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Temperament is thought to influence the development of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). However, whether temperament is longitudinally related to EMSs beyond attachment, the best known predictor of EMSs, has been underexplored. Hence, this study investigated (1) Whether middle childhood temperament is longitudinally related to late adolescent EMSs, (2) To what extent temperament explains EMSs beyond middle childhood attachment, and (3) Whether attachment moderates this temperament-EMSs link. In total, 157 children (Mage = 10.91 in middle childhood, Mage = 16.71 in late adolescence) participated in this study. Adolescent EMSs were assessed along with middle childhood temperamental negative affect, affiliation, surgency, and effortful control, and attachment at both explicit and implicit levels. Results indicated that all temperamental features were longitudinally related to later EMSs; the majority of the temperament-EMSs links did not survive after controlling for attachment, except for some limited correlations between EMSs and negative affect and effortful control; and an inconsistent moderating effect for attachment on the temperament-EMSs link. This study provides further insight into the role of child factors (middle childhood temperament and late adolescent attachment) in understanding EMSs variability in late adolescence. It suggests that EMSs are informed more by past relational experiences (attachment) than children's inborn tendencies (temperament). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are spending significantly less time outdoors in free play than previous generations, which has implications for children's development. This study explores parental knowledge, attitudes and the time children spend in outdoor free play. Parents or caregivers of children aged between five and nine years old (N = 82) completed an online mixed methods survey. Data collected included knowledge of the benefits of outdoor play, attitudes towards outdoor play and time children spend outdoors. Participant's knowledge varied between 1 and 19 benefits of outdoor free play (mean = 7.54). Participants had a positive attitude towards outdoor recreation, demonstrating a statistically significant positive correlation with time their child spends in outdoor free play on a non-school and school day. Findings contribute to research within the Australian context regarding the influence that parental attitude has on children's engagement with nature, allowing for potential programmes around parental attitudes, to support greater time outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the analysis of the development of preschool education in the Federal Republic of Germany in the context of Ukraine's integration into the European educational space. The author draws attention to the role of preschool education as a fundamental component of the educational system, which ensures social adaptation, the formation of the child's competencies and values. The relevance of borrowing the positive experience of Germany for improving the preschool education system of Ukraine is highlighted. The article examines key regulatory and legal acts of Germany that shape the foundations of preschool education and the organization of early childhood development: «On the quality of kindergartens» (KiTa-Qualitätsgesetz 2023) and «Agreement between the states on the common basic structure of the school system and the state-wide responsibility of the states in central issues of educational policy» (2020). Their impact on ensuring the accessibility and quality of educational services, supporting inclusion, professional training, and continuous development of educators is outlined. Special attention is paid to the achievements of German preschool education in organizing language training, addressing regional disparities in access to educational institutions, reducing ethnic educational inequality, and introducing innovative approaches to education, including individualized approaches to each child and digitalization of preschool education. The article stresses the importance of utilizing German experience to reform Ukraine's regulatory framework, enhance educational process management, expand accessibility for children with special needs, and improve education quality through innovations. It concludes that Germany's experience can serve as a basis for improving preschool education in Ukraine, particularly in the context of its integration into the European educational space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation of the translated PEDS test is necessary to improve early detection of developmental delays. This study aimed to determine the construct validity of the translated Northern Sotho and Zulu PEDS tests. This validation study determined whether the translated PEDS tests are valid when compared to the reference English PEDS test. Stratified convenience sampling was used to recruit a collective of 546 research participants from a government healthcare facility in South Africa. A higher referral rate (43%) was found for Zulu participants when compared to Northern Sotho participants (17%). There were significant correlations of the Zulu and Northern Sotho PEDS tests when compared to the reference English PEDS test. Pearson correlations for the Zulu PEDS test ranged from 0.815 (very strong association) to 1.000 (perfect association) and for Northern Sotho from 0.496 to 0.854 (both, very strong association). Equivalence