While your kids are out splashing through the rest of summer, keep this new study in mind! A former college swimmer and graduate student at the University of Delaware wanted to research if exercise would boost vocabulary learning performance. The results among a group of elementary school children backed that theory up—with certain forms of activity.
The study focused on 48 participants between the ages of six and 12. All of the kids completed a word learning task, then colored for three minutes before testing on their ability to recognize the words. The exercise condition split the kids in two groups for another word learning task. Group one then completed three minutes of aerobic exercise (swimming in this study) and group two completed three minutes of anaerobic exercise (a CrossFit-like workout) before testing.
And the results? The kids who completed the aerobic exercise did 13% better compared to resting conditions in follow up testing on the new words. Meanwhile, kids who completed the anaerobic exercise had no significant difference in performance compared to resting conditions.
Co-author Madison Pruitt, the former college swimmer who is now a speech and language pathologist, had a hypothesis for the difference in performance based on exercise type. Because the aerobic exercise demanded less brain energy, it was easier for kids to retain information. When combined with the physical activity, it actually improved their ability to learn new vocabulary. The University of Delaware’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders plans to conduct a similar study with toddlers.
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Jeff Dunham on Unsplash
Baby’s coos and babbles aren’t just cute: turns out that new research from the University of Würzburg shows just how quickly babies develop vocalization or speech patterns.
Even though your newborn can’t talk, in the first six months of life they’re well on their way to developing lifelong speech skills. According to this new study, during baby’s first half-year, the complexity of their speech melody (also known as prosody) is growing more and more complex.
Kathleen Wermke, Professor at the Würzburg University Hospital at the Department of Orthodontics and Head of the Center for Pre-speech Development and Developmental Disorders, explained the research, “Every language is characterized by specific musical elements, which we call prosody.” Wermke continued, “We have found a clear developmental pattern towards more complexity.”
Researchers analyzed more than 67,000 sounds made by 277 babies in their first six months. These sounds included cry vocalizations, cooing, and babbling. The study found that the complexity the melodies in both cry and non-cry vocalizations increased from birth through six months.
There was a brief regression found around ages four to five months. Wermke explained, “During this time, infants expand their repertoire of vocalic utterances to include new components that interact with the overall melodic contour, namely vowel- and consonant-like elements.” The researcher went on to add, “This new developmental period evidently causes a temporary ‘regression’ in melody development to establish vocal development on a higher hierarchical level. Thereafter, the infant begins to intentionally imitate intonation patterns of the surrounding language(s) in consonant-vowel syllable sequences in babbling.”
How can the results of this research help your baby? The new vocal developmental model may contribute to the growing body of communication knowledge and could help scientists to create new therapies for children at risk for some types of language disorders.
What is systemic racism, or anti-racism? Tough questions that even adults can struggle to answer. American Girl has released a new advice book, A Smart Girl’s Guide: Race & Inclusion that will help readers 10 and up understand these concepts and more, plus help normalize the conversation around race.
You can buy the book online today for $12.99 and the it’s more than 100 pages, with full-color illustrations, tips, quizzes and challenges. It’s written by Deanna Singh, a highly respected thought leader and diversity and inclusion expert. Plus it benefits from expert advisors who reviewed the manuscript: Traci Baxley, Ed.D., a professor of multicultural education and curriculum and instruction at Florida Atlantic University; and Deborah Rivas-Drake, Ph.D., a professor of education and psychology at the University of Michigan, who works to disrupt racism and xenophobia.
“We’re proud to add Race & Inclusion to our popular Smart Girl’s Guide series, which has served as a trusted resource for our readers and their families for nearly three decades,” said Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “It’s our hope that the age-appropriate information and real-life guidance found in the book will be an important step for all those seeking to create a more compassionate world where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.”
Today’s release is part of American Girl’s commitment to engage more diverse voices and create new content to help advance racial equality. Among other initiatives, the brand recently launched Conversations for Change, a series that amplifies young women of various backgrounds and experiences making a difference in their communities. American Girl strives to help girls be their best and this new book will certainly make a difference!
