under 3 years old who have, or are at risk for having, a disability, or delay in speech, language or hearing. This article from the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association provides specific information about early identification and outlines specific questions parents should ask about this process.
	Pragmatic Language Tips There are several ways parents and teachers can help children use language appropriately in social situations and this social language use is known as pragmatics. In this article from the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) you'll find suggestions that will help foster appropriate pragmatic language skills with children who might otherwise be at a disadvantage during social interactions.
	Prevention of Sleep Problems It is much easier to prevent sleep problems than to treat them later. Parents look forward to getting a full night of sleep, but newborns awaken every few hours. This practical and very helpful article will help parents of children from birth to age one cope with many infant sleeping problems.
	Questions and Answers about Child Language This is a good overview of general topics about language development and potential language problems, and it has been provided by the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association.
	Questions and Answers about Stuttering This article from the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association, answers the main questions that parents will ask if their child stutters.
	Sizing Up Kids' Nutrition and Fitness Sound nutrition and fitness habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime. To examine how today's youth measure up in terms of diet and activity, the International Food Information Council Foundation and the International Life Sciences Institute-North America recently convened a conference, drawing on experts in pediatrics, nutrition, exercise physiology and education.
	Spoken Language Problems It is important to identify children whose language is not developing normally so that more specific stimulation and actual intervention can begin as early as possible. In young children there are many known milestones that can be observed by parents and preschool teachers. In this article from the Learning Disabilities Association of America, these spoken language problems are discussed and a great list of language milestones and activities to encourage language development is included.
	Preparing Middle School Students For A Career This Parent Guide from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education provides information on how middle schools, as well as parents, can help focus a students' attention toward career awareness. The publication also discusses ways that middle schools can promote the development and education of adolescents.
	Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise among Children Physical inactivity has become a serious problem in the United States. More than half of U.S. adults do not meet recommended levels of moderate physical activity, and one-fourth engage in no leisure time physical activity at all. Inactivity is more prevalent among those with lower income and education, and, beginning in adolescence, affects females more than males . A pattern of inactivity, also known as sedentism, begins early in life, making the promotion of physical activity among children imperative. This Digest discusses the importance of and ways to foster activity and exercise in children.
	How To Recognize And Develop Your Children's Special Talents This Parent Guide from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education provides families with information on how they can develop their children's talents at home, as well as how they can work with schools toward the same goals. A section on multicultural gifted programs is also included.
	Questions and Answers about Articulation Problems Written by the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association, this is a thorough set of questions and answers about articulation problems. These problems may result from physical handicaps, such as cerebral palsy, cleft palate or hearing loss, or may be related to other problems in the mouth, such as dental problems. However, most articulation problems occur in the absence of any obvious physical disability. The cause of these so-called functional articulation problems may be faulty learning of speech sounds.
	Creativity for Emotional Intelligence: Ideas and Activities One key component of emotional intelligence is creativity. What is creativity and how do parents foster it in their children? In this article you'll find activities that you can do with your children to foster a creative spirit. You'll also find some thought provoking questions that your children will enjoy puzzling over.
	"I can do it myself": Encouraging Independence In Young Children From an early age, a child's search for independence is fueled by the desire to make things happen and to feel competent. A young child's opinion about her capabilities is, to a large extent, based on her parent's response to her. As an adult, your role in fostering independence is to provide love and support, encourage exploration and curiosity, teach skills, and allow the child to make appropriate choices.
	Childhood Obesity Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese (Dietz, 1983). As with adults, the prevalence of obesity in the young varies by ethnic group. This article talks about the definition, problems, prevention, and treatment of obese children.
	Helping Children Eat Right Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral fellow with the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. For the last 10 years, she has designed and conducted research on the relationship of nutrition and behavior, with a focus on the regulation of energy intake in preschool-age children. Here, Johnson focuses on the issues of parental influence on children's eating habits and the development of childhood obesity.
	Infant Day Care: The Critical Issues Parents often agonize over the decision about care for their infants. This article discusses the development of attachment (between mother and child), the effects of early separations, parent characteristics and family circumstances that may contribute to insecurity, and the potential benefits of secure attachment to a caregiver. It also discusses infant care quality and the debate on infant attachment.
	Music Beats Computers at Enhancing Early Childhood Development A research team exploring the link between music and intelligence reports that music training -- specifically piano instruction -- is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills necessary for learning math and science.
	NEJM Study Shows Children Born to Mothers with Untreated Thyroid Disease Have Lower I.Q.'s Untreated thyroid disease during pregnancy may negatively impact a child's psychological development, resulting in a significantly lower I.Q. score and a decrease in motor skills, attention, language and reading abilities, according to data published in today's New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
	Speech Development in the Infant and Toddler As children grow from infancy to toddlerhood, early childhood, and so on, parents are often keenly aware of what their child "should" be doing at any given age. One of the milestones that frequently causes parents great anxiety is the development of speech. This article outlines important aspects of speech development.
