Welcome to the February 2025 Learning Brain News.

For you this month: ADHD, autism, phonics & literacy, how multilingualism boosts cognitive skills, life skills for teens, and boys more impacted than girls by TV violence.

Enjoy,
The Learning Brain News Team 
PS: Do you have a favourite child? Read research about favouritism.

Violence on TV: What Happens to Children Who Watch?

A study of nearly 2,000 children found that boys exposed to violent television content at ages 3.5 to 4.5 were more likely to exhibit antisocial behaviours as teens. These behaviours included physical aggression, theft, threats, and involvement in gang fights, with no similar effects observed in girls.

Decoding Favouritism: How Parents Shape Sibling Bonds

New research sheds light on how parents subtly favour children based on birth order, personality, and gender, shaping family dynamics. Younger siblings often receive more favorable treatment, while older siblings are granted greater autonomy. Parents tend to favour daughters slightly more than sons, though children rarely perceive this bias.

It’s Back to School Time for 2025

Is your child nervous about going back to school? Try asking them what they are looking forward to.

Can Apps & Digital Resources Support your Child with Autism or ADHD?

Children with neurodevelopmental conditions often can’t get the support they need. Digital tools, such as apps and websites, are often viewed as a solution.

There are lots of digital tools available, but it’s hard to know what is and isn’t useful. This new study evaluates freely available digital resources for child neurodevelopment and mental health to understand their quality and evidence base.

Multilingualism Boosts Cognitive Skills in Children With Autism

Children in multilingual households, including those with autism, demonstrate stronger executive functions, such as inhibition, flexibility, and perspective-taking, compared to monolingual peers. Speaking multiple languages also reduces repetitive behaviors and improves communication, key challenges in autism.

6 Cognitive Distortions That Fuel Anxiety in ADHD Brains

From catastrophizing to mental filtering, cognitive distortions negatively influence how you view events, situations, others, and yourself.

How the Adolescent Brain Learns

Recent evidence shows that adolescence is the second period of brain plasticity and cognitive development, making those years a critical time for students and educators.
 
So what should secondary school educators know about their students' brain development to maximise achievement? Find out here.

Australia

Australian Inclusive Schooling Conference
Brisbane, 27 - 28 March 2025