#Earlychildhood

A recent column by a retired psychotherapist in The Mercury News has reignited an ongoing debate on the efficacy of ‘gentle parenting’—an approach that emphasizes empathy and connection rather than punishment—particularly for parents struggling with toddlers who display aggressive behaviors such as hitting. The expert argues that while gentle parenting techniques prioritize the development of conscience, empathy, and emotional regulation, accumulating research now suggests these strategies may fall short when tackling persistent or physically aggressive misbehavior in young children. This timely question has global resonance and is particularly significant in Thailand, where parenting traditions, disciplinary norms, and family structures are rapidly changing.

New research suggests that the earliest moments of a baby’s life—how they babble, play, and interact—may hold modest yet meaningful clues about their intelligence well into adulthood. In a landmark study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a team from the University of Colorado Boulder followed more than 1,000 twins from infancy to age 30, revealing that certain behaviors and environmental influences in a child’s first year can forecast cognitive abilities decades later (Neuroscience News).

A leading developmental psychologist is cautioning parents and grandparents worldwide—including in Thailand—against giving young children overly stimulating electronic toys, warning that such items may hamper creativity, emotional regulation, and healthy cognitive growth. The expert’s advice, which recently gained renewed attention in a widely discussed article published on Parade, spotlights growing concerns about the long-term effects of high-tech toys on early development, and encourages a return to more traditional, open-ended forms of play (Yahoo/Parade article).

A groundbreaking new study has found that preschool children’s brains respond differently when stories are shared through live book reading versus on a screen, suggesting that how children experience stories may impact key aspects of their social and cognitive development. The research, published in the journal Developmental Science, used advanced neuroimaging technology to observe children’s brain activity during both types of storytelling—a live reading from a book and a recorded story paired with images on a screen (PsyPost).

A new study by neuroscientists has provided the most detailed picture yet of how children’s brains function differently when reading physical books compared to viewing stories on screens, with important implications for educational strategies in Thailand and worldwide. According to research highlighted in a recent PsyPost report, distinct neural responses are triggered in young children during traditional book reading versus screen-based engagement—a finding raising vital concerns as digital devices become ubiquitous in both homes and classrooms.

A powerful new wave of research and personal accounts is shining a spotlight on a persistent and striking divide: while European countries embrace children and families in nearly every sphere of life, American society remains hobbled by policies and attitudes that seem, at best, indifferent—and at worst, openly hostile—to children’s needs. The consequences reach far beyond inconvenience for parents, rippling through childhood development, public health, and even social cohesion.

This conversation about child-friendliness erupted once again following a viral first-person essay in Salon by a Philadelphia-based mother who described her travels through Berlin, London, and Dublin, highlighting the profound differences between Europe and the United States in daily life with children. Her observations draw attention to issues confirmed by social science research, expert commentary, and decades of comparative policy analysis.

A recent column in The Washington Post prompted fierce debate after a grandmother described her daughter’s strategy of letting a 2½-year-old granddaughter cry for up to 30 minutes rather than picking her up—a response designed, the parents say, to encourage independence and make things easier for teachers at preschool. But is “crying it out” appropriate or potentially harmful at this age? New neuroscience studies and child psychology experts urge a more nuanced, compassionate approach, especially for young Thai families navigating traditional and modern parenting advice.

A groundbreaking new study from scientists at Mass General Brigham, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirms what many Thais intuitively believe: childhood experiences—both good and bad—can lead to enduring changes in the very structure of a child’s brain, with effects that last well into adolescence and likely adulthood. Researchers have revealed that challenges in early life, such as economic hardship or family adversity, are linked to weaker “white matter” connections throughout the brain, reducing cognitive abilities like language and mathematics years later. Yet, in a hopeful twist, children who experience resilience—especially through strong relationships and supportive communities—show stronger brain development and improved academic outcomes, despite adversity. These findings carry deep implications for Thai policymakers, families, and schools, underscoring the importance of investing in nurturing environments from the earliest years of life (source, source, source).

Recent research underscores the profound impact early life experiences have on shaping the brain’s communication networks, subsequently affecting cognition. This study, which delves into the formation of what are metaphorically deemed the brain’s “communication superhighways,” reveals that these pathways are crucial in cognitive development, particularly during the formative early years.

Understanding how early experiences shape brain development is of significant interest, not only within the scientific community but also for educators and policymakers in Thailand, where childhood development is a growing focus. The study highlights that the environments in which children grow up—whether rich in opportunities or fraught with challenges—can significantly alter neural connectivity, thereby affecting cognitive abilities later in life.