Adolescence is a period of growing focus on social interactions and relationships. The peer context is one of the most significant developmental contexts in this transitional period and positive peer experiences contribute positively to adolescent well-being. Although negative peer influence on antisocial behaviour has received much attention, we…

Background/Context: Since the 1980s, the International Baccalaureate (IB) has gained popularity as an alternative to traditional public curricula, which public discourse frames as ill-equipped to prepare students for today's global market economy. Within this set of discourses, the IB emerges as a pedagogical tool for producing a new kind of…

Children's experiences during early childhood are critical for their cognitive and socio-emotional development, two key dimensions of human capital. However, children from low income backgrounds often grow up lacking stimulation and basic investments, leading to developmental deficits that are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse later in life…

Recent genetic discoveries offer a new lens through which to study cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social processes that are foundational to children's development. In this article, we review the latest advances in genomics--genome-wide association studies and the polygenic scores that have come out of them--and discuss how these techniques…

Widespread access to digital and social media has drastically altered the nature of youth's interpersonal connections. In this context, the opportunities children and adolescents have to help people around them are rapidly evolving. In this article, we review emerging literature on how digital media influences youth's prosocial development in new…

A meta-analysis is a statistical method for combining the results of primary studies on the same topic. Meta-analyses play a significant role in scientific research particularly in the field of gifted education in which the study results rely on small samples, imprecise measurements, and heterogeneity. This overview provides a thematic analysis…

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased already-high stress and anxiety levels among students. In addition to the health dangers of the virus, and the sense of worry and hopelessness some families are experiencing due to job losses, school closures have caused many students to lose a source of stability and support. All plans to support students, both…

Background: The development of prosocial behavior is a significant aspect of children's social well-being. From the perspective of positive psychology, subjective well-being (SWB) "in school" is likely a particularly relevant construct in elementary school-aged children's prosocial development. Research on the relation between SWB in…

The present study investigated the role of children's social and emotional functioning on their academic success in preschool. Data was collected from 81 children, and their teachers, in preschool programs in a Western Canadian municipality. Children completed measures of receptive language and academic functioning; teachers independently…

The current study examined sociodemographic characteristics and political discussion as correlates of adolescents' qualitative understanding of three civic behaviors. Participants were 743 adolescents (M[subscript age] = 15.87, range = 13-20; 55.6% female; 89.9% White) from a midsized city and a small rural town in an Appalachian state. Open-ended…

Three experiments showed that gratitude positively affected preschool children's prosocial behavior. In the studies, the experimenter induced gratitude by giving a token gift and then making a request for help or to share resources. Experiment 1 (N = 126, 4- to 6-year-olds) showed that gratitude increased helping behaviors toward the benefactor,…

Families and caregivers should consider using positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) in their homes on a daily basis. It is especially helpful when events disrupt normal routines--events like worldwide health pandemics. This practice brief provides recommendations for families and caregivers on how to use PBIS to continue to support…

"Steps to Schoolwide Success" makes a powerful case for the implementation of a school reform that bridges academic and social-emotional learning systems in high schools. Based on a multi-year project in Broward County, Florida, the book describes how the biggest difference in academic success from school to school was not in…

This companion guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) Integration Approach School Leader and Educator Self-Reflection Tools. This companion guide focuses on the following area of reflection: Coach students as they practice, generalize, and apply their skills and mindsets in a variety of complex, new,…

Educators are continuously exploring ways to enhance the academic potential of students while fostering a positive social atmosphere within classrooms. To meet these various curricular and interpersonal objectives, teachers are increasingly utilising educational storification in order to engage students and positively support their social…