Write your first name, recognize numbers, know the sounds of the alphabet, pay attention and take turns…the list of kindergarten readiness tasks can be daunting. Summer success programs can be key to help kids prep for school, but when COVID-19 locked down the country last year, educators had to innovate.
Would a fully virtual readiness program work with four and five-year-olds? The Ohio State University decided to try it and researchers found that it was successful in theory and in practice. Their data showed that it was feasible to operate, it was popular with teachers and parents and it had success in teaching children literacy skills, early math skills and emotional regulation.
“The promising evidence is that a virtual problem like this can succeed, despite the challenges,” said Rebecca Dore, lead author of the study and senior research associate at Ohio State’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy.
Ninety-one families enrolled in the four-week virtual program last year and received storybooks plus a computer tablet preloaded with educational videos. It also included weekly individual video interactions between teachers and children and a weekly video or phone meeting with parents. The final result? Seventy-seven percent of families finished the program and teachers found that kids were engaged for more than half the lesson 90% of the time. Participating children were tested before and after the program and the final data showed an upswing in all testing categories.
Although life is returning to normal, the success of this virtual program is promising for other scenarios. Kids who live in very rural areas may not have ready access to resources and kids who must stay home due to extended illness could certainly benefit from future online offerings. Technology for the win!
––Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of andrii Sinenkyi /Pixabay
More than any time in recent history, parents are having to play the role of both family leaders and school teachers. Kids today are spending more time at home because of homeschooling. This can be problematic for any family that has become accustomed to dropping their kids off at school. It often serves as a much-needed respite for both the mother and father and is also a convenient way to find care for your kids if you are working. However, if you are a parent that is now homeschooling your children, you need to develop certain routines. The following information provides successful homeschool routines that any parent can follow to improve their ability to teach their children.
Schedules Are So Important
When a child goes to school, they are going to do so at predetermined times. There is often a mad rush for the parents, trying to get their child onto a bus or into the car so they can be dropped off before the bell rings. However, when you are homeschooling your kids, it is often difficult to maintain a rigid schedule. We are conditioned to rely upon the scheduling of our local school, yet we can still provide them with structured learning. By determining when school will start, and how long each class will be, we can create something very similar at home.
Routine Breaks throughout the Day
Just as a traditional school will provide breaks for the students, parents need to consider doing the same. Although it would be nice to save time and help them learn as fast as possible, not every child is going to understand the information. If you have a child that does require special care at school, such as extra tutoring, you will now need to provide that service as well. To make this easier for both you and your child, you need to have routinely scheduled breaks throughout the day. This will give both of you a much-needed respite from the demands that homeschooling will require. It will also allow your children, as well as the homeschool parent, to be more refreshed as they move from topic to topic.
Proper Preparation before the Next Day’s Lessons
Teachers are well aware of how much prep time goes into preparing for lessons. They will have a curriculum that they must follow, and to deliver the information in a sustained manner, they must first go over the subject matter. This can take hours, depending upon your familiarity with certain topics, as well as the amount of information that needs to be conveyed. You will have to prepare the quizzes, tutorials, and other forms of educational training, in the most helpful way. That is why it is important to spend at least one hour prior to school starting at home to ensure that this information is delivered properly.
Always Have Scheduled Testing Times
Perhaps the most important aspect of going to school is having deadlines. This is well known to those that take AP courses in high school or college courses at the local university. The amount of material that needs to be consumed and learned each week demands that deadlines be set in place. When your child has a deadline for completing their assignments, they will be more inclined to be highly focused. As with anything to do in life, you need to have reliable homeschool routines and deadlines to help provide this aspect of the educational process.
How to Address Issues That Your Child May Have
It is possible that your child may not understand the information that you will be presenting to them each day. This is a common occurrence for any teacher that has taught in a classroom. They are well aware that most students learn and consume information at different rates. Since you will know your child better than anyone, you will likely have a general idea of what their strengths and weaknesses are. By planning in advance to provide extra tutoring for these subjects, you can ensure that they will move forward and reach deadlines right on time. This will also require the parent to spend extra time learning each topic. The more proficient they are with the material that must be taught, the easier it will be to provide helpful information.
