Hot Topics & New Research
Number of unique resources found: 102
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Cultural Competence and Diversity Resources 
Description: A "Hot Topics" compilation of resources addressing issues of diversity, cultural competence.
Dealing with National Tragedy and Grief
Description: A "Hot Topics" compilation of resources for dealing with national tragedy and grief.
Description: A "Hot Topic" compilation of resources to increase awareness of food insecurity and to help those who struggle with this problem.
Out of School Time: Issues, Activities and Information
Description: A Hot Topics compiliation of resources for out of school time. It includes links to resources for activities for children and families, summer safety resources, and programming resources.
Resources for National Community Action Month
Description: A "Hot Topics" compilation of resources for National Community Action month.
Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Family Support Professionals in Times of War
Description: A "Hot Topics" compilation of resources to help parents, teachers, and family support professionals in times of war.
Supporting Families with Loved Ones in the Military
Description: A Hot Topic compilation of: 1) resources aimed at supporting families with loved ones in the military, 2) resources for helping parents meet the challenges of explaining war and international conflicts to their children while helping them cope with sadness, stress and separation, and 3) resources aimed at providing educators with a broad spectrum of tools for working with families separated by military deployment.
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Research Spotlight: A Study of Positive Youth Development
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Positive Youth Development has emerged as the paradigm for out of school time programs. Studies show that 4-H promote better outcomes for youth. But what is it about 4-H that works? A longitudinal study called 4-H and Positive Youth Development aims to answer the questions "why?" and "how?".
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Afro-American Science, Math, Literature and Cultural Resources
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: Afro-Americans have contributed greatly to the knowledge and well-being of our nature. Here is a selection to enable you to explore the science, engineering and cultural contributions. In honor of Coretta Scott King's effort to promote peace, non-violent social change, brotherhood and literature, check out these online resources on African American history and issues, as well as a selection of literary works for sharing with children and young people (check for these at your public library).
Are We Fostering Social Capital?
Author: Dunham, Trudy (32 more by this author)
Description: Are our youth programs building a sense of engagement, inclusion, and trust? Are youth connected to their community? Research suggests that youth programs can foster these traits and social capital when properly implemented. CYFAR has developed tools to help you assess and build social capital, and several programs have adopted strategies to foster social capital. This resource pulls together many of the CYFAR developed social capital resources for you.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: With the arrival of autumn comes the vaccine for the current flu virus in the United States, and time to update your understanding of this year's virus and immunization. It is important to have accurate and helpful information, especially for those working with children and youth. For youth workers, perhaps the best defense against the flu virus is hand washing and keeping surfaces clean, especially in environments where children and youth gather. The resources below provide information and prevention strategies for keeping germs away.
Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month
Description: As the number of aging Baby Boomers increases, communities are grappling with the challenges of supportive services for their aging citizens. Includes caring for the caregiver and other important topics.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Description: The National Hispanic Heritage Month Hot Topic (September 15 to October 15) celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The 2011 theme, “Heritage, Diversity, Integrity and Honor: The Renewed Hope of America” echoes themes important to many CYFAR Projects. To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, the CYFERnet Parent/Family Editorial Board highlighted some of the many resources for working with—and celebrating—Latino families.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Resources
Description: These resources will assist you in defining, recognizing, preventing and reporting child abuse.
Description: As a new school year approaches, it may be a good time to think about guidance techniques with children. If you know what is typical for each stage of child development you will know the kinds of behavior to expect at each age.
Children with Challenging Behaviors
Author: Moore Kroneman, Kerry
Description: This Hot Topic provides information on children with challenging behaviors. It includes a brief overview of challenging children and challenging behaviors, including definitions. Many resources are included for more information.
Community Coaching for Guiding Sustainable Community Change
Description: Need to jump start community change? Have you considered Community Coaching? Sports coaches work to keep groups focused on a goal - winning a game. Life coaches help focus individuals on a goal. Community Coaches partner with communities to focus and achieve goals! With the goal of putting information at the fingertips of professionals working to strengthen and build sustainable community change efforts, these and many more resources are available on CYFERnet.
Coping with Violence and National Tragedy
Author: CYFERNet Team, (14 more by this author)
Description: The primary role of parents is to protect children. Young children do not need to be told about traumatic events that they have no way of understanding. Here are some recommendations and resources to help children deal with violence and tragic events.