percentages for the Zulu PEDS ranged from 90.9% to 100.0% and for the Northern Sotho PEDS from 92.3% to 100.0%. The translated PEDS test has been found to have construct validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once we are born, the number and location of nerve cells in most parts of the brain remain unchanged. These types of structural changes are therefore a significant form of flexibility for the neural circuits where they occur. In humans, the postnatal birth of neurons is limited; however, neurons do continue to migrate into some brain regions throughout infancy and even into adolescence. In human infants, multiple migratory pathways deliver interneurons to destinations across the frontal and temporal lobe cortex. Shorter-range migration of excitatory neurons also appears to continue during adolescence, particularly near the amygdala paralaminar nucleus, a region that follows a delayed trajectory of growth from infancy to adulthood. The significance of the timing for when different brain regions recruit new neurons through these methods is unknown; however, both processes of protracted migration and maturation are prominent in humans. Mechanisms like these that reconfigure neuronal circuits are a substrate for critical periods of plasticity and could contribute to distinctive circuit functionality in human brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children frequently use Google to answer their questions, yet what they think about Google's capacity and limitations is unclear. This study explores children's beliefs about Google's capacity to answer questions. American children ages 9 and 10 (n = 44; 18 boys and 26 girls) viewed factual questions directed towards Google or a person. After viewing each question, they reported their confidence in the informant's accuracy, the time it would take the informant to obtain the answer and how the informant would obtain the answer. Finally, they generated questions that the internet would be capable or incapable of answering. Children believed Google would be more accurate and faster than a person at answering questions. Children consistently generated appropriate questions that the internet would be good at answering, but they sometimes struggled to generate questions that the internet would not be good at answering. Implications for children's learning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although actual experiences of upward social mobility are historically low, many adolescents and adults express a belief in social mobility (e.g., that social status can change). Although a belief in upward mobility (e.g., that status can improve) can be helpful for economically disadvantaged adolescents and adults, a belief in upward social mobility in adults is also associated with greater acceptance of societal inequality. While this belief might have similar benefits or consequences in children, no previous work has examined whether children are even capable of reasoning about social mobility. This is surprising, given that elementary‐aged children exhibit sophisticated reasoning about both social status, as well as about the fixedness or malleability of properties and group membership. Across an economically advantaged group of 5‐ to 12‐year‐old American children (N = 151, Mage = 8.91, 63% racial majority, 25% racially marginalized; Mhousehold income = $133,064), we found evidence that children can reason about social mobility for their own families and for others. Similar to research in adults, children believe that others are more likely to experience upward than downward mobility. However, in contrast to adult's typical beliefs—but in line with economic realities—between 7‐ and 9‐years‐old, children become less likely to expect upward mobility for economically disadvantaged, versus advantaged, families. In sum, children are capable of reasoning about social mobility in nuanced ways; future work should explore the implications of these beliefs. Research Highlights: Despite harsh economic realities, a belief in upward social mobility and the American Dream is alive and well.Between 7 and 9 years of age, economically advantaged, American children begin to expect economically disadvantaged families to experience less upward mobility than economically advantaged families.Children's beliefs about social mobility better accord with reality than adults' do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Findings in adults have shown that crystallized measures of intelligence, which are more culturally sensitive than fluid intelligence measures, have greater heritability; however, these results have not been found in children. The present study used data from 8,518 participants between 9 and 11 years old from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. We found that polygenic predictors of intelligence test performance (based on genome-wide association meta-analyses of data from 269,867 individuals) and of educational attainment (based on data from 1.1 million individuals) predicted neurocognitive performance. We found that crystallized measures were more strongly associated with both polygenic predictors than were fluid measures. This mirrored heritability differences reported previously in adults and suggests similar associations in children. This may be consistent with a prominent role of gene-environment correlation in cognitive development measured by crystallized intelligence tests. Environmental and experiential mediators may represent malleable targets for improving cognitive outcomes.

