Preschoolers who sing, tell stories and eat dinner with their families tend to be emotionally healthier and better adjusted socially than kids who don't have such routines, a study in the [b]Journal of Develomental Behavioral Pediatrics[/b] has found. A [s]Health24[/s] report says that researchers used data from a long-term study conducted by the [b]US National Centre for Education Statistics[/b] to gather information about kids and their families as it relates to childhood development and readiness for school. And they found that daily routines were linked to a 47% increase in the odds that children would have high so-called social-emotional health, which indicates good emotional and social skills. Social-emotional health ‘allows children to express their feelings, understand others’ emotions and develop and sustain healthy relationships with peers and adults,’ said [b]Dr Elisa Muniz[/b], the study’s lead author and a paediatrician at [b]Bronx Lebanon Hospital[/b] in New York.
[link url=http://www.health24.com/Parenting/Child/News/Family-activities-good-for-kids-emotional-health-20140313]Full Health24 report[/link]
[link url=http://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/2014/02000/Family_Routines_and_Social_Emotional_School.2.aspx]JDBP abstract[/link]