Cyberbullying: What Parents and Educators Can Do
Description: Both parents and educators who work with young people are concerned about the dangers of cyberbullying. In response to the national focus on these issues, CYFERnet continues to focus on cyberbullying and sexting—what parents and educators need to know and what they can do to help young people in their families, schools and communities.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: Recent national and world events has put the topic of death and dying in the headlines. Children and young people may be asking what the controversy is about and why related decisions are hard to make. The resources below support educators and families when addressing the topic of death and dying.
Description: How do youth become civically engaged? How can we encourage civic engagement and community involvement in public policy? Below are a few of the CYFERnet resources available on civic engagement and policy development . Use them to enhance deliberation and dialogue with the communities in which you live and serve.
Description: The number of girls engaging in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is growing, but they are not choosing STEM careers at a consistent rate. The gap may lie in whether they engage in science at an early age and whether they continue their engagement and interest as they move through the formal school system. The resources linked are strategies for engagement, model programs and curricula that support girls learning science in in-formal settings.
English-language Learners in the Classroom
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: This Research Spotlight looks at how schools struggle to find the best way to teach all subjects to English-language learners. The approaches suggested by the research range from including native-language teaching of science, math and other subjects to "sink or swim" in English.
Family Support in Times of Tragedy
Author: CYFERNet Team, (14 more by this author)
Description: Resources on CYFERnet that may be of assistance for those of you working with the children, families, survivors, and communities impacted by community /military shootings, violence and terrorism.
Description: For most Americans, holidays are a time of closeness, celebration, and indulgence in traditional foods. Others may struggle to provide enough basic food for their families. CYFERnet offers some food security resources as food for thought.
Getting Ready for School with Childhood Immunizations
Description: A litany of immunization facts, such as schedules and a child's perspective on immunization.
Getting Ready to Go Back to School
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: This resource focuses on strategies and tips to prepare children and their families for the start of the school year. Children need help from their parents and peers to get ready to succeed in school, and to develop lifelong, healthy habits. Prepare the children and youth in your life to succeed in school and in life!
Girls and Women's History Month
Description: resources for girls' academic and personal development.
Description: Children are born with an affinity for nature but safety concerns, a lack of outdoor play spaces, and increased time spent indoors with technology can limit chances for them to learn about and interact with the environment. Children who connect with nature become “active learners” and are more likely to become good stewards of the environment in the future. The resources listed include information on designing play spaces, activities to do with children, buying guides and a list of child-friendly websites about nature and the environment.
Description: Finding, selecting and preparing nutritious snacks is a challenge when junk food can be so attractive and prevalent. As parents and youth professionals, we have to ask “Are we helping our children to make healthy choices?” This resource has links to guide adults and youth in selecting healthy snacks, the fuel between meals.
Helping Families Take Control of Their Finances
Description: Many families may be experiencing financial stress in which they are struggling with reduced incomes. Or, they may need to examine their spending and budgeting in a fresh way to meet new circumstances. Extension contains many resources to help families take control of their finances.
Description: This research spotlight approaches the issue of sleep and adolescent development. Most high school students are sleep deprived because high school bell schedules are in conflict with teens' natural body rhythms. Some school districts have responded by moving first bells to after 8 a.m.
Description: Teens are among the most likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease. Learn more about STD prevention.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: The focus is on homework and how it helps children and youth succeed. With an ever increasing focus in our school placed on academic success the research shows that children doing homework are succeeding beyond their peers not doing homework.
Description: This Hot Topic contain useful information on teaching children to manage money. Links are provided to fact sheets, activity ideas, and managing money for the holidays.
Hot Topic: Ditching Distracted Driving
Description: This hot topic discusses distracted driving.
Hot Topic: Food Insecurity and Immigrant Children - Implications for Growth and Development
Description: This Hot Topic resource includes information and links to articles, data, and research related to food insecurity and it's impact on children.
Hot Topic: Fostering Inclusive Practice
Author: Guin, Autumn (3 more by this author)
Description: A CYFERnet hot topic page to support inclusive practice whether you are teaching children about inclusion, looking for training, working directly with under-served and vulnerable audiences, or simply searching for credible information.
Author: Guin, Autumn (3 more by this author)
Description: A CYFERnet hot topic page that offers links and resources related to voting.
Hot Topic: Spotlight on Local Foods
Author: Guin, Autumn (3 more by this author)
Description: A CYFERnet hot topic page that offers links and resources related to local foods.
Housing Crisis Affects Children and Families
Description: Resources that focus on housing’s effect on children identity, health, and school success.
