Research; Good for Babies!

Baby Ruby

I love working with parents and babies every day! Research has taught us so much about what babies know and what babies need to grow up to lead healthy, productive lives. I think, if they could, that babies would thank us for the research that taught us about attachement, the acquisition of language, and the importance of breast feeding. These are just three subjects that have evolved since I began my career that babies would surely give thumbs up to. 

Baby Nicollette

Those research studies helped me create curriculum for parents and strengthen my commitment to    support parents in attending to babies needs instead of worrying about "spoiling " them.  To encourage parents to fill their homes with language to prepare a child for reading, and to support women through the sometimes difficult beginnings of breast feeding (and to help parents understand that breastfeeding isn't always possible). Research has improved the quality of life for babies! 

I want to share a good example of research done with babies from Yale's Baby Lab. This is a wonderful piece from "60 Minutes". I think we would all agree that there is no minimal risk in this example. I do know that the babies in the research study did not sign a consent form, nor were they able to agree verbally or non verbally to participate. Parents made the decision for them. I think all of us would have done the same, if asked. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRvVFW85IcU

The link to the research as it appears in Nature Journal 

http://www.nature.com/news/2007/071121/full/news.2007.278.html

Hello Walden Colleagues. Sadly, I am at a dead end! Up to this point, I have sailed merrily along knowing that my job was a bit different than the rest of yours but feeling rather progressive too. In Minnesota we just don't think about early childhood without thinking about parent education. Today, I feel like an outlier.

I am wildly passionate about a project that I have been working on at the Capitol since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I am rigged towards optimism and hope and felt a need to find a way to educate parents about the affects of violent media including video games on very small children. I am amazed at the support I have received and feel so excited about the direction I am headed.

The dead end came this week when as I searched the Walden Library for articles to review for this week's assignment. I must have entered dozens of search terms to find some data on what parents know about video game ratings. I am stuck! What would you suggest?

I could investigate another question with a focus on early childhood but I really do not want to waste my time. I would much rather spend my research energy on data that I can use at the Capitol and with the State Department of Education. I would love to hear your thoughts.