Parenting

Babbling with baby could be beneficial

Babies learn to communicate by babbling. AFP RELAXNEWS

EVEN if it's incomprehensible, listening and responding to baby babble could speed up language development skills by teaching babies they are capable of communicating, according to findings of a preliminary study by researchers from the University of Iowa and Indiana University.

Their findings challenge current theory which says human communication is innate and that babies are u

Skills in maths and reading shared by same genes

Early numeracy and literacy are known to run in some families but the genes that affect this have until now been mainly unknown. AFP RELAXNEWS

A COMMON set of genes play a role in learning to read and do maths, with tiny variants influencing a child's skills in these tasks, according to a study published Tuesday.

But this ability is not just gene-driven, as schooling and help from parents are also vital contributors, its authors cautioned.

Early numeracy and literacy are known to run in some families but the genes that

US doctors urge parents to read to babies

US doctors' group Tuesday urged parents to read to their children starting in infancy. AFP RELAXNEWS

A LEADING US doctors' group Tuesday urged parents to read to their children starting in infancy, in order to boost language skills in an age of screens and smartphones.

Paediatricians have long encouraged reading to children, but the guidelines are the first official policy from the American Academy of Paediatrics telling doctors to talk to parents about daily reading to their ch

Kids with strong ties to parents create better friendships

The parent-child bond could play a role in children's social savvy, according to a new study. AFP RELAXNEWS

NOT only do strong parent-child bonds mean that kids are more likely to be attentive to friends, they're also more assertive in the face of difficult peers, say researchers at the University of Illinois.

As a first step in their study, researchers assessed the relationships between 114 children and their mothers.

Research sheds new light on how bilingual children learn words

Research suggests that tots learn new words best from adults who share their language experience, regardless of how many languages they speak. AFP RELAXNEWS

AT an age where learning similar-sounding words can be challenging, research says children learn best from people who share their linguistic experience, regardless of whether they are mono or multilingual.

Parents raising children to be multilingual often worry about whether the abundance and variety of language can hinder the learning process.

Study shows how parents can protect kids from cyber-bullying

Study results indicate the need for parental involvement online in order to reduce cyber-bullying. AFP RELAXNEWS

AN annual study conducted by security software firm McAfee and released this week indicates that parents can play a key role in keeping cyber-bullying to a minimum among teens.

A total of 1,502 pre-teens and teens in the United States, aged 10 to 18, were interviewed over a two-week period in April of this year.

Although the findings are disturbing -- 87 percent of preteens and