Keeping Kids Active in the Winter Months
Description: This Hot Topic contain useful information on ways to help keep kids active in the winter months. Links are provided to fact sheets, activity ideas, research on physical activities and health, and curriculum ideas for groups of kids.
Description: Does your child struggle with learning? There are many children who do. If you feel your child is having difficulties with reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, or doing math it is important to have your child evaluated by a professional. An evaluation will identify any issues and allow supports to be put into place to help your child experience success.
Description: Because young children develop ideas about mathematics in the course of their day-to-day lives, it is important for adults to make the discovery of math easy, interesting, challenging, and fun. Math is everywhere. These resources will help teachers and parents understand what math concepts children are experimenting with and what they can do to support them.
Media in the Lives of Young Children
Description: This Hot Topic page provides information on media and young children. It includes
resources on how much time children are engaging with media, identifies potentially negative impacts of media use, highlights educational use of media, and gives helpful suggestions for parents to use when making decisions and supervising children using various media.
Media Violence: TV, Music and Print
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: CYFERnet has many resources available to help professionals and parents understand the power of the media as a societal influence; to help facilitate discussion between adults and children about the messages children see and hear; and to help create programs that reduce children's exposure to media violence.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: January is National Mentoring Month. This resource will connect you to information on the important role mentoring plays in the lives of youth and with mentoring activities and programs.
Native American Heritage Month
Description: Since 1994, Native American Heritage Month has been celebrated in November. CYFERnet links to a variety of websites which provide activities, lesson plans, and information about Native American Heritage. In addition, listed below are links to Native American organizations and Extension programs and resources.
Description: School connectedness is a key factor in positive youth development. The Centers for Disease Control has released a report entitled School Connectedness-Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth (PDF) amid increasing dialogue about the importance of "school connectedness" and continuing focus on the role of parental involvement in school success.
Author: Dunham, Trudy (32 more by this author)
Description: Brief overview of new research on popcorn and healthy eating, with links to the research, and suggestions about how you can include popcorn as a healthy snack in your programs for youth and family
Description: Prevention strategies, research-based overviews, and other information to help communities connect with youth to prevent school violence.
Description: Healthy nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are of concern to parents, caregivers, afterschool staff, teachers . . . everyone. We've heard about the concerns that the current generation of children will be the risk to not live as long as their parents due to childhood obesity. Learn about programs and info that can impact a child for life!
Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: This month's Hot Topic focuses on what to look for in a child care setting for infants and toddlers, as well as some information on what "quality child care" is and what it means. CYFERnet has many great resources for parents to use in their search for quality child care for their infant or toddler.
Ready or Not - Emergency Preparedness
Description: Are you ready for an emergency? Planning ahead can often save lives when disaster arrives unexpectedly.
This Hot Topic focused on resources to help individuals, families and communities prepare for emergencies.
Research Spotlight: Social Trust and Democracy
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Constance Flanagan of Penn State argues that democracies work better when people have trust in civic organizations. How do we build civic trust among youth?
Resources for Disaster Preparation and Response
Description: Below are some resources on CYFERnet that might be useful for you in your work with communities, youth, and families struggling to cope with effects of natural disasters.
Includes resources for Community Disaster Response, for working with Children, and resources in Spanish
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: Obesity in kids is now epidemic in the United States. The number of overweight children (ages 6-11) has almost quadrupled in the past four decades and for adolescents (12-19) has tripled. Explore websites to learn what you can do as an individual or community to address the obesity problem
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: Don't let the hustle and bustle of the holidays overwhelm you. And don't miss precious opportunities to connect with family members, loved ones and friends during this special time of the year. Check out some ideas for "Sane Celebrations" and find ways to really enjoy this holiday season with less stress.
Description: Keep warm this winter and save money at the same time by conserving energy. There are simple ways to reduce energy use and save money by focusing on changing a few energy-use behaviors at home. Extension has many resources and ways to learn.
School Readiness Begins with Babies Brain Development - Current Research
Description: By age two, structures in the brain that influence how children will learn have already been created. Brain structure is shaped, either positively or negatively, by a baby's day-to-day interactions with those who principally provide the child's care. Current brain research has highlighted the importance of infant and toddler development on "readiness" and ability to succeed in school. These resources provide information for parents and caregivers on infant and toddler development.