Homeschooling is something that not everyone can do. It requires determination, planning, and the gift of being an educator. If a parent hasn’t taught in the classroom before, they can quickly learn how to become one. Every day, parents across the world are educating their children, and these skills can be used when teaching their kids at home. As long as there are homeschool routines, deadlines, and enough preparation for the lessons, they will be successful as a teacher for their children.
A little about me : I’m a thirty-something Mom to one boy and one girl. I blog about all things to do with being a mom and encorage moms to take care of themselves during postpartum.
Anyone who lives in Dallas knows that it’s not only the norm but also highly encouraged to go big or go home. That’s why we’ve curated a list of baby names that not only make a statement but also pay homage to the history and culture of Big D. From famous TV characters to historical figures whose contributions have made the city the place it is today, scroll down to see our favorite monikers that swagger in a way that folks living in Dallas (and the surrounding metroplex) can replicate with ease.
Gabby Cullen
J.R.
As in John Ross Ewing, as in the patriarch of the iconic ‘80s show Dallas. Played by legendary actor Larry Hagman, J.R. is as synonymous with the city of Dallas as is its NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Kennedy
Dallas is forever a major part of American history—for being the place where JFK was assassinated. The Sixth Floor Museum and the grassy knoll are one of the most visited landmarks in the city.
Austin
It might be the state capital, but it’s also the last name of Lloyd G. Austin, a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist,in the all-black community of Mosier Valley, for over 40 years. He was also an early presence in North Texas race relations during the late ‘50s, as he and his family were one of the first African-American families to buy a home in an all-white neighborhood of Fort Worth. They withstood and ultimately prevailed over direct attempts to be ousted from the community.
Gabby Cullen
Dallas
If you’re going to honor Big D, why not just go with the city itself?
Emmett
Emmett Smith is known as one of the best running backs of all time, and he spent a majority of his career playing for the Dallas Cowboys. During the team’s ‘90s heyday, he won three Super Bowls with the team. He is the only running back to win a Super Bowl, an MVP of the Year award (both for the Super Bowl and the entire NFL) and an NFL rushing crown all in the same season. He also was a very popular contestant (he won!) on the third season of Dancing with the Stars in 2006.
Ross
Ross Perot garnered national attention as the businessman who ran for President as an Independent in 1992, against Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. But, for those who live in Dallas, he’s also the billionaire philanthropist for whom the award-winning Perot Museum of Nature & Science is named.
For Erykah Badu, the Grammy-award winning neo-soul songstress of the big hats. Born and raised in Dallas, she attended high school at renowned Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts—a magnet school for the arts. She went on to release several albums and win a multitude of awards.
George
George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States. He was also the governor of Texas from 1995-2000. After eight years in the White House, he and wife Laura made Dallas their home base. Dallas is home to his presidential library, and he is a big supporter of local university Southern Methodist University.
Fenix
Popular restaurant chain El Fenix started in Dallas in 1918 and is the country’s oldest Mexican restaurant chain. Some also claim El Fenix is the birthplace of Tex-Mex cuisine.
Having fraternal twins? Name them after some of America’s most famous outlaws—Bonnie and Clyde—who called West Dallas home before they set off on the two-year spree of robberies that inspired the iconic Hollywood film.
Kessler
In honor of George Edward Kessler, a pioneer architect, urban planner and landscape architect who was hired by the city of Dallas in 1908. He was responsible for solving the city’s flooding issues and beautifying the urban areas with greenbelts. Today, the Kessler Park neighborhood is one of the most beautiful in the city, a designated historic district that includes well-maintained examples of Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
Dirk
The Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t be the same without German phenom Dirk Nowitzki. The beloved basketball player hung up his jersey in 2019, but his legend will live on for decades.