Having epidural analgesia in labour has been associated with a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring, resulting in concerns about childhood wellbeing. Neurodevelopmental changes are inconsistently reported in the literature, creating challenges in the interpretation of these findings. Here we explore the limitations of the current evidence base, and why findings differ between studies, concluding that the current body of evidence does not support a causal association between use of epidural analgesia in labour and autism spectrum disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current study examined to what extent face and speech processing interact with each other and whether they enhance or impair the processing of the other in 5-year-olds (n = 51) and adults (n = 34). Using a computer-based speeded sorting task allowed to directly test the influence of auditory speech on face processing and the influence of face identity on auditory speech processing within one experiment. Participants were asked to either sort faces while ignoring auditory speech information (face task) or to sort auditory speech while ignoring face information (speech task). The tasks comprised three conditions: control (irrelevant dimension constant), correlational (congruent pairing of relevant and irrelevant dimension), and orthogonal (random pairing). For the 5-year-olds, reaction times did not differ in the face task, but differed in the speech task. They were the fastest in the control and the slowest in the orthogonal compared with the constant conditions. Adults' reaction times were similar across conditions and tasks indicating an independent processing of faces and speech. Hence, we found an asymmetrical processing pattern between face and auditory speech processing in children, in which face identity is processed independent of auditory speech; however, auditory speech processing is affected by face identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF) is an instrument frequently used by researchers and clinicians to assess psychopathology in preschool children based on information from early childhood education and care professionals. However, the measurement invariance of this instrument has not been investigated. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the measurement invariance of the C-TRF for (1) girls vs. boys, and (2) for children below the age of three years old vs. three years or older, as measurement invariance is a prerequisite for a meaningful comparison of latent means between groups. Based on reports of 2904 children from 353 early childhood education and care professionals, our results showed full scalar invariance for an adapted C-TRF model, which supports the applicability of the instrument. However, awareness of the factor Somatic complaints and items with out-of-range parameters is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the marginalisation of sign language in early childhood development education (ECDE) in Zimbabwe and proposing an inclusive approach for Deaf education. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, researchers focused on two mainstream schools that accommodate Deaf learners and two special schools for the Deaf. Data collection included a literature review, observations, and semi-structured interviews, framed by the Critical Language Policy framework. Findings highlight a shortage of qualified ECDE teachers and the predominance of the direct method and audiolinguicism as key factors marginalising sign language. Additionally, limited parental involvement and a lack of language acquisition support hinder Deaf learners‘ development. The study advocates for increasing learning facilities and qualified sign linguists and establishing inclusive teaching and learning policies to improve Deaf education in ECDE settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction & Purpose Psychosocial stress is a major risk factor for the development of a wide range of psychiatric and somatic illnesses (Hughes et al., 2017). Social factors such as perceived autonomy and competence, relatedness and task climate appear to be related to people dropping out of a sport (Balish et al., 2014). To this point in time, the developmental aspects in youth sports are insufficiently described in the literature. Previous studies dealing with dropout have indicated critical aspects on a personal, contextual, chronological, and procedural level (Moulds et al., 2024). The perception of these aspects seems to determine the individual stress experience. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify stressors and resources in youth sport climbing and to gain a deeper understanding of how these relate to dropout. Methods Guided by the theoretical framework of the bioecological system theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), two active and six non-active climbers between the ages of 18 and 25 were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. The non-active climbers were dropouts, defined here as an athlete ending their competitive sport career before reaching their individual performance peak. In this case they were asked about the related circumstances. Active athletes started the interview from their current perspective. Each development-relevant factor (person, process, context, time; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) was then reflected on in terms of resources and stressors. The inclusion criterion was the qualification for the national team. A qualitative content analysis was carried out according to Mayring and Fenzl (2022). The data was analyzed using MAXQDA 24 software. Results The interviewed climbers addressed the context of family, school, social environment, training, and personal factors. A high level of social interaction was experienced. The topics of bodyweight and nutrition were often reported with negative connotations, particularly impacted by external factors. Communication skills were a consistently mentioned factor as a resource and potential stressor. A lack of individualisation and opportunities for personal development were reported as long-term stress factors. Feelings of responsibility and self-inflicted pressure were described as additional loads. Professional attachment was reported as a personal resource when positively evaluated. Reflection skills were recognised as a helpful stress management tool. As illustrated in Figure 1, the mindset of individuals appears to be shaped by the internal and external interplay of available resources, aspects of motivation and beliefs that are internalised. Discussion & Conclusion Several factors seem to interact modifying an individual’s experience of stress. The perception of stress at a certain point in time must be seen as a combination of the load experienced and the individual available resources. Sport-specific requirements should be considered. Dropout can be one of the consequences of overall stress in competitive sports and should be analysed systemically. The intention was to identify starting points for reducing dropout rates in sports and support health-promoting participation. These are the first results of this project, in which further athletes from climbing and other sports will be interviewed. References Balish, S. M., McLaren, C., Rainham, D., & Blanchard, C. (2014). Correlates of youth sport attrition: A review and future directions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 15(4), 429–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.04.003 Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2006). The ecology of human developmental processes. In W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Theoretical models of human development (6th ed., pp. 793–828). Wiley. Hughes, K., Bellis, M. A., Hardcastle, K. A., Sethi, D., Butchart, A., Mikton, C., Jones, L., & Dunne, M. P. (2017). The effect of multiple adverse childhood experiences on health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 2(8), e356-e366. