Importance of Play in Children’s Development

Play is critical for children’s development because it provides time and space for children to explore and gain skills needed for adult life. Children’s playtime has steadily decreased due to...

How to Help Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Veggie Lovers

When dealing with the combination of feeding problems, food allergies, and picky eaters, it can be tough to get kids to eat anything at all, and you might often wonder...

10 Family Activities for Fall

Are you looking for fun family activities to do this fall? Look no further! Turn off the tv, walk away from your computer, put your phone down, and get your family...

Back to School Reminder: Backpack Safety! How to Choose a Backpack

It’s that time of year again. Along with fresh pencils, and new, cool lunchboxes, a new backpack, or at least a more lightweight backpack might be in order too! Did...

Preparing Your Child for Back to School

Classroom performance may come in part from your child’s ability to focus and work through open ended tasks, be organized, stick to a schedule or calendar, manage time, work independently,...

How Many Extracurricular Activities is Too Many?

Activities like sports, music lessons, dance, or band are rewarding for children of all ages. Having a schedule and forming commitments to teams and clubs are wonderful for social development....

Tips to Help Your Child Transition to a New School

Transitioning to a new school can be difficult for kids. Whether it’s your child’s first day of elementary school, their first day of high school, or you’re moving to a...

Fun Summer Activities that Promote Learning

Looking for fun activities that promote learning and to get your child away from TVs, computers, or phones this summer? Half way through the summer everyone struggles to think of...

Research: Use of Music Therapy to Support Premature Infants’ Initial Development

Shenfield T, Trainor LJ, Nakata T. Maternal singing modulates infant arousal. Psychology of Music. 2003; 31(4): 365–375. This study analyzed saliva samples of infants to reveal that infants with lower baseline...

Research: Sensory Processing and Cerebral Palsy

Bumin G, Kayihan H.. Effectiveness of two different sensory integration programs for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2001; 23(9): 394-399. An investigation of approaches to sensory perceptual motor...

Research: Parent Perspective on Sensory Integration

Ahn RR, Miller LJ, Milberger S, et al. Prevalence of parents’ perceptions of sensory processing disorders among kindergarten children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2004; 58(3): 287–293. This article shares results of...

Research: Sensory Integration/Processing Effect on Learning

Ayres AJ. Effect of sensory integrative therapy on the coordination of children with choreoathetoid movements. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1977; 31(5): 291–293. This study affirms that children with learning issues, SI...

Research: Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Theory

Addison LR, Piazza CC, Patel MR, Bachmeyer MH, Rivas KM, Milnes SM, Oddo J. A comparison of sensory integrative and behavioral therapies as treatment for pediatric feeding disorders. Journal of Applied...

Research: Early Identification & Intervention for Communication Delays & Disorders

Conner J, Kelly-Vance L, Ryalls B, Friehe M. A play and language intervention for two-year-old children: implications for improving play skills and language. Journal of Research in Childhood Education. 2014; 28(2): 221-37....

Research: Facilitating Language Development in Infants & Children

Bernhardt BM, Kemp N, Werker JF. Early word-object associations and later language development. First Language. 2007; 27(4): 315-328. This study found that word-object association performance at 17 or 20 months, measured...

Research: Language Development in Atypically Developing Infants & Children

Eilers RE, Oller DK. Infant vocalizations and the early diagnosis of severe hearing impairment. J Pediatr. 1994; 124(2): 199-203. Findings from this study indicate that infants with normal hearing produce canonical vocalizations...

Research: Infant Motor Development & Tummy Time

Abbott AL, Bartlett DJ. Infant motor development and equipment use in the home. Child: Care Health & Development. 2001; 27: 295–306. This study concluded “parental education with respect to moderate use of...

Augmentative and Alternative Forms of Communication

Pathways.org produces content (like the article below) for health publications and newsletters that discuss issues related to children’s development. Our content features information for healthcare professionals on talking to families, recognizing...

Tips for Traveling with Baby

Traveling with baby can be a little more complicated than before your bundle arrived. There is more planning involved and certainly more things to bring along. When taking a trip,...

Fun Things to Do with Dad on Father’s Day

June means the start of warm weather and school vacations, the opening of lakes and swimming pools, and of course Father’s Day. This year, celebrate the father figures in your...