Description: Amid the increasing dialogue about the importance of “school connectedness” as a key factor in school success, parent educators continue to stress the need to establish the foundation for academic success long before a child evens steps foot in school—at home. With the start of a new school year, the CYFERnet Parent/Family Editorial Board focused this Hot Topic on some of resources available through CYFERnet on the importance of parent involvement in their children’s education—from making time for family meals to the growing homeschooling movement.
September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
Description: September 11 has been designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. To mark the 10-year anniversary of the attack, millions of Americans will participate in community service efforts to honor the sacrifice of those who were lost and pay tribute to those who rose in response, as well as those military families who continue to serve our country. These CYFERnet resources provide research-based information to help parents and others talk with children about the difficult issues and feelings raised by the 9/11 anniversary.
Description: Families are suffering, jobs are scarce, budgets across the nation are beyond stretched, and the stress this puts on vulnerable communities, youth, and families continues to take its toll. Here at CYFERnet, we want to let everyone know that we are keeping up with the news and we have resources available. Here are a few of the resources on CYFERnet that relate to the current financial situation. There are many more available on the CYFERnet database that may be of use to those working with families who are coping with these difficult financial times.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: Suicide Prevention Week was observed September 10-16, 2006 and World Suicide Prevention Day was September 10, 2006. Over 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year and many more attempt suicide. For Americans between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students in the United States. CYFERnet offers many suicide prevention resources.
Summertime Safety with Children
Description: During the warm summer months, children are involved in many physical activities. It is up to adults to identify potential hazards and act with safety in mind - to make changes to the environment, avoid hazards, and set rules for youth to follow. Read this month's Hot Topic for resources on: sun protection, heat stress, water safety, the hazards of insects, playground safety, safety on bicycles and other wheeled vehicles, and car and bus safety.
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: This research spotlight addresses the issues of program sustainability. Researchers Lydia Marek and Jay Mancini of Virginia Tech have found that CYFAR programs are usually sustained beyond their fifth year of funding. They have developed a list of qualities that make a program sustainable.
The Family Connection to Good Nutrition and Raising Healthy Children
Description: Understanding the importance of family meals and the inverse relationship between families eating together and childhood obesity.
Tips for Raising Healthy Children
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: This particular Hot Topic focuses on nutrition and healthy eating for children and youth. Through the Family Album Radio, CYFERnet is linking to audio clips and accompany scripts on snacking, nutrition, and obesity prevention in children and youth.
Description: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth often encounter numerous difficulties living in this heterosexist society.
Description: The increase in youth technology use in recent years can be viewed both positively and negatively. Youth can put themselves at risk using the internet and cell phones. However, these technologies also provide unique and effective ways for programs to reach youth. The following CYFERnet resources provide a variety of information and resources about youth and technology.
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Hot Topic: Another Look at Apple Juice
Author: Wright Hirsch, Diane
Description: This hot topic article addresses the question, "Is apple juice safe to drink, especially for toddlers and preschoolers?" Health professionals and consumer groups are concerned that arsenic, a (sometimes) hazardous chemical element, is showing up in apple juice. A number of recent studies have shown that apple juice is a source of arsenic. These small studies have been supported by a study conducted by Consumer Reports for an article that appears in the January 2012 magazine. Consumer Reports tested 88 samples of 19 brands of apple and grape juices. Ten per cent of the samples from five of the brands had total arsenic levels above federal drinking water standards.
Hot Topic: Digging Deeper into Cyberbullying
Description: This hot topic discusses cyberbullying and provides a list of resources on the topic.
Hot Topic: Expanding Learning Opportunities
Author: Reilly, Jackie (8 more by this author)
Description: There is a movement among afterschool programs and their supporters that you may be interested in. "Expanded learning opportunities" is a means to make the most of the out-of-school-time for youth of all ages. Positive, engaged learning in afterschool has shown tremendous potential to provide rich, hands-on learning experiences and make an impact on youth skills, abilities and success in school and life. Learn more at the links provided including The Expanded Learning & Afterschool Project: Affordable, Sustainable Approaches Powered by School-Community Partnerships.
Hot Topic: Native American Heritage Month
Description: Since 1994, Native American Heritage Month has been celebrated in November. CYFERnet links to a variety of websites which provide activities, lesson plans, and information about Native American Heritage. In addition, listed below are links to Native American organizations and Extension programs and resources.
