Dolls beat screens for building children’s social skills, study finds

By Sarah Gerson, Lecturer in Developmental & Health Psychology, Cardiff University
Ross E Vanderwert, Lecturer in Neuroscience, Cardiff University
Salim Hashmi, Lecturer in Psychology, King's College London

What’s the point of play? Is it simply a way to keep children occupied, or something more? For some, it’s about learning literacy and numeracy. For others, it’s how friendships form and relationships deepen. But it can be all of these at once, and more.

Most parents recognise that play matters. But there’s less agreement on what kind of play is best. Should children be guided towards activities designed to build specific skills, like sports for coordination, or construction for maths and engineering? Or should…

Read complete article

~	Smart motorways were halted over safety concerns – what’s the future for digital roads?

~	Grattan on Friday: Antisemitism royal commission’s interim report leaves key questions dangling

~	Is Trump losing the support of his Maga base?

~	From smoking to stigma: how screen stories influence health

~	From Buddy Holly to Ariana Grande: six songs that show how technology changes the human voice

~	EU: Parliament Confirms That ‘Only Yes Means Yes’

~	‘1930s policing’: the tactics police used in the hunt for Alice Springs girl Kumanjayi Little Baby

~	Hold your nose and don’t stop for a selfie: why getting up close to a beached whale is a really bad idea

~	Albanese is prioritising politics over the responsible handling of ISIS families, setting a dangerous precedent

~	Australia isn’t getting a fair share of tax on gas exports. Queensland has shown how to raise the bar