Category: Child Development

Why Do Kids Have Imaginary Friends?

Dr. Tali Shenfield | March 6, 2024

Having an imaginary friend is a normal, healthy part of most kids’ development. Studies show that up to 60 percent of children between the ages of three and eight will invent an imaginary companion at some point. Some imaginary friends are completely incorporeal beings, while others are personified by physical objects, such as a favourite stuffed animal or doll. Regardless of ...

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The Importance of Play in Social Skills Development

Dr. Tali Shenfield | December 5, 2023

In modern Western society, we typically view play as being separate from learning. However, while children’s games appear casual and spontaneous, they serve many crucial developmental functions. When kids engage in unstructured social activities, they use their imaginations to simulate diverse experiences, which serve as a model for real-life situations. They learn how to negotiate and cooperate with other ...

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The Importance of a Healthy Parent-Child Relationship

Dr. Tali Shenfield | October 23, 2023

The essence of a thriving family dynamic lies in a healthy parent-child relationship. This bond shapes a child’s future relationships, self-esteem, behaviours, and abilities to cope with stress and adversity. According to the research studies, this is pivotal to not only a child’s cognitive skills but also their psychological and emotional wellbeing. The Foundation of Parent-Child Relationships When ...

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How to Raise Children with Independent Views and a Critical Mind

Dr. Tali Shenfield | April 10, 2023

Over the last two decades, ideological polarization has become a prominent threat to democracy, education, and society as a whole. According to the Pew Research Center, partisan antipathy has been steadily increasing since the mid-1990s, with self-identified liberals and conservatives becoming more sharply divided in their beliefs - and more likely to see the other “side” as a significant ...

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Popular Articles

How to Help Your Child Stop Lying

For parents, even the little white lies that children sometimes tell - e.g., claiming to have completed their homework ...

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Understanding The Challenges Faced By Immigrant Children

As a psychologist living and working in Toronto, where 51% of residents were born outside Canada, I deal with immigration related ...

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Understanding Eco-Anxiety and Why Many Kids Today Experience It

With climate change becoming an increasingly common theme in politics, news, and even entertainment, it’s no wonder more young ...

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Supporting Adolescent Development: The Process of Shaping Identity

Dr. Tali Shenfield | November 4, 2022

Self-discovery is one of the hallmarks of adolescence. By age 12, young people begin the process of separating themselves from their parents and defining who they are as individuals. As they undertake this journey, they’re shaped by many different factors, including their familial and cultural values, the expectations of society, and their peers. Nonetheless, teens are active participants in their ...

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There is no “One Size Fits All” Approach to Child Development

Dr. Tali Shenfield | August 26, 2022

More often than not, parents live hectic and complicated lives. Naturally, because we’re already overburdened by complexity, easy answers can seem very appealing. This is especially true when it comes to understanding child development: Parents are often drawn to popular child-rearing strategies that focus on just one aspect of development. These theories generally state that by understanding a specific ...

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Debunking Common Myths About Bilingualism in Children

Dr. Tali Shenfield | January 29, 2022

Bilingualism is a cornerstone of Canadian culture, and research shows that it’s only becoming more prevalent. The rate of French-English bilingualism rose from 17.4% in 2006 to 17.5% in 2011, and the number of Canadians who speak either English or French and another non-official language fluently is also on the rise. In 2016, 14.5% of all Canadians reported speaking a language other than French or ...

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Understanding Annoying Behaviour in Children: The Role of Social Development

Dr. Tali Shenfield | January 5, 2022

As any parent knows, kids are prone to worrisome behaviour. Whether it’s throwing explosive tantrums, telling fibs, ignoring the boundaries of others, or being sarcastic, children of all ages display odd and often unhelpful quirks. Many parents react to these behaviours with concern: What if they indicate the presence of a character flaw? What if they’re a sign ...

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