There are long-held concerns regarding the impact of screen media on children's cognitive development. In particular, fast pace and fantastical events have been theorized to deplete children's cognitive resources, leading to reductions in their attention and executive functions (EF). To date, however, empirical tests of short-term effects of media…

Drawing on the enactive account and the 4E's approach to cognition, we discuss here how both physical play and dance improvisational practice can be seen as (participatory) sense-making processes. In this article, we will specifically focus on children's physical play and dance improvisation since both activities are open-ended, creative and call…

Children who are in high-quality childcare are encouraged to explore the material and social environment. Boys and girls might differ in their susceptibility to this quality of childcare. In the current study, we tested whether childcare quality is related to children's involvement in home-based childcare, and whether child gender acts as a…

Exposure to heroes and villains via media may influence individuals' behavioural characteristics, but little is known about its effects on the developmental process. Especially, it is unclear whether preferences for heroes or villains are associated with behavioural characteristics in preschoolers, when exposure to TV rapidly increases. We…

Children's inquiry is a pedagogical approach that positions young learners as active investigators who co-construct understandings through sustained exploration with materials, peers, kaiako, whanau, and local communities. It nurtures creativity and critical thinking while inviting children to engage deeply with people, places, and ideas. Grounded…

Theories linked to embodied cognition emphasise the importance of kinaesthetic learning in shaping higher-order cognitive processing. By spreading the cognitive load to other senses while still contributing to central schema, embodied learning can build long-term memory and engagement, especially in young children, leading to improved performance.…

Early childhood experiences have lifelong physical, social, emotional, and cognitive impacts. High quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) can put children on the path to personal development, lifelong learning, and future employability. Among the fastest growing ECEC options are nature-based preschools, where children spend most or all…

Background: ADHD is associated with oxidative stress (OS), possibly stemming from deficiencies in essential nutrients. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including Micronutrients for ADHD in Youth (MADDY), demonstrated improved symptoms in response to treatment with multinutrients compared to placebo. It remains unknown whether…

Youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often exhibit impairments in mathematics, but long-term math development into adulthood, particularly in females, is underexplored. We characterized trajectories of math achievement in girls with ADHD and an age- and ethnicity-matched comparison sample from childhood through early…

This article encourages promoting a sense of belonging in the field of mathematics for children of all backgrounds by using multicultural children's literature to teach the subject. Doing so challenges inequitable structures while also connecting learners authentically to the increasingly diverse world around them, empowering their…

Impairments in executive function (EF) among individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their association with negative academic, adaptive, and social functioning outcomes have been widely reported over the past 20 years. However, there remains a lack of understanding of EF in autism during the preschool period, an age at which several crucial…

Children with autism from underserved communities face complex system-, provider-, and family-level barriers to accessing timely diagnosis and early intervention. The current study evaluated the preliminary effects and feasibility of a new program (ECHO Autism LINKS) that integrated pediatric primary care provider (PCP) training with family…

This article discusses a model, created through the collaboration of two professors at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, for using children's literature to inspire service-learning during an Early Childhood pre-student teacher field placement. It defines service-learning to promote active citizenship and civic engagement for young…

The use of digital technologies is increasing in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) schools to support futurefocused learning and allow students to gain 21st century skills that can enable them to participate and thrive in a digital future. NZ students have among the highest use of digital technologies in the world, and digital devices present both…

Although early intervention is known to be effective in promoting positive child and family outcomes, not all families equally benefit from these services due to issues of access. Disparities are known to occur in the publicly funded early intervention system, which are exacerbated among marginalized families with diverse backgrounds, including…