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30118-4 Mayring, P., & Fenzl, T. (2022). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse [Qualitative content analysis]. In N. Baur, & J. Blasius (Eds.), Handbuch Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung (pp. 691–706). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-37985-8_43 Moulds, K., Galloway, S., Abbott, S., & Cobley, S. P. (2024). Youth sport dropout according to the Process-Person-Context-Time model: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(1) 440–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2021.2012817

The relation between an individual's memory accuracy and reported confidence in their memories can indicate self-awareness of memory strengths and weaknesses. We provide a lifespan perspective on this confidence-accuracy relation, based on two previously published experiments with 320 participants, including children aged 6-13, young adults aged 18-27, and older adults aged 65-77, across tests of working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM). Participants studied visual items in arrays of varying set sizes and completed item recognition tests featuring 6-point confidence ratings either immediately after studying each array (WM tests) or following a long period of study events (LTM tests). Confidence-accuracy characteristic analyses showed that accuracy improved with increasing confidence for all age groups and in both WM and LTM tests. These findings reflect a universal ability across the lifespan to use awareness of the strengths and limitations of one's memories to adjust reported confidence. Despite this age invariance in the confidence-accuracy relation, however, young children were more prone to high-confidence memory errors than other groups in tests of WM, whereas older adults were more susceptible to high-confidence false alarms in tests of LTM. Thus, although participants of all ages can assess when their memories are weaker or stronger, individuals with generally weaker memories are less adept at this confidence-accuracy calibration. Findings also speak to potential different sources of high-confidence memory errors for young children and older adults, relative to young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences in early childhood development are under-researched in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where almost 90% of the world's young children live. This study examines the direction, magnitude, and variation of gender similarities and differences in 3- and 4-year-olds' early childhood development in 71 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Moreover, we explore whether country-level gender inequality correlates with gender differences in early development. We analyzed Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) data from UNICEF's Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys and the Demographic and Health Surveys between 2010 and 2019 (n = 226,980). Using logistic regression, we estimated children's odds of being developmentally on track in literacy-numeracy, approaches to learning, social-emotional, and physical domains. We also used meta-analytic regression to examine associations between early childhood development and country-level indicators of gender inequality. In approximately one-half of LMICs, odds of being developmentally on track did not significantly differ for girls and boys; in countries with significant differences, girls were more likely to be on track than boys (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.18–1.24], p <.001). Differences favoring girls were largest in the social-emotional domain (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = [1.24–1.30], p <.001). Country-level gender development index explained a substantial amount of variation in gender differences across countries. Overall, findings suggest that when gender differences exist, girls are more likely than boys to be developmentally on track, particularly in the social-emotional domain and in countries with greater gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is argued that attachment is crucial in the manifestation of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). However, the longitudinal studies needed to help understanding the developmental trajectories associating attachment and EMSs are lacking. Hence, in this study we investigated whether middle childhood attachment and its subsequent changes across the transition to adolescence are related in understanding the level of EMSs at the beginning of late adolescence and EMSs changes during adolescence. One hundred and fifty-seven children (Meanage = 10.91 at baseline) participated in a five-wave six year longitudinal study in which attachment was assessed across all waves at both explicit and implicit processing levels and EMSs were assessed during the last two waves. Results indicated that both levels of attachment were related to the EMSs cross-sectionally in adolescence (wave 5), but only explicit attachment at baseline was longitudinally related to adolescent EMSs after six years. Moreover, attachment changes across the study linked to adolescent EMSs. However, no links between attachment and changes in EMSs were found. This study provides longitudinal evidence that both attachment in middle childhood and its changes during subsequent development until late adolescence are important in understanding the later EMSs level in late adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive component of cannabis, has been implicated in affecting fetal neurodevelopment by readily crossing the placenta. However, little is known regarding the long‐term effects of intrauterine cannabis exposure. This systematic review and meta‐analysis synthesized prospective and cross‐sectional human studies to measure the effects of intrauterine cannabis exposure on birth, behavioral, psychological and