Put these names together, and you get John Neely Bryan. A farmer, tradesman and lawyer, he set up a settlement in the area that was to become the city of Dallas in 1841.
Trinity
Pay homage to the main water source and the vast urban forest that runs through the city.
Stevie
Honor one of America’s greatest musicians and Dallas native, Stevie Ray Vaughan. He began playing guitar at age seven, and he was performing around the city by age 12. He went on to record several smash-hit albums and tour with legendary performers and musicians such as Robert Plant, Eric Clapton and more. Tragically, the age of 35, after a concert in Wisconsin, his helicopter crashed, killing Vaughan and four others on board.
Recently published research from the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus shows that therapy dogs can help children to build social skills.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, looked at the impact that working with therapy dogs had on 22 children from the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club over the course of six weeks. Researchers utilized therapy animals from the Building Academic Retention through K9s, or BARK program, to learn more about how the children could learn from and with the dogs.
During the six-week program the children were taught new social skills, such as giving directions to other people. Each child practiced their new skill with a therapy dog—and then with the rest of the participant group. Following practice with the dogs and the other children, the participants then tried out their new skills with university students.
Dr. John-Tyler Binfet, associate professor in the School of Education and director of BARK, said of the program, “Therapy dogs are often able to reach children and facilitate their growth in surprising ways. We saw evidence of this in the social skills of children when they were paired with a therapy dog.”
Researcher and master’s student in the School of Education, Nicole Harris, said, “Findings from our observations suggested that canine-assisted social and emotional learning initiatives can provide unique advantages. Our team saw that by interacting with the therapy dogs, the children’s moods improved and their engagement in their lessons increased.”
After the program ended, Harris interviewed eight of the children. The researcher found that each child felt the social skills training program was enjoyable. The children also said the dogs were a meaningful part of the training program.
Love pets as much as we do?
Tinybeans, the app that allows you to upload and share photos and videos of your little ones with anyone you choose and no one you don’t, has teamed up with Hill's Pet Nutrition to allow users to add a pet! You can create a profile for your four-legged friend, share their photos and videos, receive milestone markers for them and see recommended articles based on your pet’s age and stage.
Up for a challenge? Create a pet profile today, and see if you can add a new memory each day this month. Your furball will love the added attention, and you'll love the fun photos you can look back on!
My husband and I were married on July 2, 2011 in Red Bank, New Jersey. A few months after being married, I found out that I would need a kidney transplant. While this was somewhat of a surprise, it wasn’t something that hadn’t crossed my mind. My Mom was diagnosed with Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease when I was in middle school. She eventually went on to need a kidney transplant. At the time, my Dad was not a match to donate to my Mom, so she went on the UNOS waiting list. Several months of dialysis, she then received a call that there was a kidney for her. My Mom is by far the strongest woman I know. Seeing her strength is what helped me to get through my own transplant.
My symptoms of high blood pressure and rapid elevated kidney function were not the same as my mom’s kidney disease, I had, what our nephrologist called, “Chronic kidney disease.” We then began our trek in January 2012 to getting listed on the UNOS lists at one hospital per state. My Mom, my Dad, my husband and I would make the drive together where they tried to make me laugh and make light of the long car rides. It was at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where I was getting over 30 vials of blood drawn to prepare for what was ahead when my husband said he wanted to be my donor. We had never even talked about him being a donor. I was shocked and honored that my husband of only a few months was willing to sacrifice his own life to save mine. That was not something that I had never expected of him. I always envisioned waiting like my Mom had done for a kidney from the UNOS list.
A month later, I was driving to work when I received a call from one of the transplant coordinators that my husband was in fact a candidate to be my donor. After all of the tears poured down my face, I was parked in the parking lot of my school and I looked up to find the most beautiful rainbow right in front of me. I knew at that moment that this wasn’t by chance, this was fate. I called my husband to tell him the news and we both breathed a sigh of relief. After many trips from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, we decided that the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was going to be the place we had our kidney transplant. This was the same hospital with the same team of doctors that my Mom had when she had her transplant. When the doctors all remembered her and her transplant, we knew we weren’t just a number and that we are in good hands.
