Mexican American toddlers lag in preliteracy skills, but not in their social skills, new study shows

The research team of  UC pediatricians and child development specialists, including Bruce Fuller,  found that Mexican American toddlers and preschoolers lag in preliteracy skills but not social skills.  For more information, click here. (In Spanish: click here.)

For Young Latino Readers, an Image Is Missing

"Young Lation children are several months behind in early 

language and preliteracy skills before entering kindergarten, relative to White peers, a new study details.  But the social skills and emotional maturity of Mexican-American children by 4 years of age is on part with White children, despite almost two-fifths growing up in poor families.  The paper will be published in December in the "Materinal and Child Health Jorunal,"  coauthored by Institute members and collaborating pediatricians at the UCLA medical school."

To read the full article in The New York Times, click here.

Early Growth of Mexican–American Children: Lagging in Preliteracy Skills but not Social Development

Kids don't have to wear lab coats to act like scientists

Alison Gopnik's work is featured in an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled "Preschoolers at play show science skills."  

To read more, click here.

Scientific Inquiry Among the Preschool Set

Prof. Alison Gopnik's research with preschool aged children has found that children behave like scientists by forming hypotheses, experimenting, and deciphering causal relationships.  Read more here.

Can babies read?

Anne Cunningham's research addresses the importance of early literacy  to "unlock an upward spiral of skills, achievement, positive attitudes, and willing practice."  Her work is addressed in the following Salon.com article:
Can babies read?

Mexican Moms Are More Nurturing Than White Ones, Study Finds

Bruce Fuller's research over a three-year period with Mexican-born, Chinese-born, and white native-born mothers found that Mexican-origin mothers were found to provide "warm and nurturing home settings," fewer arguments with spouses, and stronger mental health.

For more information, see:  Mexican Moms Are More Nurturing Than White Ones, Study Finds

Intense prep for the LSAT alters brain structure

Research conducted in Silvia Bunge's lab shows that intensive preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) actually changes the microscopic structure of the brain, physically bolstering the connections between areas of the brain important for reasoning. Read more about this research.

Raising Successful Children

Dr. Diana Baumrind's research on parenting styles is reviewed when examining how to raise successful, motivated children. Raising Successful Children

Professor Bruce Fuller's research found that strong achievement gains were made by children moving into newly constructed elementary schools. These gains were not found among high school students who moved from overcrowded facilities to new schools. For more information, see: New study links LA Unified’s new schools to elementary student performance benefits

Professor Steve Hinshaw's longitudinal study tracked a racially and socio-economically diverse group of girls with ADHD in the San Francisco Bay Area. A major finding from the research was that the girls diagnosed with ADHD during childhood were mor elikely to manifest self-injury and suicide attempts in early adulthood. For more information and a link to his article in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology see: Girls with ADHD more prone to self-injury, suicide as they enter adulthood

Q&A: Alison Gopnik on babies and learning

Professor Alison Gopnik, author of the best-selling book, “The Philosophical Baby,” is interviewed about her research about babies as "the best learners in the universe."
University of California Research Profiles, Alison Gopnik

NYT Magazine: Can You Make Yourself Smarter?

Professor Silvia Bunge's research is discussed in the New York Time Magazine article, Can You Make Yourself Smarter?

Tables turned: UC Berkeley researchers study kids to make computers smarter

Professor Alison Gopnik's research on how children reason and learn at the Harold E. Jones Child Study Center is featured in an article in the San Jose Mercury News: Tables turned: UC Berkeley researchers study kids to make computers smarter

Baby Brain May Hold Secret to Smarter Computers, Scientists Say

Professor Alison Gopnik (IHD member)and her colleagues have been researching the cognitive steps that babies, toddlers and preschoolers use to solve problems. Drawing from their research, they have been able to create blueprints into computational models.

For more information, click on the following link:
Baby Brainpower

Scientists tap the genius of babies and youngsters to make computers smarter

Prof. Alison Gopnik's and Prof. Fei Xu's research with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers on cognitive development to inform computational models is featured in the following article:
http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/03/12/babyeinsteins/

PNG puts its finger on mathematic

Professor Geoffrey Saxe, of the Graduate School of Education, explains the method of counting using the traditional numerical system, Oksapmin, in Papua New Guinea to Radio Australia's Pacific Beat.

Click here to read the article.

The Latino Gap: Preschool Helps, But Not Enough Are Enrolled

Research conducted by Professor Bruce Fuller and graduate student Anthony Kim has found that public programs are not keeping up with demand for enrollment of Latino kids in preschool.

For more information, click here.