Researchers Illustrate How Caregiver Speech Shapes Infant Brain |
Dr. Meghan Swanson, CCF faculty affiliate and assistant professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, is the corresponding author of a new study uncovering some of the most conclusive evidence yet that parents who talk more to their infants improve their babies' brain development. “This paper is a step toward understanding why children who hear more words go on to have better language skills and what process facilitates that mechanism,” Swanson said. “Ours is one of two new papers that are the first to show links between caregiver speech and how the brain’s white matter develops.” Read more...
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REU Students Develop Research Projects |
Combining their experiences in CCF's Play With Me program, research mentoring from CCF faculty affiliates, and their own life experiences, our REU students are now conducting culturally-responsive research in different areas of developmental science. This includes understanding the impact of sibling language input on the language outcomes of preschool children from Spanish-dominant homes, the effects of positive parenting strategies on children's belongingness to their ethnic group and school environment, how Latine parents' use of calm authority facilitates the language development of their autistic children, and more! Read a summary of the research projects here. And join us on Friday July 28 at UT Dallas for a final presentation of these projects at the Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research event! |
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CCF Partners with Active Playful Learning Project |
CCF director Dr. Margaret Owen is partnering with SMU’s Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE), in a new five-year study to support active, engaged, socially interactive and joyful classrooms in schools. Under the overall leadership of Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of Temple University, the LEGO Foundation is funding this five-year, $19.98 million initiative to work with school districts in four different states to support a way of teaching children that is culturally inclusive, builds on how human brains learn, and prepares pre-K through fourth grade students with the skills they need to thrive. Owen is leading the family engagement side of the initiative at the Dallas site. Read more...
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CCF Receives Local Foundation Support for Outreach Programming |
CCF is pleased to announce the receipt of two local foundation grants for support of our outreach programming. The Rees-Jones Foundation awarded us $125,000 over two years to support the expansion of our Grow With Me and Play With Me programs. The grant will provide an additional staff member to increase the amount of developmental screenings, referrals, and support for early intervention services provided to at-risk Dallas area children. CCF also received a one year, $30,000 grant from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation for the expansion of our Play With Me program in Pleasant Grove. In addition to supporting at-risk children and families, the expansion of CCF outreach programs will also support additional research and student training opportunities.
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Play With Me Family Event Celebrates Fathers |
Past and present families served by CCF gathered in the Bert S. Moore Memorial Courtyard at UT Dallas to celebrate fathers at our annual family celebration. Children and parents enjoyed games, arts & crafts, food, a bounce house, a 'car wash', and more! UT Dallas research labs and community agencies provided activities and information for families. Thank you to all who participated and to our many sponsors! See a video of the event here.
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We are so excited to announce receipt of grants from the Rees-Jones and King Foundations in support of the Center’s outreach services and accompanying research. The grants add needed staff for expansion of our programming and study of program impacts for children and families. They also help to support more opportunities for training of students and research with underserved populations. At CCF, investment in children and families is an impact multiplier, changing the way developmental science is studied, conducted, and disseminated. Thank you to all who continue to support us.
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