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This Is Parenting, 4601 Broadway, Idabel, OK (2026)

06/08/2026

Grandparents do far more than spoil grandchildren.

Research suggests they can play a powerful role in a child's emotional development.

Studies on child wellbeing have found that children who maintain strong relationships with their grandparents often show better emotional resilience, stronger social skills, and lower levels of emotional distress.

One reason may be what researchers call the "buffer effect."

Harvard's Center on the Developing Child has highlighted how stable, supportive relationships help protect children from the harmful effects of stress. When children have caring adults they can trust, their nervous systems are better able to regulate during difficult experiences.

Grandparents often provide exactly that kind of support.

They offer extra emotional security, patience, encouragement, and a sense of belonging that children can carry with them throughout life.

Research has linked strong grandparent relationships with outcomes such as lower depression risk, calmer stress responses, and higher levels of empathy and emotional understanding.

These benefits aren't necessarily created through grand gestures.

They're built through simple, repeated moments.

Sharing stories.

Listening without judgment.

Offering comfort.

Passing down traditions.

Making children feel loved and valued.

For many children, grandparents become another safe place in the world.

And the more supportive relationships a child has, the stronger that protective network becomes.

Of course, every family is different, and healthy development can happen in many family structures.

But the research points to a simple truth:

Children thrive when they have more caring adults in their corner.

Sometimes a grandparent's greatest gift isn't what they give.

It's the steady presence they provide.

Source: Harvard Center on the Developing Child; research on supportive adult relationships, resilience, emotional development, and child wellbeing.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or psychological advice. Child development is influenced by many factors, and healthy outcomes can occur in a wide variety of family structures and caregiving arrangements.

06/08/2026

Children learn what home feels like long before they understand what home means.

It's learned in everyday moments.

Being comforted when they're upset.

Feeling safe enough to make mistakes.

Knowing someone will listen when they're scared.

Trusting that love doesn't disappear after a bad day.

Research in attachment and child development shows that early experiences help shape a child's internal blueprint for relationships. Through thousands of daily interactions, children develop expectations about love, trust, conflict, communication, and emotional safety.

These expectations often follow them into adulthood.

Children who consistently experience warmth, security, and emotional connection are more likely to develop secure attachment patterns. As adults, they often find it easier to build healthy relationships, communicate openly, trust others, and create stable family environments of their own.

That doesn't mean childhood guarantees the future.

People from difficult homes can build beautiful lives.

People from loving homes still face challenges.

But early experiences matter because they become the first model of what relationships look and feel like.

A child raised in a home where they feel valued learns that respect is normal.

A child raised in a home where emotions are welcomed learns that vulnerability is safe.

A child raised in a home filled with connection often carries that blueprint forward.

Parents sometimes worry that the little moments don't matter.

The bedtime stories.

The hugs.

The conversations.

The apologies.

The reassurance.

But those moments are often the building blocks of the home a child may one day create for someone else.

Because children don't just grow up in a home.

A part of that home grows up inside them.

Source: Research on attachment theory, child development, family relationships, and intergenerational patterns.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not professional parenting or psychological advice. Childhood experiences influence development but do not determine a person's future, and healthy relationships can be built at any stage of life.

06/08/2026

For years, the conversation around pregnancy has focused on what mothers lose.

Energy.
Sleep.
Time.
Physical comfort.

And while pregnancy is undeniably demanding, researchers are increasingly studying another side of the story:

How the body adapts and becomes stronger.

Pregnancy triggers one of the most remarkable biological transformations in human life. A woman's heart pumps significantly more blood, blood volume expands dramatically, and nearly every major organ system adjusts to support both mother and baby.

Some of these changes don't simply disappear after birth.

Research suggests pregnancy can leave behind long-term adaptations in the cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic systems. Scientists have also studied a phenomenon called fetal microchimerism, where a small number of fetal cells remain in the mother's body for years or even decades after pregnancy.

These cells have been found in multiple organs, including the skin, liver, lungs, and heart, where researchers continue investigating their potential role in tissue repair and healing.

