[Source: Psych Central]

Infants who are more responsive to the emotion of fear in another person's face tend to become more altruistic toddlers, according to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

Altruistic behavior, such as helping a stranger in need, is considered a key feature of cooperation in human societies. Yet our tendency to engage in compassionate, selfless behaviors varies considerably in our society, ranging from extraordinarily altruistic kidney donors to highly antisocial psychopaths.

[Source: Disability Scoop]

When the music flips on, something electric strikes 14-year-old Nick Motlomelo's long limbs. His hips swivel, his body bends, his shoulders shimmy.

Sometimes the magic happens on cue, in sync with the rest of the performers putting on a special version of "Annie Jr." And when it doesn't, 13-year-old classmate and mentor Liliana Becker is there to help Nick, who has Down syndrome, get to the right spot on stage and remember that he's part of a bigger group.

[Source:  Science Daily]

Adolescents require 8-10 hours of sleep at night for optimal health, according to sleep experts, yet more than 70 percent of high school students get less than that. Previous studies have demonstrated that insufficient sleep in youth can result in learning difficulties, impaired judgment, and risk of adverse health behaviors. In a new study, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital examined a national data sample of risk-taking behaviors and sleep duration self-reported by high school students over eight years and found an association between sleep duration and personal safety risk-taking actions. Results are published in a JAMA Pediatrics research letter on October 1.

Source: Science Daily]

Songbirds learn to sing in a way similar to how humans learn to speak - by listening to their fathers and trying to duplicate the sounds. The bird's brain sends commands to the vocal muscles to sing what it hears, and then the brain keeps trying to adjust the command until the sound echoes the one made by the parent.

[Pre-K Pages]

Patterning skills develop as preschoolers have experiences with patterns in different ways. Identifying patterns, noticing similarities and differences, and creating repeating patterns are important skills for math and literacy development. These activities can help your preschoolers develop these important skills.