Understanding Food Allergy Education Needs in Early Childhood Schools 

Fierstein, J.L., Chadha, A.S., Valaika, S.S., and Gupta, R.S. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (November 2019). 

Background: Food allergies affect 5.6 million children in the United States, including about 8% of pre-Kindergarten children. Children in early care and education programs are at a particularly high risk for allergic reactions due to cross-contamination of foods, label-reading errors, and accidental ingestion. Early childhood educators need to be trained in how to manage food allergy risks and respond to allergic reactions, but much of the training they receive is modified from trainings for school-age teachers. This study looks at how often early childhood educators manage food allergies and what they need from food allergy trainings.   

Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children Hutton, J.S., Dudley, J., Horowitz-Kraus, T., DeWitt, T., and Holland, S.K. JAMA Pediatrics (November 2019). 

Background: Many children under age 6 regularly spend time in front of TVs, computers and digital devices. Research shows that too much screen time at an early age can affect children’s behavior and cognitive development. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends limiting screen time, viewing along with adults, and accessing only educational, developmentally-appropriate content. This study looks at the connection between screen time and development in the parts of the brain responsible for language and literacy.  

Association of Seasonal Severity and Vaccine Effectiveness with Influenza Vaccination Rates in Children

Abraham, C., Chen, Q., Fan, W., Stockwell, M. Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics (November 2019).

Background: Childhood vaccination rates for the flu tend to be much lower than vaccination rates for other diseases. The percentage of children receiving the flu vaccine has dropped in recent years, despite efforts by doctors and the public health field to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. This study looks at the relationship between flu severity, flu vaccine effectiveness and parents’ decisions about whether to vaccinate their children. 

Association of WIC Participation and Growth and Developmental Outcomes in High-Risk Infants 

Lakshmanan, A., Song, A., Flores-Fenlon, N., Parti, U., Vanderbilt, D., Friedlich, P., Williams, R., Kipke, M. Clinical Pediatrics (October 2019). 

Background: Nutrition is critical for healthy brain development in infants and toddlers, particularly those who are born prematurely. Federal food programs like Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have been shown to help infants from low-income families get more vitamins and important nutrients that they need. This study looked at whether participating in public food assistance programs like WIC leads to better development in premature infants discharged from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). 

Trauma-Informed Behavioral Parenting for Early Intervention 

Agazzi, H., Adams, C., Ferron, E., Shaffer-Hudkins, E., and Salloum, A. Journal of Child and Family Studies (May 2019). 

Background: Children who experience traumatic events like divorce, abuse and domestic violence (what we call Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs) may have difficulty forming supportive relationships and have higher rates of poor mental health later in life. Children with disabilities experience higher rates of ACEs than their typically-developing peers, yet evidence-based practices to address social/emotional needs often left these children out. These programs also tend to be expensive and require additional training.

Association Between Early Care and Education Teacher Characteristics and Observed Classroom Processes: Strengthening the Diversity and Quality of the Early Care and Education Workforce Paper Series 

Johnson, A., Partika, A., Schochet, O., and Castle, S. Urban Institute (October 2019) 

Background: Early Care and Education (ECE) providers play an important role in helping children learn, grow and successfully transition to elementary school. However, when ECE providers are experiencing high levels of stress and financial insecurity, it can affect the overall quality of care they provide. This study looks at whether workforce supports such as paid leave and a sense of teamwork, and teacher experiences, like exposure to trauma or financial stress, impact teacher-child interactions.