Pregnancy also appears to reshape the brain.

Brain imaging studies have found changes in regions involved in empathy, emotional processing, bonding, and social awareness. Many researchers believe these adaptations help mothers become more responsive to their children's needs.

None of this means pregnancy is easy.

Nor does it mean every woman experiences pregnancy the same way.

Pregnancy can involve serious challenges, complications, and lasting physical effects.

But the science increasingly shows that the story is more complex than "pregnancy ruins your body."

The body isn't simply enduring pregnancy.

It's adapting to it.

Creating life requires one of the most extraordinary biological transformations humans experience, and many of those changes reflect not just sacrifice, but remarkable strength.

Source: Research on maternal physiology, fetal microchimerism, pregnancy-related cardiovascular adaptations, and maternal brain development.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Pregnancy experiences vary greatly between individuals. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals regarding pregnancy, postpartum health, and medical concerns.

06/08/2026

Ask adults about their favorite childhood memories and a surprising number will tell the same kind of story.

A family road trip.

A beach vacation.

A theme park adventure.

A weekend away that seemed ordinary at the time but somehow stayed with them for decades.

Research suggests there may be a reason for that.

Studies on autobiographical memory have found that experiences between the ages of 5 and 10 are especially likely to become lasting childhood memories. During these years, children are old enough to understand what's happening around them, but young enough to experience new places with a sense of wonder, excitement, and imagination.

Family vacations combine several ingredients that help memories stick.

They're emotionally meaningful.

They're different from everyday routines.

They're filled with novelty, new sights, new foods, new places, and shared experiences.

Neuroscientists have long known that the brain is more likely to store memories when emotion and novelty occur together. That's why children may forget dozens of ordinary school days but vividly remember a single family trip years later.

And it isn't always the expensive parts that matter most.

Many adults remember simple moments:

Sharing snacks during a long drive.

Watching a sunset with family.

Laughing in a hotel room.

Swimming until sunset.

Feeling close to the people they loved.

What children often remember isn't the destination.

It's how the experience felt.

The takeaway isn't that parents need extravagant vacations.

It's that shared experiences create memories that can last a lifetime.

Sometimes a few days spent together become stories children carry for the rest of their lives.

Source: Research on autobiographical memory, childhood development, memory formation, and family experiences.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Childhood memories are shaped by many factors, and meaningful family experiences can happen both at home and away from it.

06/07/2026

Every parent knows the moment.

Dinner needs to be cooked.
Laundry needs to be finished.
A work call needs attention.

So the TV goes on for "just 20 minutes."

It feels harmless.

And in moderation, screen time is not automatically harmful.

But child development researchers have raised a different concern: what children learn to do when they're bored.

Studies on attention, creativity, and independent play suggest that boredom serves an important developmental purpose. When children aren't immediately entertained, their brains begin searching for something to do.

They build.
Imagine.
Explore.
Create games.
Invent stories.

Those moments strengthen curiosity, problem-solving, patience, and self-directed play.

Screens change that process.

Instead of asking, "What can I create?" the brain gets an immediate answer from an external source.

Over time, some researchers believe children can become less practiced at generating their own entertainment because entertainment is consistently provided for them.

The concern isn't a single cartoon or occasional screen use.

It's the pattern.

When every quiet moment is filled with stimulation, children get fewer opportunities to exercise the mental muscles responsible for creativity, imagination, and sustained attention.

Ironically, the complaint many parents hear most often—

"I'm bored."

—is often the starting point of the very skills they want their children to develop.

Independent play.
Patience.
Creativity.
Resourcefulness.

Children don't develop these abilities because they're constantly entertained.

They develop them because they sometimes have to figure things out for themselves.

The goal isn't eliminating screens.

It's making sure screens don't replace the boredom that teaches children how to create.

Source: Research on child development, creativity, boredom, attention, independent play, and screen use.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or professional parenting advice. Healthy screen use depends on age, content quality, family context, and overall balance in a child's daily life.

