What local child development experts want parents to know

Not that long ago, science told us that 1,000 or fewer neural connections were made each second in a baby's brain. Now we know babies' brains actually make one million neural connections every second until the age of 3.

As our understanding of the brain and child development seems to expand by the minute, there’s a constant flood of new research and information about how to raise children. To help parents sort through it all, KPCC assembled a panel of local child development experts to share information they want parents to know. 

Tina Bryson, founder and executive director of the Center for Connection and co-author of "The Whole-Brain Child" and a forthcoming book called "The YES Brain," shared ways to connect the dots between neuroscience and toddler behavior. 

Ashaunta Tumblin Anderson, attending physician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and health policy researcher for RAND Corporation, discussed her research on the links between racism and increased rates of ADHD, anxiety, and other health issues in young children. 

Joan Maltese, founder and CEO of Child Development Institute, talked about how little babies can sense stress in their parents – particularly when they are arguing – and how parents can maintain calm. 

Marlene Zepeda, professor emeritus at the Department of Child and Family Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, spoke about the capacity of little children to learn multiple languages and what parents might expect as they go through that process.

The panelists shared a wealth of information on topics including supporting children with developmental delays, choosing preschools, and helping children through parental separation and divorce. 

Grab a pen and paper and watch the full event, or read on to find answers to some audience members' questions:

How can I deal with a 'bossy' toddler without being that 'mean mom' I see in movies?

Bryson shed some light on what might be happening in a child's brain during those bossy moments. The brain is either in a reactive state (the red zone), where we may be defensive and aggressive, or we’re in a receptive state (the green zone), where we are open to listening and can make good decisions.

What are your thoughts on the new recommendations around screen time limits?

Technology has become a bigger and bigger part of our lives and the American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines for how to regulate screen time among young children. The panel acknowledged that, though the tablet can be an easy distraction, talking and interacting with adults in vital for development in the early years.

Maltese reminded parents to be aware of how they use devices in the presence of their children.

In a household with multiple languages, what's the best way to minimize a baby's confusion?

One common thought about multilingualism is that children will become confused, so it's better to teach them one language. Zepeda says that is a myth. Young children can understand and communicate in multiple languages and the bilingual brain becomes more cognitively flexible and capable of multitasking. As they are also trying to process everything about the world around them, a little bit of confusion is normal. Learning language takes time.

With the recent headlines around sexual harassment, has really prompted me to think about how to raise my 1-year-old daughter to feel strong and confident saying no. What type of strategies can I use to instill that in her?

Panelists talked about the importance of modeling the behavior we want children to have and that now is an important time to think about the varying expectations we have for boys and girls. Anderson says she thinks of the issue of gender socialization in a similar way to how she thinks about racial and ethnic socialization. In the same way that parents can reinforce cultural pride and prepare their children for how they might be viewed in the world, they can help children to have boundaries. 

How can I get my child past the bed time blues?

When it comes to routine, Tina Bryson says it's important to remember that "the brain is an association machine." So if something is unpleasant – like, separating with mom and dad each night, they might have a negative association. Parents can frame the idea of bed time as a relaxing, pleasant and positive experience.

For children who consistently fight giving in at nap time or bed time, Bryson suggests parents try a sensory approach. If a child always asks for a snack before bed time, it could be a delay tactic, but he or she could also be seeking oral input. Try giving the child a crunchy snack a half hour before bed time. 

Find a full list of ideas on how to consider sensory needs at bed time here.

Have more questions about early childhood? Submit them below!