The simple answer is no
Providing quality care for preschool children is a good thing. Children learn to socialize in groups beyond their family. They acquire the skills and readiness that will allow them to succeed in elementary school and later in life. With children well looked after, all parents are free to take jobs or pursue careers contributing to…
There are several reasons why declining marriage is a concern, including a host of better social, economic, and health outcomes
Wedding industry vendors are reporting a boom in bookings – at least south of the border, according to the Associated Press. Couples who waited out the pandemic are booking their big day, as are those who married during the pandemic but are now planning celebrations. The increased bookings are likely due to a pandemic backlog…
Federal Child Support Guidelines biased against men and need to be overhauled
If Christopher Sarlo is right, Canada’s Federal Child Support Guidelines are wrong. The economics professor at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ont., made an in-depth analysis of the guidelines and found them wanting. A 100-page examination leads him to one conclusion: the guidelines are biased against men and deserve an overhaul. Fights over money are…
Some of the earliest signs apparent quite early in life – for many children even by the first birthday
Medical researchers reliably predicted autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large sample of at-risk children by identifying and tracking early behavioural signs at 12 months of age, according to study findings published Dec. 25 in Child Development. “This research really reinforces what parents have been telling us for so many years,” said principal investigator Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, pediatrician…
As a teacher, I have never worked with a bad child but I have seen a fair amount of bad behaviour
In the early 20th century, Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town said, “There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.” Modern research is proving Flanagan correct. According to York University researcher Stuart Shanker, children often misbehave due to the stress that they feel. If we remove or…
Personality and upbringing play a significant role in developing moral character, but certain aspects can be taught
The primary goal of teaching Social Studies in British Columbia is “to give students the knowledge, skills and competencies to be active, informed citizens who are able to think critically.” We want to produce students who can think for themselves and have the moral courage to advance our society in an ethical manner. Accomplishing this…
The Quebec system offers an opportunity to dive deeply into outcomes. The results aren’t promising for children
Advocates of state-run child care saw opportunity in the COVID-19 crisis. It’s an old idea but not a great one. Working parents returned home to care for their children, some able to continue paid work from home and others not. As a result, calls for universal child care grew louder than they had for 15…
First study of its kind shows formula-fed babies’ gut microbiomes more like those of breastfed babies when they live near natural environments
Living close to natural green space can mitigate some of the changes in infant gut bacteria associated with formula feeding, according to new research published in the journal Environment International. “Not every infant can be breastfed,” said Anita Kozyrskyj, pediatrics professor at the University of Alberta. “This is one of the first pieces of evidence for a nature-related…
Researchers identify a cumulative ‘dosage’ effect of optimal diet, physical activity, screen time and sleep
The risk of a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be significantly lowered by following healthy lifestyle recommendations, according to new research from the University of Alberta and Dalhousie University. Children who met seven to nine of the recommendations had a 58 per cent lower risk of being diagnosed with ADHD than children who…
Gen Z sniffs out inconsistency, weak thinking and relativistic values
This Father’s Day, amid a global pandemic, it’s never been clearer to me how much more like their grandfather my Gen Z children are than they are to Dear Old Dad. Both generations were raised during tough times. My youngest was born amid chaos – shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9-11. And now she’s…