	Starting Solids This brochure provides general guidelines for introducing infants to solid foods, as well as tips for keeping mealtime safe. Keep in mind that each baby is an individual and may be ready for different foods based on weight, nutritional needs and other factors. Ask your pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, registered dietitian or other health care provider for specific feeding advice.
	Supporting Girls in Early Adolescence Results of national studies suggest that for girls, the middle grades can be a time of significant decline in self-esteem and academic achievement. The analysis supports the finding that many girls seem to think well of themselves in the primary grades but suffer a severe decline in self-confidence and acceptance of body image by the age of 12.
	The Nature of Children's Play In play, children expand their understanding of themselves and others, their knowledge of the physical world, and their ability to communicate with peers and adults. This digest discusses children's play and its relationship to developmental growth from infancy to middle childhood. The digest also suggests ways in which educators and other adults can support children's play.
	Toilet Learning For Toddlers Toileting (or using the potty) is one of the most basic physical needs of young children. It is also one of the most difficult topics of communication among parents, child care providers, and health care professionals when asked to determine the "right" age a child should be able to successfully and consistently use the toilet.
	Toys Aimed At Young Girls Can Damage Self-Esteem Are parents buying toys that are detrimental to their daughters' self esteem? An expert at the Renfrew Center says "yes." In a survey conducted by The Renfrew Center, clinicians found that 90 percent of the toys and dolls surveyed for girls ages two to 10 years emphasize beauty, shopping, and dating.
	Understanding Behavior: A Key to Discipline Teachers, parents, and caregivers all struggle with some behaviors and actions of the children in our care. Wouldn't it be nice to have a magic formula--a specific bit of advice or strategy to work in all situations? Of course there is no magic formula, but it helps to remember that children's behaviors do not occur in a vacuum. Instead, they are driven by five basic issues or possibilities that help explain a child's actions.
	Violence and Young Children's Development In the context of this digest, the term VIOLENCE is used to refer to child abuse or other domestic conflict, gang aggression, and community crime, including assault. One of the most pernicious consequences of violence is its effect on the development of children. This digest examines the developmental consequences for children who are the victims of, or witnesses to, family and community violence.
	What to Expect from Your Teenagers Perhaps you are finding your child's teen years more of a challenge than you imagined. You are not alone. This article explains the three stages in the teenage years and what a parent is to expect from each.
	When Children Imitate Superheroes Keep in mind that this type of play gives children the chance to face their fears and show off physical feats. When supervised by adults, 'superhero play' can help children improve their language skills and teach them to work together to solve problems; not to mention how it encourages creativity. When children begin pretending they are superheroes, adults can help them make the most of it. Here are some tips.
	Early Ways To Predict Poor Readers The article describes how children who have trouble reading often have underlying speech and language problems. Being able to predict which children will have trouble reading would allow speech-language pathologists and others to begin to work with them before they fail.
	AAO: Hand Eye Dominance For years, students of baseball believed hand-eye dominance was an important factor in determining a baseball player's batting performance. In an effort to answer the question of dominance patterns, Drs. Laby, Kirschen, Rosenbaum, and Mellman of the Jules Eye Institute at UCLA studied 410 members of the Los Angeles Dodgers professional baseball team during the 1992-1995 baseball seasons.
	Q & A about the Nutritional Content of Processed Baby Food This article contains a number of questions about the nutritional content of processed baby food. Answers to such questions as "Why is water added to baby food?" and "Why is texture important?" are found in this Q&A from the International Food Information Council Foundation.
	Can you see what I see? Cultivating Self-expression Through Art This publication from the National Association for the Education of Young Children discusses the importance and the benefits of developing a child's involvement in art. Some 'useful tips to inspire the Picasso in your child' are included.
	Child's Play Who are your children’s heroes? What are their favorite play themes? Favorite toys? Are they similar to your own childhood heroes, play themes, or toys? After a study of children's play from different eras, the results are talked about in this article.
	Helping Gifted Students With Stress Management Many gifted youngsters have a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings, to events, to ideas, and to expectations. Some experience their own high expectations for achievement as a relentless pressure to excel. Constant striving to live up to self-expectations--or those of others-- to be first, best, or both can be very stressful. This digest describes how a gifted child can experience stress and it provides coping strategies for both parents and students. It also provides information to help parents tell if their child is experiencing burnout.
	Seven Major Issues of 1997 Facing Girls in the United States Violence, economic opportunity and changing family dynamics are three of the seven issues facing girls between the ages of five and seventeen in this country, according to the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
	An Important Bond: Your Child and Caregiver Have you ever seen a child cling to a caregiver when his parents arrive to pick him up at a child care center? How about a child who greets her parents happily then returns to her activity, in no rush to go home? While such close attachments to caregivers and child care settings may make some parents initially uneasy, these bonds are an important part of children's development and learning. Working together, parents and caregivers can ensure that children see their educational settings as safe places where adults other than their parents support and care for them.
