Thursday's Psychology Trivia: How Much Does Your Newborn Know On Day One?

Thought for the Day: This week I have been focusing on early childhood. Yesterday, I noted the importance of an infant's learning to smile in the development of self esteem and the ability to love. On Tuesday, I explained why sometimes childhood depression goes undiagnosed. How the game of Hide and Seek could help a child develop more positive relationships with their parents in therapy was the topic on Monday. Today's trivia question looks at how much newborns know before they are born. Here's the trivia question:

      Which of these facts are true:

a) Day old infants already recognize their mother's voice
b) Newborn babies prefer the sound of their mother's native language
c) By week 14,  there is some evidence that fetuses can taste bitter, sweet, or sour flavors in the amniotic fluid
d) The more varied a mother's diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the more likely that the infant will accept a new food
e) In the first few hours after birth, a baby's sense of smell may be more important in helping him identify his mother than vision
f) Babies in utero experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is associated with dreaming, at around 32 to 36 weeks
g) None of the above
h) a), b), c), d), e), and f)

Read on to see the answer...

Thursday's Psychology Trivia Answer: Mom's Junk Food Diet & Her Baby's Future Mental Health

Thought for the Day: Those of you following the Trivia series know that the psychology trivia topics that I share here are far from trivial. This particular study is so important, that I actually am sharing it for a second time. It was included in my Fabulous Finds last Friday. I wanted to make sure that people paid attention and hopefully you will share it with all expectant mothers and parents of young children. It is important not only for their physical health, but for their mental health as well. As they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
      On Tuesday we asked:
              True of False:
   Mothers who eat more unhealthy junk foods during pregnancy, such as sweet drinks, refined cereals & salty foods, have children with increased behavioral problems, such as aggression & tantrums.

     The answer is true. New research found a link between a mother's diet during pregnancy the future mental health of her unborn child. The study (published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) by researchers from Deakin University in Australia  & from Norway, analyzed data from more than 23,000 mothers from a Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study. In addition to information about the mothers' diets throughout pregnancy, they gathered information about the children's diets at 18 months & 3 years of age. When their children were 18 months, 3-years & 5-years-old tthe mother's answered questionnaires  to see if their children had symptoms of:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Conduct disorder, and/or
• ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Then, they analyzed the relationship between the mothers' & children's diets, & the mental health symptoms & behaviors the children had at the 3 age levels. Mother's who exposed their infants to unhealthy food during pregnancy had children with significantly more behavioral problems. Their children were more aggressive & had more tantrums. In addition, children who ate less healthy foods early in life had a tendency to not only show an increase in behavioral problems but also had more signs of depression & anxiety.

Therefore, what you eat when you are pregnant and what you feed your small children, can make a difference in their mental health. These findings are important for every expectant mother to know. Please share them with parents of small children as well.

Thanks to MNT (Medical news Today) where I found this story:
Junk food in pregnancy linked to childhood mental disorders

Tuesday's Psychology Trivia Question: Does Mom's Junk Food Consumption During Pregnancy Impact on an Unborn Child's Mental Health?

 Thought for the Day: Here's Tuesday's Psychology Trivia Question:

True of False:
   Mothers who eat more unhealthy junk foods during pregnancy, such as sweet drinks, refined cereals & salty foods, have children with increased behavioral problems, such as aggression & tantrums.

Come back on Thursday for the answer.

#FF Friday's Fab Finds: ADHD, Paying It Forward for Kids' Sports, Infants, Junk Food & Children's Mental Health, & Blind Judo on Blind Matters Radio

Thought for the Day: As we start Labor Day Weekend, I found some great finds this week. I wish I had discovered the first find before the summer, but it will give parents of kids with ADHD time to investigate and search for programs for next summer for their children. The second find is a children's book which is paying it forward for children's sports programs, like mine does for helping people accomplish their dreams. Speaking of which, the 3rd find is a radio program tomorrow with Willy Cahill, Olympic Judo Coach. The show will highlight the benefits of the sport of Judo for blind and visually impaired children and adults. If you have time, I hope you will listen in tomorrow. Finally, a study that all pregnant and new mothers should be aware of, although we know that junk food is bad for our health, this study found that unborn infants and newborns exposed to junk food have a higher tendency to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Have a wonderful weekend & I hope you enjoy these finds.


Like Summer Camp With Brain Benefits: ADHD Summer Intensive Programs By Madeline Vann, MPH Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH Here's something for parents of children with ADHD to think about for next summer for their children, an intensive summer program that focuses on whole brain development and features diet strategies, exercise options, and classes geared to bolster both strengths and weaknesses - all while remaining fun.

A sports story worth celebrating -- Bob Salomon and a Glove of Their Own By Rick Young, August 22, 2012, from FoxNews Here's a book doing for sports programs for children, what I am doing for the Dream Non-profits featured in my book. Bob Salomon is donating a portion from the sale of each book, A Glove of Their Own,  is donated to: Good Sports, Sports Gift, & Pitch In For Baseball. In addition, Bob sees to it that $3 of every book sold will be given to any school or non-profit organization that joins his effort.

Coach Willy Cahill, Legendary Judo Coach And Co-Founder Of The Blind Judo Foundation To Speak With 400,000 Listeners Of Blind Matters Radio Show Audience August 31, 2013 If you know someone who is blind or visually impaired, you may want to let them know about this broadcast tomorrow about how the sport of judo can build self esteem and independence for the blind. The Blind Judo Foundation is one of the Dream Nonprofit organizations featured in my book. They are doing phenomenal work. If you get a chance, listen in

In Young Kids, Junk Food Linked to Mental Illness  By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D., August 22, 2013 This is an important story for any pregnant mother or parent of a young child to read. Prenatal & early childhood nutrition has found a link to depression and anxiety in children exposed to junk food during these formative stages of life.