06/07/2026

For years, many parents were taught that keeping children constantly clean was the healthiest approach. Wash hands immediately, avoid mud, stay away from germs, and sanitize everything possible. Cleanliness absolutely matters, especially around harmful bacteria and illness, but modern research suggests the immune system also needs safe exposure to the natural world in order to develop properly.

Soil, grass, plants, and outdoor environments contain countless microorganisms that help train a child’s developing immune system. Through regular interaction with nature, the body gradually learns how to recognize threats, regulate inflammation, and respond appropriately instead of overreacting.

Researchers studying the “hygiene hypothesis” and immune development have observed that extremely low exposure to common environmental microbes during childhood may be associated with higher rates of allergies, asthma, and some inflammatory conditions. The concern is not normal cleanliness. It is environments that become so sterile the immune system has fewer opportunities to learn and adapt naturally.

That instinct children have to dig in the dirt, explore outside, collect rocks, or run barefoot through grass is not simply messy behavior. In many cases, it reflects normal developmental curiosity and interaction with the environment their biology evolved around.

A little dirt is often far less dangerous than many parents were taught to believe.

Source: Immunology and childhood development research related to the hygiene hypothesis, microbiome science, and immune system development.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and simplifies complex immunology research. Safe hygiene practices remain important, and parents should still protect children from genuinely unsafe or contaminated environments.

06/07/2026

Few phrases make parents react faster than:

"I'm bored."

The instinct is immediate.

Suggest an activity.
Turn on a show.
Offer a toy.
Plan something fun.

But creativity research suggests boredom may be doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

Studies have found that periods of low stimulation encourage children to create their own entertainment rather than rely on entertainment being provided for them.

When there is nothing obvious to do, the brain starts looking for something.

A blanket becomes a fort.

A cardboard box becomes a spaceship.

A stick becomes a magic wand.

What looks like "nothing happening" is often the beginning of imaginative play.

Researchers believe boredom helps activate the brain's default mode network, a system associated with imagination, daydreaming, reflection, and creative thinking.

This is one reason unstructured time can produce forms of creativity that highly organized activities often cannot.

Structured activities have value.

Sports teach teamwork.
Lessons build skills.
Clubs create opportunities.

But they also provide instructions.

Boredom requires children to generate their own ideas.

That process exercises independence, problem-solving, and imagination.

Of course, there is a difference between temporary boredom and chronic disengagement.

Research suggests occasional boredom can be beneficial, while persistent boredom may signal that a child needs additional support, stimulation, or connection.

The takeaway isn't that parents should never help.

It's that boredom doesn't always need rescuing.

Sometimes the most creative part of a child's day begins right after they say:

"There's nothing to do."

Source: Does Being Bored Make Us More Creative? (2014); Boredom as the Originator of a Desideratum (2023).

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not professional parenting or child development advice. Always consult a qualified professional for specific concerns about a child's wellbeing or development.

06/07/2026

Most parents hear siblings arguing and assume something has gone wrong.

Research suggests that, in many cases, something important is actually happening.

The sibling relationship is one of the longest and most influential relationships a child will ever have. Unlike friendships, siblings don't get to walk away after disagreements. They have to negotiate, compromise, repair, forgive, and try again.

That's why researchers have become increasingly interested in what sibling conflict teaches children.

Studies following children across development consistently find that sibling relationships help shape social skills, emotional understanding, conflict resolution, empathy, and relationship skills that children later use with friends, classmates, partners, and coworkers.

The surprising part is that conflict itself isn't the problem.

In healthy sibling relationships, disagreements create opportunities to practice emotional regulation, perspective-taking, negotiation, and problem-solving.

The key factor is warmth.

Research repeatedly finds that sibling conflict paired with warmth and affection is associated with positive social development. But when conflict exists without warmth, support, or connection, the risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties increases significantly.

In other words, brothers and sisters don't need to get along all the time.

They need a relationship strong enough to survive the fights.

Every argument over toys, bedrooms, attention, rules, or fairness can become practice for the social challenges children will face throughout life.