Hot Topic: Understanding and Coping with Mental Illness
Author: Evans, William
Description: With the recent shooting tragedies that have rocked our nation, a conversation about how to meet and support mental health needs has emerged. This is a societal issue that touches all ages and families. Parents and families that have children and members with mental health problems often must overcome a list of concerns before they secure help. But understanding a problem exists and securing support is critical. Stigma, access to support and resources, and costs are all obstacles for those with family members or friends suffering from mental illness. It is often painful for family members to realize someone close to them is sick. But admitting there is a problem and overcoming the discomfort of seeking help is the initial step. Resources do exist to help those suffering from mental illness and who may be a threat to themselves or others. With the goal of putting information at the fingertips of those trying to support those suffering from mental illness, the CYFERnet team recommends the following resources.
Resource Spotlight: CYFAR Evaluation Community of Practice
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: A new online community of practice brings the CYFERnet evaluation team and program staff involved in evaluation. Discussions expand on webinars and other resources from Extension and within CYFERnet.
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In Pursuit of Effective Best Practices for Out of School Time
Author: Granger, Robert (1 more by this author)
Description: Why do some out-of-school programs improve youth outcomes while others do not? What practices seem to make a difference? What are the implications for improving program quality? Bob Granger discusses what is known about these questions, drawing on research in K-12 education, mentoring, and after-school.
Resource Spotlight: CYFAR Evaluation Community of Practice
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: A new online community of practice brings the CYFERnet evaluation team and program staff involved in evaluation. Discussions expand on webinars and other resources from Extension and within CYFERnet.
Description: This special Hot Topic highlights resources on what those who work with children need to know in order to recognize abuse, respond to it, and hopefully prevent it. Above all, this Hot Topic reminds us to speak out, report suspected abuse and protect the children in our care.
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Description: Community and school gardens have grown in popularity during the past few years due to tough economic times as well as an increased interest in eating local and organic food. Community gardens can not only provide participants with fresh produce, but also promote interaction among participants, beautify neighborhoods, maintain green space in neighborhoods, and provide numerous other benefits. Community gardens are a useful way to educate children about food and provide opportunities for science activities. Food and horticulture science activities can engage children’s interest in science and also promote healthy eating. The following resources contain ideas and activities to help get you started.
Helping Families and Communities Prevent Child Abuse
Author: Mead, June (7 more by this author)
Description: This archived Hot Topic features CYFERnet strength-based resources for helping prevent child abuse.
Helping Families Fight Childhood Obesity
Author: Mead, June (7 more by this author)
Description: Numerous CYFERnet resources support program staff supporting the critical role that parents play in helping their children be healthy and fit.
Author: CYFERnet Program Editors, (12 more by this author)
Description: This resources offers activities and ideas that encourage youth and their families to discover new indoor hobbies. These hobbies could be games, crafts, websites. . .the list goes on.
Research Spotlight: Exergames and Youth Obesity
Description: Video games take a lot of the blame for youth obesity, but some video games exercise more than thumbs, and may even help to reduce obesity among gamers. A study at New Mexico State University hopes to discover how best to use exergames, as they are called, to promote physical activity.
Science and Psychology of Responding to Natural and Environmental Disasters
Description: There are a number of recent natural and environmental events in the news. There are wildfires and earthquakes in the western U.S., tornados in the mid-west region and the hurricane season is here. As our nation responds it is important to help children and youth understand what is happening. These featured resources help children and youth understand the science behind the events and how to prepare for such events.
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Description: The high school dropout crisis in the United States is a problem with far-reaching economic and social effects, not only for the individuals who dropout, but also for society. The national graduation rate in 2009 is estimated at 69%, however there are significant differences among youth ethnic groups. The National Dropout Prevention Center has identified 15 effective strategies for dropout prevention applicable to community organizations and programs; that work is discussed here.
Description: This Research Spotlight reviews the research on how to keep youth interested in programs once they enter high school. Connecting with youth before they are teenagers, a flexible, drop-in schedule and taking friendships into account are a few of the ways, according to one study. Others recommend ways to get youth involved in civic life.
Author: Dunham, Trudy (32 more by this author)
Description: Most people today rely on the Internet for information and as a research tool. We have assumed that the best resources - the most relevant or authoritative, those most representative of what is going on today - are going to show up on page one of the search results. We have assumed that the search I conduct will result in the same result as the search that you conduct. New algorithms are tailoring search results to our past behavior, resulting in our being shown what the tool thinks we want to see, rather than a more objective list of what is available on the topic. Includes references to help you understand and think through the implications of these algorithms for our use of the Internet
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author); Marcelo Suarez-Orozco
Description: This research spotlight focuses on why issues of immigration and education. "Immigration is the face of globalization", according to researcher and author Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, and significant percentages of immigrants to the US and most other first-world countries are failing to get an adequate education to enter the workforce. Many are instead being incarcerated. Why is education failing so many? That should be the question we are all asking, Suarez-Orozco says.