The morning of our transplants, almost one year after getting married, my Dad, my Mom and my sister came to pick up my husband and me to take us to the hospital. My husband’s parents followed us. It was hard knowing our lives were about to change forever. My husband was called in first to be prepped and have surgery first. I remember going in to see him before his surgery and just sobbing that if he wanted to back out, it was OK and that we could just go home and I would wait for a kidney. He told me no, and that he was doing this for me and for our family. He tried to make me laugh with the silly hairnet he was wearing, but I couldn’t help but cry. My husband was about to sacrifice his life and it was all for me. That is the kind of love that every girl dreams of, but just not quite like this.
As I sat in the waiting room with my Mom on one side and my mother-in-law on the other side of me staring at the screen with updates on where my husband was, those minutes felt like an eternity. They both kept telling me to stop looking at the screen and that everything was going to be fine. Well, they were right. When I went in for surgery, all I asked was to see my husband as soon as it was over. I wanted to make sure he was OK. I woke up in the recovery room and my Mom was standing over me and holding my hand. I asked to see my husband and sure enough, they wheeled my bed over to his where he was awake and waiting to go to his room. I was so relieved to see him and so happy that we were both OK.
The next morning when I woke up, I was on a mission to see my husband. They had put us on opposite sides of the floor so we would get up and go see each other. My mom pushed my IV cart as we slowly walked over to his room. When I got to the doorway, he said “Oh man, you’re up and walking already?” It made me laugh and that was when I felt the pain of the transplant. We joke that he made me laugh so hard it hurt. We spent our first wedding anniversary recovering from our transplant. My husband’s kidney is the greatest gift I will ever receive. He gave me a second chance at life and for that, I will be eternally grateful. He is not only my husband, but he is my best friend, my soul mate (by every definition of the word), and the father to our beautiful son.
My name is Melissa. I am a mom to an incredible 5 year old boy. My husband, my son, and I live in the same town that I grew up in. In those 5 years of being a mom, I have learned a lot about myself and can't wait to share it with you.
Spring is legit springing and these gardens are blooming with vivid colors! Skip the wooded hike and and take a socially-distant stroll through one of these public gardens and parks. These urban gardens offer a change of scenery with an unbeatable admission; all are free! Read on for the best places to see flowers blooming in Washington, DC this spring.
Duck through archways and lounge in gazebos; Bishop's Garden, located on the south side of the Washington National Cathedral, feels like a secret oasis just miles from downtown DC. There are plenty of shaded benches to rest while your little ones stretch their legs. Beyond Bishop's Garden, there are 59 acres of grassy fields, wooded paths and landscaped gardens to explore!
Safety regulations: Masks must be worn while on cathedral grounds. The National Cathedral is currently closed to visitors.
Hours: Daily, dawn-dusk Location: 2112 S St NW, Between N Florida Ave & N 21st St Phone: 202-537-6200 Online: cathedral.org/gardens
The US Botanic Garden is currently closed (see below), but Bartholdi Park, which sits across from the conservatory off Independence Ave., is open and a welcome place to enjoy a tabletop picnic. Bartholdi Park has served as a demonstration garden for over 80 years, showcasing native plants to the Mid-Atlantic region in different gardening styles using sustainable planting practices. Come back at night and enjoy the glow of Bartholdi Fountain!
Hours: Daily Location: 245 First St SW, Corner of Independence & Washington Ave., Capitol South Phone: 202-225-8333 Online: usbg.gov/bartholdi-park
Many say the Arboretum is under utilized, but you’re in the know thanks to us and we say, don’t miss one of the most beautiful gardens in our area. Located two miles northeast of the Capitol building, with entrances on New York Avenue and R Street, DC’s Arboretum is home to more than 400 acres of woods, trails, ponds and display gardens, plus the captivating National Bonsai Museum.