That doesn't mean parents should ignore harmful behavior or allow constant hostility.

But it does mean that occasional conflict between siblings is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong.

Sometimes it's evidence that children are learning how relationships work.

The goal isn't raising siblings who never fight.

It's raising siblings who learn how to reconnect after they do.

Source: Illuminating the Landscape of Sibling Relationship Quality: An Evidence and Gap Map; The Influence of Sibling Relationship Quality on Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning; The Third Rail of Family Systems: Sibling Relationships, Mental and Behavioral Health, and Preventive Intervention.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not professional parenting or child development advice. Always consult qualified professionals for concerns about a child's wellbeing or family relationships.

06/07/2026

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in childhood, affecting roughly 1 in 12 children before age 18.

The challenge is that childhood anxiety rarely looks the way most parents expect.

It often shows up as anger.
Perfectionism.
Avoidance.
Clinginess.
Constant reassurance-seeking.
Or a child who refuses to do things they were once comfortable doing.

Research has identified several strategies that consistently help anxious children over time.

One of the most important is reducing family accommodation.

Accommodation happens when parents repeatedly remove the source of anxiety to prevent distress. It might mean speaking for a child, allowing them to avoid feared situations, or constantly providing reassurance.

While it brings short-term relief, studies show it can unintentionally strengthen anxiety over time.

Instead, researchers recommend communicating calm confidence in a child's ability to cope while providing support as they face challenges gradually.

This approach is backed by a 2020 randomized controlled trial that found a parent-based treatment produced results equivalent to standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered directly to the child.

The goal is not to eliminate anxiety.

The goal is to help children learn that anxiety can be tolerated, managed, and overcome.

Research also highlights other helpful strategies:

• Stay calm during anxious moments
• Validate feelings without reinforcing fears
• Encourage gradual exposure instead of avoidance
• Model healthy coping skills
• Reduce excessive reassurance
• Focus on confidence-building rather than comfort alone

The most effective message parents can send is not:

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

It's:

"I know this feels hard, and I believe you can handle it."

That belief often becomes the foundation children build their confidence on.

Source: Parent-Based Treatment as Efficacious as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety (2020); research on family accommodation, exposure, and childhood anxiety.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or professional parenting advice. Consult a qualified healthcare or mental health professional for concerns about a child's anxiety or wellbeing.

06/07/2026

What if picky eating starts long before a child's first bite of food?

Researchers at Durham University followed children from the womb through age three and found evidence that babies remember flavors they were exposed to during pregnancy.

Using 4D ultrasound scans and follow-up observations after birth, the researchers studied babies whose mothers regularly consumed carrot or kale during pregnancy. Years later, those children showed significantly fewer negative reactions to the smells of the same foods compared to children who had not been exposed to those flavors before birth.

The finding suggests that flavor learning may begin much earlier than scientists once thought.

During pregnancy, flavor compounds from foods can enter the amniotic fluid, giving the developing baby repeated exposure to tastes and smells long before their first meal. Researchers believe these experiences may create lasting sensory memories that influence how familiar or unfamiliar certain foods feel later in childhood.

This could be especially important for vegetables.

Foods like kale naturally contain bitter compounds that many young children initially reject. But the study suggests that repeated prenatal exposure may make these flavors feel more familiar, potentially reducing resistance when those foods are introduced after birth.

The research does not mean a mother can completely determine what her child will like or dislike. Food preferences are shaped by many factors, including genetics, repeated exposure, family eating habits, and environment.

However, the findings provide growing evidence that the journey toward healthy eating may begin before a baby is even born.

A mother's diet during pregnancy may be doing more than nourishing growth.

It may be giving her child their very first taste of the world.

Source: Reissland, N., et al. (2026). Young Children Have Long-Lasting Memories of Vegetable Smells Experienced in the Womb. Developmental Psychobiology, Durham University.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical or nutritional advice. Individual food preferences are influenced by many biological and environmental factors. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for pregnancy and nutrition guidance.

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