A study from Public Health Wales (PHW) and Cardiff University, Wales, suggests that girls are twice as likely to have issues with social media compared to boys, with 17.1% of girls, and 9.7% of boys experiencing problems. 130,000 young people aged 11-16 in Wales took part in the 2023 survey that focused on their social media use. This was a particular problem for girls in Year 9 (13-14 year olds) and Year 10 (14-15 year…
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On Monday (28 April), experts in the fields of psychology, public health, research and psychopathology gathered in Parliament to discuss the impact verbal abuse can have on children. They were brought together by Sharon Hodgson MP, and Jessica Bondy, founder of the charity Words Matter, which is currently urging government to prioritise childhood verbal abuse prevention. This type of abuse – which includes blaming, insulting, criticising, and threatening children – can cause long-term issues such as depression…
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Researchers from University College London have studied how the presence of greenspace in local neighbourhoods impacts the mental health and cognitive development of children. Data from the 6,946 children aged 3-11 in the Millennium Cohort Study was used, tracking the way in which emotional, behavioural, and cognitive changes are impacted by local greenspace as the children age. The findings suggest that young children benefit in terms of their behaviour and cognitive development, but these advantages…
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What happens when children become ‘enemies’ with their peers? This was explored by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, USA, whose findings were recently published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Over 300 children aged 9-14 took part in the study, and they were asked to complete three surveys over the course of one academic year. The students – who came from a range of backgrounds and schools – were tasked with listing classmates they…
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With the number of support dogs in schools increasing, animal welfare charity, The Dogs Trust, has issued safety tips for headteachers. While the charity advises against having dogs in schools altogether, it acknowledges that this has become a growing trend across the UK. The guidance emphasises that school dogs must always be supervised by their owner, have a designated undisturbed rest area, and undergo professional training before being introduced to the school environment. Whitefriars Primary…
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Journalist Jordan Page has suggested that families can use January – often the month that prompts self-improvement goals, such as exercising more or reducing screen time – to set and pursue goals together. New Year’s resolutions can help children develop skills, take on responsibilities, and enjoy themselves, which in turn might offer ideas that inspire parents as well. Considered a vital time for self-discovery, parents can encourage their child to explore new hobbies like sports,…
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Popular sites such as YouTube are being asked to promote better quality children’s content online. Lisa Nandy, the UK government’s Culture Secretary, has expressed concern that young people are less exposed to educational content or programming that supports emotional and mental wellbeing, with a shift from traditional television to online platforms continuing to increase. Nandy has written to YouTube and similar sites, as well as Communications Regulator Ofcom, to encourage the promotion of more suitable…
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A recent study by the American Psychological Association highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed family mealtime routines and increased the quality of family time during those dinners. Researchers collected data from 517 diverse parents across the U.S. to explore family dining patterns during the pandemic. Findings show that more families ate together at home, with many parents reporting improved family bonds, more engaging conversations, and shared laughter during meals. The shift to regular, shared dinners…
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Recent police data shared with the NSPCC reveals that Snapchat is the most commonly used platform for online grooming in the UK, with nearly 50% of recorded cases of sexual communication with children occurring on the app. Over 7,000 such offences were reported in the year leading up to March 2024, marking a record high since the law was established in 2017. Becky Riggs from the National Police Chief’s Council described the data as “shocking”…
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A study looking into the use of tablet devices amongst young children finds 3½ year olds who use them are more often frustrated or angry by the time they are 4½  years old, compared to other children the same age. This is associated with a likelihood for  children to spend more screentime at age 5½, with children having ‘tech tantrums’ as a result of their device usage being restricted. The study found that a 75…
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