cognitive outcomes in infancy until early childhood. Methods: Reporting according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement, cross‐sectional and prospective studies published from database inception until June 2023, investigating developmental outcomes of infants, toddlers and young children with intrauterine cannabis exposure were considered. All articles were obtained from PubMed or PsycINFO databases. Results: The literature search resulted in 932 studies, in which 57 articles met eligibility criteria. The meta‐analysis revealed that intrauterine cannabis exposure increases the risk of preterm delivery [odds ratio (OR) = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–2.71, P = 0.03], low birth weight (OR = 2.60, CI = 1.71–3.94, P < 0.001) and requirement for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (OR = 2.51, CI = 1.46–4.31; P < 0.001). Our qualitative synthesis suggests that intrauterine cannabis exposure may be associated with poorer attention and externalizing problems in infancy and early childhood. We found no evidence for impairments in other cognitive domains or internalizing behaviors. Conclusions: Prenatal cannabis use appears to be associated with lower birth weight, preterm birth and neonatal intensive care unit admission in newborns, but there is little evidence that prenatal cannabis exposure adversely impacts behavioral or cognitive outcomes in early childhood, with the exception of attention and externalizing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Guatemala remains one of the poorest countries in Central America and suffers from high rates of social inequality and violence. In addition to the negative impact that two years without attending school has had on Guatemalan children due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this unfavourable socioeconomic context poses a risk to children's emotional and cognitive development. This work presents a protocol for implementing a cognitive and emotional stimulation program aimed at increasing the academic performance of these children and consequently improving their quality of life. Methods: The protocol proposes the implementation of a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a 24-session-long stimulation program. It targets the cognitive functions of attention, language, executive functions, and social cognition, using the digital neurorehabilitation platform NeuronUP. The participants (n = 480) will be randomly assigned to an Experimental or Control group. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will be carried out, together with a follow-up in the next academic year, in which both groups will change roles. Results will be compared for the first and second years, looking for differences in academic and cognitive performance between groups. Discussion: Mid- and long-term outcomes are still unknown, but effective interventions based on this protocol are expected to facilitate the following benefits for participants: (1) improved cognitive and emotional development; (2) improved academic performance; (3) improved well-being. We expect to create a validated neuropsychological stimulation program that could be applied in similar socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts around the world to help these children improve their life chances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospective self-report assessments of adults' childhood experiences with their parents are widely employed in psychological science, but such assessments are rarely validated against actual parenting experiences measured during childhood. Here, we leveraged prospectively acquired data characterizing mother-child and father-child relationship quality using observations, parent reports, and child reports covering infancy through adolescence. At age 26 years, approximately 800 participants completed a retrospective measure of maternal and paternal emotional availability during childhood. Retrospective reports of childhood emotional availability demonstrated weak convergence with composites reflecting prospectively acquired observations (R2s = .01-.05) and parent reports (R2s = .02-.05) of parenting quality. Retrospective parental availability was more strongly associated with prospective assessments of child-reported parenting quality (R2s = .24-.25). However, potential sources of bias (i.e., depressive symptoms and family closeness and cohesiveness at age 26 years) accounted for more variance in retrospective reports (39%-40%) than did prospective measures (26%), suggesting caution when using retrospective reports of childhood caregiving quality as a proxy for prospective data.

Abstract This paper examines the triadic dynamics of baby-teacher-book during shared reading in an Early Childhood Education School to explain how educational teaching practices can enhance initial reading experiences and development processes in Early Childhood. A ten-months-old baby and a teacher participated in this study and, as an instrument for data collection, reading situations were registered and later these sessions were weighted through use of microgenetic analysis. From the analysis of the data present in the detailed case, it was identified the emergence of qualitative indicators that favoured the involvement of the baby in the activity, the mediation and educational actions of the teacher and the use of the book were more frequent. The effective use of the object book with that baby has contributed to qualitative changes in the baby’s development and learning and emphasizes the incentive to share reading with other children.

Aim: The neuronal mechanism linking the association between maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) and risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and working memory deficits in children was investigated. Methods: A total of 6291 children (52% boys) born beyond 28 weeks of gestation were included and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging scans at 9–10 years. Subcortical brain volumes were estimated from the T1‐weighted images. ADHD symptoms were assessed using factorial analysis of the Child Behaviour Checklist completed by parents/caregivers. Working memory performance was assessed with the NIH Toolbox. Results: Compared to unexposed children, those exposed to DM (n = 422) had smaller (β = −0.15, p = 0.001) volumes of pooled deep grey matter (GM). Regional analysis revealed smaller volumes of the caudate nucleus, putamen, thalamus and cerebellum but not of hippocampus. They also had altered cortico‐striatal white matter projection tracts. DM was not associated with working memory deficits or inattention, but with increased hyperactivity/impulsivity and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo symptoms in boys. This hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom in boys was partially mediated by smaller deep GM volume. Conclusion: Exposure to DM during pregnancy leads to altered