	Father Involvement in Schools Until recently, fathers were the hidden parent in research on children's well-being. This article looks at the extent to which fathers are involved in their children's schools and the link between fathers' involvement and kindergartners' through 12th-graders' school performance.
	High School Students Graduating Now Are Anxious For Careers Graduating high school students are anxious to hit the career path, according to a Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. survey. Fueled by their perception of strong competition for good jobs in the American workplace, the majority of 15- to 17-year-olds say career goals should be set by age 16 or younger, and most believe they will need four years of college, or more, to reach their goals.
	Look Beyond the Obvious for Telltale Signs of Child Abuse The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the face offers the most telling glimpse behind the closed doors of child abuse. In a comprehensive study of 371 children who were suspected of being abused, injuries to the head and face accounted for 28% of 892 soft-tissue injuries.
	Maya Angelou National Institute for the Improvement of Child and Family Education The implications of the recently established Maya Angelou National Institute for the Improvement of Child and Family Education are that the institute positions the university to become a major force on child development issues and a partner in developing stronger family support systems. By creating an effective child development model -- one that supports the value of education, self-esteem, and family support -- children may be better armed to resist the negative influences that can rob them of their potential which may lead to teen pregnancy, suicide, or alcohol and drug abuse among others. Current research shows that certain behaviors in children that occur from birth through kindergarten may affect a child's life-long achievement.
	New Site Dedicated To Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention A new World Wide Web site has been launched, by the Campaign For Our Children, Inc., focusing on teen pregnancy problems in the United States. The site is a forum for parents, educators, public health professionals and local government officials to discuss and exchange information about teen pregnancy prevention.
	Pull the Plug on TV and Video Game Violence Week Parents who are concerned about the effects of violence on TV and in video games on children, need to read this article. In it you'll find suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics that will help you limit the effects of these forms of violence on your children.
	School Readiness and Children's Developmental Status Teachers must maintain the interest and promote the growth of children who have already demonstrated signs of early literacy and numeracy while simultaneously encouraging the development of these behaviors in children who have not yet acquired them. Similarly, they must meet the needs of children with difficulties while reserving sufficient attention and effort for those with few or no difficulties. Although there has always been variation in the characteristics of children entering kindergarten, the commitment to meeting the educational and developmental needs of all children in an increasingly diverse society presents great challenges to teachers, schools, and communities.
	Teenage Pregnancy Highlights: A Fact Sheet This digest summarizes may facts and issues surrounding teen pregnancy. Topics covered include pregnancy rates, sex education, parents and sex education and family planning services.
	Understanding and Facilitating Preschool Children's Peer Acceptance Children's understanding of emotional expressions and situations has been found to relate to how well peers like or dislike them. Not only does this article explain these issues, but provides parents and teachers with coping strategies to help preschool children interact and communicate more successfully with his or her peers.
	Creativity in Young Children This digest explores factors that affect creativity in children and techniques for fostering this quality.
	'OH, BABY!' Free Guides Help Parents Prepare In an effort to help consumers better understand and manage the various aspects involved with having a baby, the MetLife Consumer Education Center has created a series of three free brochures designed to help answer many of the "How Tos", "What Ifs?", and "Now Whats?" that often accompany first-time parents.
	How Can We Strengthen Children's Self-Esteem? Most parents want their young children to have a healthy sense of self-esteem. Experts generally agree that parents and other adults who are important to children play a major role in laying a solid foundation for a child's development. The points in this article may be helpful in strengthening and supporting a healthy sense of self-esteem in your child.
	New Poll Shows Few Understand Bed-Wetting Five to seven million children wake up every morning in a wet bed. A new survey of 9,000 families found that despite the prevalence of the condition, only some parents understand that bed-wetting, medically known as primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE), may be a medical --not behavioral-- condition that can be treated.
	Teenage Girls Today More Independent, Yet Lack Self Esteem Teenage girls today are more independent and see greater opportunities available to them than their baby boomer parents did at their age, according to a survey of health educators by The Vagisil Women's Health Center(SM). Yet, these same girls also have less self-confidence and weaker self-images than their parents' generation.
	What Should Young Children Be Learning? Recent research on intellectual and social development and learning is rich in implications for curriculum and teaching strategies for early childhood education. The data on children's learning suggests that preschool and kindergarten experiences require an intellectually oriented approach in which children interact in small groups as they work together on projects which help them make sense of their own experience.
	Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language? Most experts agree that the earlier a child is introduced to a second language, the greater the chances are that the child will become truly proficient in the language. In addition, children may derive other benefits from early language instruction, including improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills. Knowing a second language ultimately provides a competitive advantage in the work force by opening up additional job opportunities.
	Appropriate Public School Programs for Young Children Many public school districts are making changes to ensure that curricula are responsive to children's developmental needs and programs are responsive to the more comprehensive needs of children and their families. Each district needs to consider certain issues in its efforts to provide high-quality early childhood education. A discussion of these issues follows.