Childhood and adolescence
Childhood and adolescence
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At what point does the Santa myth become a harmful deception?
Exactly when and how children discover they’ve been duped makes an important difference to the revelatory experience
by Shayla Love
Learning and education
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This is how to nurture curiosity in children (and yourself)
The curiosity that comes naturally to babies and young children can soon wilt – but there are ways to help it grow
by Shayla Love
Childhood and adolescence
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Adolescence is a ‘use it or lose it’ time for moral development
For certain neural pathways, including those involved in moral decision making, adolescence is a one-shot chance of development
by Brandon Bretl
Home
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How war destroys the childhood sense-scape we call ‘home’
What we grow up with determines the gestures, textures, spaces, sights, smells, sounds and thoughts we call ‘home’
by Julia F Christensen
Friendship
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Empathic friends can provide the right kind of peer pressure
Research on empathy development in adolescents suggests an under-appreciated potential for positive peer influence
by Marta Miklikowska & Lauree Tilton-Weaver
Evaluating therapies
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Time to move beyond the anecdotes around animal-assisted therapies
There’s so much excitement about using animals to help children with mental health problems, but what does the science say?
by Mirena Dimolareva
Artists and art history
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The art of Ice Age children offers a tactile sense of the past
Small hands in dark caves: Ice Age art reveals the role of artistic expression and child’s play in ancient societies
by Izzy Wisher
Eating disorders
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When fear grew in my stomach, I starved myself just to survive
Hungry to survive an abusive childhood, I stopped eating. Years later, I learned the name of my eating disorder
by Nataliya Deleva
Mental health
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Why does early puberty pose a risk to girls’ mental health?
Girls who start puberty earlier are at greater risk of depression and anxiety. To know why, we must look beyond biology
by Marjolein E A Barendse & Michelle L Byrne
Trauma and PTSD
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PTSD looks different in young children – but it’s still treatable
When tantrums and other changes indicate post-traumatic dysfunction, specialised therapy could help children with PTSD
by Caitlin Hitchcock
Values and beliefs
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Teaching tolerance in schools cannot avoid controversy
If tolerance of different values, lifestyles and creeds is an aim of education, how should schools teach it to children?
by Christina Easton
Self-harm and suicide
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Suicide risk and social media: is it a landmine or a lifeline?
Analysing the specific experiences, not just overall usage, is key to understanding the risks and benefits of social media
by Jacqueline Nesi