Learn what  various state’s have been doing and how they’re succeeding at proving support for young children’s mental health. A highlight of the 2011 National Smart Start Conference, the session titled, “Building a System of Strong Supports for Young Children’s Mental Health,” will feature findings from current and former research studies of states’ efforts to support young children’s mental health. Participants will engage in small group discussion and receive effective strategies for conveying this information to key decision makers.

Sheila Smith, PhD, Director of Early Childhood at the National Center on Poverty will lead the 90-minute session. Smith is an early childhood researcher with special interests in strengthening early care and education programs that serve vulnerable children and families. She is also interested in finding effective ways to help policymakers use research to improve supports for the healthy development of young children

To attend this session and others, register today at the 2011 National Smart Start Conference website.

A new study to adds to research that suggests television can have a negative impact on infants and toddlers.

In a study of 259 families researchers found that babies who regularly watched TV had lower scores on cognitive and language tests at 14 months, U.S. News & World Report says.

Babies who watched 60 minutes of TV daily had developmental scores one-third lower at 14 months than babies who weren’t watching that much TV. Though their developmental scores were still in the normal range, the discrepancy may be due to the fact that when kids and parents are watching TV, they’re missing out on talking, playing, and interactions that are essential to learning and development. – “TV Watching Is Bad for Babies’ Brains.” U.S. News & World Report via Yahoo. 12/09/10.

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