deep GM development during late childhood in their offspring. This contributed to an increased risk of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese Official Development Assistance has benefited educational development by hook or by crook. Japan has been providing grant aids for grassroots development in Myanmar for more than half a century, which has had a significant degree of effectiveness for the recipients. The Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects has specifically benefited the education sector in Chin State, Myanmar, especially in building infrastructures for schools, including providing buildings, desks, and plumbing facilities. It is suggested that there are still quite a few primary factors requiring development to access quality education in Myanmar. Based on extensive research among educators and relevant officials in Chin State, this research surveys existing issues for educational infrastructure in the state and assesses some of the challenges for educational development in the region. It also assesses how Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects has assisted the barriers. The scope of this research is from 2015 to 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive function (EF) skills, including working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, form the neurocognitive basis for conscious, goal-directed behavior and self-control. Young children are notoriously deficient in such skills, but EF improves most rapidly in the preschool period. Individual differences in EF are predictive of a host of important life outcomes, and recent advances in measurement and intervention are promising. Caregivers play a key role in the development of EF, particularly with respect to supporting the child's autonomy. I take a closer look at agency and discuss theoretical and empirical support for the notion that giving children a sense of choice in how to act, think, and feel is essential for healthy EF skill development in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: The effort to create physical activity (PA) opportunities for Thai youth, prior to 2020, was making good progress. However, the unexpected advent of the Covid-19 epidemic has posed significant challenges to maintain PA level of youth. The Thailand 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth presents measurements of PA-related indicators based on the Global Matrix, with additional indicators that are relevant for childhood development. Methods: Several data sources were employed to develop the indicators, namely: 1) The Thailand Report Card Survey 2021; 2) School health and facility data; 3) Student health indicators from the Ministry of Public Health; and 4) Relevant resources to support the development of the policy indicator. Results: Overall, only 27% of Thai children and youth met the 60-min PA daily threshold (grade D). While behavioral indicators were mostly graded ‘poor’ (between C and F), the source of influence (i.e., family) indicators showed better grades (between A and C). One-third (33%) of the youngsters suffered from moderate-to-severe level of stress/anxiety (grade B). Overweight and sleep indicators received grades of A or A-, whereas bullying and student engagement received a grade of B. The performance on the physical literacy indicator was graded C+. Conclusion: With the main message “Let's Move - Boost Happiness,” the results from Thailand 2022 Report Card call for a collaborative effort involving multiple sectors to improve PA and happiness of children and youth. A more comprehensive PA promotion strategy is required to provide clear direction and guidance for schools, families, and communities in order to maintain gains and raise the overall level of youth PA in Thailand.

Humans have co‐existed with parasites for virtually the entirety of our existence as a species. Today, nearly one third of the human population is infected with at least one helminthic species, most of which reside in the intestinal tract, where they have co‐evolved alongside the human gut microbiota (GM). Appreciation for the interconnected relationship between helminths and GM has increased in recent years. Here, we review the evidence of how helminths and GM can influence various aspects of childhood development and the onset of paediatric diseases. We discuss the emerging evidence of how many of the changes that parasitic worms inflict on their host is enacted through gut microbes. In this light, we argue that helminth‐induced microbiota modifications are of great importance in both facing the global challenge of overcoming parasitic infections, and in replicating helminthic protective effects against inflammatory diseases. We propose that deepening our knowledge of helminth–microbiota interactions will uncover novel, safer and more effective therapeutic strategies in combatting an array of childhood disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the techniques and instruments used to evaluate group social skills training with children aged 6 to 12, with typical or atypical development in the Brazilian and international contexts. Accordingly, an integrative literature review was carried out, selecting 37 studies according to the eligibility criteria adopted. Most of the studies used quantitative techniques, with a prevalence of standardized measures to evaluate the training. This is in line with the methodology adopted in quasi-experimental and experimental research. It was also observed that the techniques used to evaluate the training were predominantly applied with the children participating in the intervention, giving them a leading role in this type of investigation. The contribution of qualitative techniques in applied research and the dichotomy between quantitative and qualitative approaches are discussed, proposing mixed methods of investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirituality, which has recently gained popularity in psychology, is empirically proven to play a significant part in the well-being of an individual. Children, who are naturally curious and exploring nature have gained researcher's attention. And the history of research on childhood spirituality has had mixed outcomes. Despite that, a lot of evidence points to a child's spirituality playing a significant part throughout their developmental process. This paper critically reviews the existing research and provides an overview of childhood spirituality and its relation to developmental aspects of their lives. Further, it is suggested to adapt a purely spiritual lens to study childhood spirituality, along with clearly defined research methods. Additionally, spirituality is relatively a vague concept. Attempts should be made to explain the concept in a more precise manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Children's developmental stage affect motor imagery visual performances. • Physical activity can effectively shape the development