What’s the Most Important Thing Parents Can Do for Their Kids?

This question originally appeared on Quora, the knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus. Answer by Julie Lythcott Haims, author, New York Times best-seller How to Raise an Adult; former Stanford dean; Getting In podcast host: Love them and make …

Study says reading aloud to children, more than talking, builds literacy

In “The Pout-Pout Fish” children’s picture book, the author weaves words like “aghast” and “grimace” into a story about a fish who thought he was destined to “spread the dreary-wearies all over the place” until…well, no need to spoil the ending. Finding such rich language in a picture book is not unusual, and reading those …

This is your child’s brain on reading

When parents read to their children the difference shows in children’s behavior and academic performance. And according to a new study, the difference also shows in their brain activity. Researchers looked at children ages 3 to 5 who underwent brain scans called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while listening to a pre-recorded story. The parents …

The importance of children at play

In the early stages of life, peer play is an important factor in the developmental growth of a child. It is during play and children’s interactions with peers when many essential and vital skills are learned, from social connections to emotional, language, and cognitive abilities. Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami (UM) …