From Co-regulation to Self-regulation
Early interactions between an infant and its caregivers are crucial in guiding the infant’s development to a more independent, self-regulatory individual. In the first months after birth, fluctuations in an infant’s arousal states are mainly balanced by a dynamic interplay between the caregiver’s and the infant’s state, so called “co-regulation”. Here, caregivers are required to […]
Project shyness
Shyness is very common among young children and it has important consequences for children’s social life. It is, therefore, important to understand how shyness develops and what social functions it serves. In the Project Shyness, we run several studies to better understand the development of shyness from infancy to childhood, what role parents play in […]
How to raise confident teens? (And why is it important?)
Parenting a teenager is not easy, but neither is being a teenager itself. Adolescence is a period of many challenges. One’s body begins to mature and becomes more adult-like, first romantic experiences take place, close friendships form, new hobbies develop, and many more changes occur. While on one hand, adolescents strive for autonomy from their […]
Parenting the Pooh Way: Encouraging the Shy Child
In the heart of the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet teach us a valuable lesson about how children may overcome their shyness. Their friendship captures the essence of what parents may want to know. With his kind heart and his gentle words, Winnie encourages and supports Piglet to overcome his shyness and fears. But […]
Small self, big heart
How can children become kinder and more generous versions of themselves? As the world is becoming increasingly individualistic, nurturing prosociality is one of the major challenges for parents and teachers around the world. Our research shows that finding moments of awe can help children to feel more relaxed and able to set aside their own […]
Parent mind-mindedness can boost children’s self-regulation
By becoming more attuned to their child’s mental states early in development, both fathers and mothers can help their child develop self-regulation. What is mind-mindedness? I have vivid memories of the first weeks of motherhood, feeling anxious and confused about why my baby was crying. I wondered: Why is she crying? How is she feeling? […]