Research Spotlight: Apprenticeship and Authentic Learning
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: One researcher argues that apprenticeship fits well with youth development not because it teaches workforce preparedness, but because it offers an authentic learning experience.
Research Spotlight: Deliberative Dialogue
Description: Deliberative dialogue forums bring a diverse group of citizens together to explore a problem from several vantage points. After 20 years of conducting participatory research, Barbara Brown has become an expert on deliberative dialogue and its role in community building. CYFERnet interviews her on the topic.
Research Spotlight: Financial Literacy
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Americans save little and borrow much. Parents and caregivers who have poor money management skills are modeling risky money management behaviors for their children, who may repeat the cycle, beginning with the debt that often accrues during the college years. Low-income families face additional risks from predatory lenders.
Research Spotlight: Make Time For Free Play
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Having time for unstructured play is important for child development. Free play helps to develop executive function, which regulates self-control in later life. It also fosters creative thinking, which some think will become even more important for tomorrow's jobs.
Research Spotlight: POEMS Assessment Tool
Description: POEMS is designed to provide direction to teachers and administrators who want to offer high-quality programs to preschool children when they are outdoors. Includes a user guide, a scale and scoring protocol, reliability and validity information, and a technical assistance manual for program improvement and planning.
Research Spotlight: Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Prevention programs can effectively reduce the incidence of shaken baby syndrome. The main trigger is crying, and prevention is crucial, since a large percentage of victims die or suffer permanent brain damage.
Research Spotlight: Regular Family Dinners Offer Benefits to Modern Families
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Research shows that regular family mealtimes have benefits for youth beyond good nutrition. According to several studies, they are less often to have risky behaviors, disordered eating, and their grades are better in school.
Research Spotlight: Words Can Hurt, Too -- Another Kind of Bullying
Author: Nordby, Ann (24 more by this author)
Description: Behaviors such as snubbing, exclusion, spreading lies about someone and other relational aggression are more common among girls. Dr. Nicki Crick of the University of Minnesota has led ground-breaking, broad research on the behavior, establishing it as a form of aggression as common as physical aggression among boys.
Author: Dunham, Trudy (4 more by this author)
Description: It's a classic scene: the bully shoves the victim. The surrounding crowd does nothing. This is the bystander effect in action. Why does no one intervene to stop the violence? Decades of social psychology research suggests the answer is a diffusion of responsibility. But what about the case where the victim and bystanders know the bully? In the school, workplace, and community, the bystander co-creates the social context that allows the bullying behavior to flourish. This brief review of the research includes strategies for changing the social context, and hopefully ending the bullying behavior.
The Impact of School Breakfast Programs
Author: Dunham, Trudy (32 more by this author)
Description: For a variety of reasons, many children go to school without having eaten breakfast and by late morning hunger can become a problem with lasting effects. This review of research on school breakfast programs discusses the issues and impacts with such programs.
Description: Our society holds many fears, attitudes and beliefs about youth that are myths: myths of declining morals and outcomes. This synthesis of a review on the attitudes of adults toward teens and children debunks many of these myths.
Videophilia, A new Kind of Childhood
Description: This research spotlight notes that a number of researchers describe the decrease in the amount of time today's youth spend in direct contact with nature. They say that time spent outdoors helps children to develop decision-making skills, be physically active and calmer. Videophilia is the orientation toward electronic media, as opposed to biophilia, an orientation toward humans and other animals.
Author: Dunham, Trudy (32 more by this author)
Description: We worry about sexting by minors. What it says about their sexual and relationship health. The short and long term effects sexually explicit photographs distributed by cell phone or posted online can have on their lives. While we should continue to worry and do what we can to prevent such behavior, a new national study suggests that the behavior is significantly less prevalent than was previously estimated. This brief reviews the new research findings and recommends actions by parents and youth workers to further prevent this behavior.
“Making the Best Even Better: Searchable Database of 4-H Graduate Studies
Description: The AgNIC Youth Development website is a cooperative project between The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences and the Life Sciences Library. It includes over 1700 theses based on research involving 4-H.