trajectory of motor imagery abilities. • Kinaesthetic imagery performance is strongly linked to accumulated sports expertise. • One year may not suffice to observe notable changes in motor imagery abilities. Motor imagery (MI) is fundamentally linked to the motor system. It improves motor learning and optimizes motor actions without physical execution, highlighting its unique role in rehabilitation programs and motor performance. Understanding the developmental trajectories of MI and the factors influencing its variability across ages could enable more effective, age-specific strategies for pediatric rehabilitation. This study assessed 65 children aged 7 to 14 years at two time points 1 year apart. MI ability was assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire for Children, and physical fitness was evaluated using the SLOfit testing battery. Among the three perspectives assessed; internal visual imagery (IVI), external visual imagery (EVI), and kinesthetic imagery (KI), KI was unique in not correlating with age at both time points. The development of MI perspectives varied between athletes and non-athletes, with non-athletes showing a decline in IVI compared with athletes. This differential was further evidenced by significant differences in KI between the groups at the second assessment, with a similar trend observed at the first assessment. Of the physical fitness tests, only the 600-m run correlated consistently with KI at both assessments. Our findings suggest that regular participation in sports significantly affects KI performance, highlighting the importance of sports participation for the development of MI abilities in children. Future research should examine additional assessment points in different age groups and sport experience to better understand the development of MI and its potential implications for pediatric rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction & Purpose Psychosocial stress is a major risk factor for the development of a wide range of psychiatric and somatic illnesses (Hughes et al., 2017). Social factors such as perceived autonomy and competence, relatedness and task climate appear to be related to people dropping out of a sport (Balish et al., 2014). To this point in time, the developmental aspects in youth sports are insufficiently described in the literature. Previous studies dealing with dropout have indicated critical aspects on a personal, contextual, chronological, and procedural level (Moulds et al., 2024). The perception of these aspects seems to determine the individual stress experience. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify stressors and resources in youth sport climbing and to gain a deeper understanding of how these relate to dropout. Methods Guided by the theoretical framework of the bioecological system theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006), two active and six non-active climbers between the ages of 18 and 25 were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. The non-active climbers were dropouts, defined here as an athlete ending their competitive sport career before reaching their individual performance peak. In this case they were asked about the related circumstances. Active athletes started the interview from their current perspective. Each development-relevant factor (person, process, context, time; Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) was then reflected on in terms of resources and stressors. The inclusion criterion was the qualification for the national team. A qualitative content analysis was carried out according to Mayring and Fenzl (2022). The data was analyzed using MAXQDA 24 software. Results The interviewed climbers addressed the context of family, school, social environment, training, and personal factors. A high level of social interaction was experienced. The topics of bodyweight and nutrition were often reported with negative connotations, particularly impacted by external factors. Communication skills were a consistently mentioned factor as a resource and potential stressor. A lack of individualisation and opportunities for personal development were reported as long-term stress factors. Feelings of responsibility and self-inflicted pressure were described as additional loads. Professional attachment was reported as a personal resource when positively evaluated. Reflection skills were recognised as a helpful stress management tool. As illustrated in Figure 1, the mindset of individuals appears to be shaped by the internal and external interplay of available resources, aspects of motivation and beliefs that are internalised. Discussion & Conclusion Several factors seem to interact modifying an individual's experience of stress. The perception of stress at a certain point in time must be seen as a combination of the load experienced and the individual available resources. Sport-specific requirements should be considered. Dropout can be one of the consequences of overall stress in competitive sports and should be analysed systemically. The intention was to identify starting points for reducing dropout rates in sports and support health-promoting participation. These are the first results of this project, in which further athletes from climbing and other sports will be interviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Chronic social stress is known to induce inflammation in the brain, and early-life stress affects the brain and social behavior in adulthood. To study the relationship between social stress in childhood development and social behavior in adulthood, we subjected mice to a sequential early-life social stresses and characterized their adult behavioral phenotypes. Methods C57BL/6 mice were sequentially subjected to maternal separation (MS), social defeat (SD), and social isolation (SI) in that order. The body weights of the MS/SD/SI mice were measured. Behavioral tasks related to anxiety, depression, locomotion, learning/memory, and repetitive/compulsive-like behavior were conducted. Social behaviors suggesting sociability, social interaction, aggression, and social fear were investigated. Results MS/SD/SI mice weighed less than the control mice. At 7 and 8 weeks of age. These mice displayed normal behaviors in anxiety-, depression-, and learning/memory-related tasks, but they exhibited increased locomotor activity and a low level of repetitive/compulsive-like behavior. Notably, they exhibited increased social interaction, impaired empathy-related fear, reduced predator fear, and increased defensive aggressiveness. Conclusion Social stress during childhood development resulted in behavioral alterations, and MS/SD/SI mice generated by mimicking child abuse or maltreatment showed unique abnormalities in social behaviors. MS/SD/SI mice might be useful not only to study the relationship between social stress and brain inflammation but also psychosocial behaviors observed in individuals with brain disorders, such as psychopaths.

