In today's very digital world, there are plenty of ways for parents to find comfort, support and laughter without leaving the comfort chaos of their own homes. But for those who only have a free second, glancing at one of these cartoons should do the trick.
A collaboration between Melissa Sher, who blogs at Mammalingo and on HuffPost, and illustrator Julia Lavigne, they express undeniable truths about the early years of parenthood.
"I can't think of anyone who has less time on their hands than a mom or dad with small children," Sher told HuffPost. "We wanted to create something for even the most time-starved, sleep-deprived, un-showered person out there. These cartoons are for them."
So, lock yourself in the bathroom and enjoy this first batch of Mammalingo comics in peace!
Attention-Seeking Children Are Better Learners Later On
Toddlers who constantly demand ""look at me!" are most likely to become better collaborators and learners when they're older, a study published in the journal Child Development found. Author Marie-Pierre Gosselin said that, "Toddlers whose parents have consistently responded positively to their attention-seeking expect interactions to be fulfilling. As a result, they're eager to collaborate with their parents' attempts to socialize them."
It's Not Their Fault They're Selfish
Researchers studied the behavior and brain scan images of kids while they played with others, were given rewards and prompted to share with their playmates. The findings revealed that, "even though young children understood how sharing benefited the other child, they were unable to resist the temptation to make the 'selfish' decision to keep much of the reward for themselves." But thankfully, as a child's brain matures, so will the child. "Brain scans revealed a region that matures along with children's greater ability to make less selfish decisions," the study found.
Snorers Might Later Become Hyperactive
Children who snore or have sleep apnoea are more likely to be hyperactive by the age of 7. Researcher, Dr. Karen Bonuck said a toddler's "sleep problems could be harming the developing brain."
They Hear Their Own Words Differently
According to Ewen MacDonald of the Technical University of Denmark, adults monitor their voices so that the sound reflects what is intended. But, "2-year-olds do not monitor their auditory feedback like adults do, suggesting they are using a different strategy to control speech production," he said.
Missed Naps Could Lead To Mood Disorders
Researchers found that depriving toddlers of a daily nap led to "more anxiety, lower levels of joy and interest, and reduced problem-solving abilities." Kids in the focus group who missed naps were not able to "take full advantage of exciting and interesting experiences and to adapt to new frustrations."
They Succumb To Peer Pressure
Two-year-olds in a focus group "were more likely to copy an action when they saw it repeated by three other toddlers than if they saw an action repeated by just one other toddler," a study published in the journal Current Biology found.
Their Memories Are Better Than You Think
In a recent Slate article, Nicholas Day illustrated a timeline of what scientists have learned about toddlers' memories over the last few decades. Before the 80s, it was believed that babies and young toddlers lived in the present with no memory of the past. Twenty years ago, however, a study found that 3-year-olds could recount memories of Disney World 18 months after they visited. And recently, research noted a "27-month-old child who'd seen a 'magic shrinking machine' remembered the experience some six years later."
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