Being bilingual may make it easier for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to switch gears from one task to another, according to a new study. The finding has potentially far-reaching implications for the families of children with ASD. “Over the past 15 years there has been a significant debate in the field about whether…
Tag: child development
Forgotten First Languages Wire Brain For Second Language
If you spoke Chinese or some other language as a young child but don’t speak it now, you probably assume you’ve forgotten it. But a recent study suggests your brain hasn’t. In fact, that “forgotten” first language could have a lot to do with what goes on in your brain when you speak today. Researchers…
Babies Have Logical Reasoning Before Age One
Human infants are capable of deductive problem solving as early as 10 months of age, a new study by psychologists at Emory University and Bucknell University finds. The research shows that babies can make transitive inferences about a social hierarchy of dominance. The researchers designed a non-verbal experiment using puppet characters. The experiment created scenarios…
Context Beats Quantity For Teaching Kids New Words
Children learn words best when they hear them in a context that’s understandable, a new study shows. This context is critical for understanding why some words may be easier for kids to learn than others, according to study authors Michael Frank, an associate professor of psychology at Stanford University, and colleagues. The findings suggest that…
Does Background TV Harm Toddlers’ Language Development?
It is already known how important parent input is in developing children’s language skills, and that a reduction in child-directed language could have a negative impact on their language development. New research suggests that the presence of background TV is a significant factor in reducing this vital input, affecting both the quantity and quality of…
Empathy Assists Children in Understanding Sarcasm
The better the empathy skills of children, the easier it is for them to recognize sarcasm, says a new study. Sarcastic language can be problematic to understand for children. They generally begin to recognize sarcasm between ages 6 and 8, especially familiar sarcastic praise such as “Thanks a lot!” and “Nice going!” But some children…