Introduction: Decision making results not only from logical analyses, but seems to be further guided by the ability to perceive somatic information (interoceptive accuracy). Relations between interoceptive accuracy and decision making have been exclusively studied in adults and with regard to complex, uncertain situations (as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task, IGT). Methods: In the present study, 1454 children (6-11 years) were examined at two time points (approximately 1 year apart) using an IGT as well as a delayof-gratification task for sweets-items and toy-items. Interoceptive accuracy was measured using a child-adapted version of the Heartbeat Perception Task. Results: The present results revealed that children with higher, as compared to lower, interoceptive accuracy showed more advantageous choices in the IGT and delayed more sweets-items, but not toy-items, in a delay-of-gratification task at time point 2 but not at time point 1. However, no longitudinal relation between interoceptive accuracy and decision making 1 year later could be shown. Discussion: Results indicate that interoceptive accuracy relates to decisionmaking abilities in situations of varying complexity already in middle childhood, and that this link might consolidate across the examined 1-year period. Furthermore, the association of interoceptive accuracy and the delay of sweets-items might have implications for the regulation of body weight at a later age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fictions feature prominently in several of Hume's important arguments about the external world. For example, Hume is clear that there would be no belief in the continued existence of objects, were it not for the fictions that are causally responsible for effecting this belief. Interpreters of Hume on the topic of fiction generally argue that the formation of fiction requires the possession of general ideas and the use of language. Drawing upon recent attempts in the literature to advance this claim, I offer reasons for why this general approach is undesirable. By examining Hume's comments on the capabilities of children, this paper advances a novel approach to the topic of fictions in Hume's philosophy that separates the matter of fiction formation from the use of language, arguing instead that it is not the use of language that establishes fictions; fictions exert their influence upon the mind before the use of language becomes available to us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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It is important to both protect the healthy development and maintain the oral health of the child population. The study examined the effect of early childhood exposures to water fluoridation on measures of school-age executive functioning and emotional and behavioral development in a population-based sample. This longitudinal follow-up study used information from Australia's National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. Children aged 5 to 10 y at baseline were contacted again after 7 to 8 y, before they had turned 18 y of age. Percent lifetime exposed to fluoridated water (%LEFW) from birth to the age 5 y was estimated from residential history and postcode-level fluoride levels in public tap water. Measures of children's emotional and behavioral development were assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and executive functioning was measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Multivariable regression models were generated to compare the associations between the exposure and the primary outcomes and controlled for covariates. An equivalence test was also conducted to compare the primary outcomes of those who had 100% LEFW against those with 0% LEFW. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted. A total of 2,682 children completed the SDQ and BRIEF, with mean scores of 7.0 (95% confidence interval, 6.6–7.4) and 45.3 (44.7–45.8), respectively. Those with lower %LEFW tended to have poorer scores of the SDQ and BRIEF. Multivariable regression models reported no association between exposure to fluoridated water and the SDQ and BRIEF scores. Low household income, identifying as Indigenous, and having a neurodevelopmental diagnosis were associated with poorer SDQ/BRIEF scores. An equivalence test confirmed that the SDQ/BRIEF scores among those with 100% LEFW were equivalent to that of those who had 0% LEFW. Exposure to fluoridated water during the first 5 y of life was not associated with altered measures of child emotional and behavioral development and executive functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conceptual map of fathers’ lifestyles is adapted to provide an interconnected network of fathers’ lifestyles derived from social capital theory. The study explored fathers’ lifestyles and their impact on their children’s early development. The impact of lifestyle factors resulting from behaviour patterns like alcohol misuse, multiple partners, domestic violence, and absence from home among others, on South African fathers require extensive research to provide empirical evidence that may lead to meaningful interventions for affected fathers. The researcher’s university approved this study, and all ethical considerations were strictly adhered to. This was an exploratory multiple case study of 25 Black fathers who were purposively selected from a suburb in one rural Eastern Cape municipality in South Africa. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to obtain data, which was analysed thematically. Findings identified and provided evidence of father lifestyles that are in congruent with the kind of parental behaviour needed to support the health yearly development of children. Findings suggest that these negative lifestyles appear to in capacitate fathers, who fail to make a positive contribution to their children’s early development. To ensure that fathers make the expected contributions to their children’s early development, policies aiming to rehabilitate fathers who are involved in negativelifestyles should be put in place, while strategies to check proper implementation established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]