Safety regulations: The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and Administration is temporarily closed. Masks are required at all times while on Federal lands.
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: 3501 New York Ave NE, Northeast Washington Phone: 202-245-2726 Online: usna.usda.gov
Franciscan Monastery
Franciscan Monastery
Nestled in the Brookland neighborhood not far from The Catholic University of America, the Franciscan Monastery replicates the shrines and buildings found in Jerusalem. The stunning gardens and grounds are open daily to the public. Guided tours and access to the church and catacombs is currently suspended due to COVID-19. If you and your littles would like to tour the lower and upper gardens without making your way to the Monastery, there is also an online virtual tour here.
Right next to the Yates Field House you'll find this hidden gem of a garden on Georgetown University grounds considered a best-kept secret by many locals. Finding the garden is half the fun! It's located on the east and north sides of the Heyden Observatory. You'll find small ponds and water features, an arch to run under and views of the Potomac River. The peaceful silence is occasionally interrupted by overhead airplanes; small children will delight in seeing their low-flying path.
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Location: West Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20057 Phone: 202-687-3600 Online:georgetown.edu
Kenilworth is said to be the place where water, wind and land dance, and we say that’s pretty accurate. It is the only national park devoted to cultivated water-loving plants. Kids love exploring the park’s marshes and discovering exotic water lilies and lotus. This is a great place to take your little ones on a nature-loving hike, especially if you have a budding bird-watcher on your hands. The park is rich and varied in natural and cultural history.
The US Botanic Garden is not currently open to the public due to COVID-19, but hop online and you can explore and discover some of the most unique blooms in the world, including rare beauties such as the African Tulip Tree, the Scarlet Rosemallow and the Jungle Lollipop via the Virtual Tour. Once this DC treasure re-opens, be sure to make visit to the outdoor Children’s Garden, where the kiddos can use gardening tools and watering cans for a true hands-on experience, spend time in the conservatory, which offers a showcase of plants from around the world, as well as the national outdoor garden, which is filled with roses.
Safety regulations: The conservatory is currently closed due to COVID-19. You can visit virtually here, or take a moment to smell the flowers at Bartholdi Park (see above).
Perched on the highest hill in DC’s posh Georgetown neighborhood, this breathtaking garden is listed on National Geographic’s top 10 as the sixth most beautiful garden in the world. Sadly, both the house and gardens are currently closed due to COVID-19. You will need to wait until they reopen to visit Dumbarton's 10 acres of lush, sculpted greenery. But while you wait, you can check out the museums exhibits online as well as view photographs and drawings of the gardens. When their doors open again, be sure to let the kids roam through the terraced garden rooms and vistas, and walk down the many meandering brick pathways.
Safety regulations: Currently closed due to COVID-19, but you can still visit virtually.
Hours: Currently closed. Visit online here. Location: 3120 R St. NW, Georgetown Phone: 202-339-6400 Online:doaks.org
New research from the University of Edinburgh found that infants may recognize combinations of words before they can speak. The study, which was published in the journal Cognition, challenges the idea that babies learn single words first and then progress to more complex multi-word phrases.
Researchers assessed the language development of 11 and 12-month-olds to learn more about how infants build communication skills. This study specifically looked at language learning behaviors in 36 babies during a series of attention tests.
The tests used recorded adult speech to explore how the babies responded to combinations of three-word sequences. Study researchers then compared the babies’ responses, measuring how long the children looked—also known as central fixation. Using central fixation times, the researchers found that some of the babies were learning their first words while simultaneously learning combinations.
According to Dr. Barbora Skarabela, of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Languages Sciences, “Previous research has shown that young infants recognize many common words. But this is the first study that shows that infants extract and store more than just single words from everyday speech. This suggests that when children learn language, they build on linguistic units of varying sizes, including multiword sequences, and not just single words as we often assume.”
Dr. Skarabela added, “This may explain why adults learning a second language, who tend to rely on individual words, often fall short of reaching native-like proficiency in the way they string words together into phrases and sentences.”
