Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development

10/26/2025

We assume children know Halloween is a holiday that's full of make believe. But some children may be too young to differentiate it from reality. Watch the Halloween episode of The Hidden Language of Children to learn more.

A 3-year-old completely missed the point of Halloween, and the result was trouble at bedtime. An excerpt from Ep. 15 of the Hidden Language of Children podcast.

10/23/2025

How a parent's job evolves as a child grows and learns new skills

10/22/2025

Young children's minds are still developing, so it takes time for them to learn the difference between reality and fantasy. Watch the Halloween podcast to learn more:

Reality testing is what allows a child to separate real from make-believe. It takes longer to develop than many people think.

10/20/2025

Why is spooky entertainment fun for some, but scary for others? Watch the newest episode of The Hidden Language of Children to learn why it's best to avoid scaring little ones this Halloween.

Dressing up as something scary is a way of taking control of fear and worry. An excerpt from Ep. 15 of the Hidden Language of Children podcast.

10/18/2025

Gearing up for Halloween? Child development experts suggest a fall harvest celebration rather than big, scary decorations, etc. for children age 5 and under. Listen why in the Halloween episode of The Hidden Language of Children podcast.

Under the age of 5 (and sometimes older), children's brains can't differentiate between real and make-believe. An excerpt from Ep. 15 of the Hidden Language ...

10/17/2025

Is resilience a trait in a child? Child development expert dispels the myths in this episode of the "Hidden Language of Children." Listen wherever you find your podcasts. https://bit.ly/3JQtlMN

Child development expert Dr. Tovah P. Klein, author of "Raising Resilience" talks about the deep bond between parents and children, and how it impacts a chil...

10/17/2025

On Halloween, sending a young child to a stranger's door for trick-or-treating can send a mixed message. Learn more in this Halloween episode of The Hidden Language of Children podcast.

Why we discourage taking young children from door-to-door on Halloween. An excerpt from Ep. 15 of the Hidden Language of Children podcast.

10/16/2025

Here's a compilation from the most popular segment of Hanna Perkins' "Hidden Language of Children" podcast, in which when we consider common phrases grownups say to young children - and reconstruct them to be more helpful.
https://bit.ly/3F400N9

Ideas for developmentally mindful ways to talk with young children. Compilation of "Let's Rephrase That" segments from the Hidden Language of Children podcast.

10/16/2025

Clinical social worker and therapist Anita Eddie explains that young children may be trying to live up to a parent's expectations of what's "fun" on Halloween rather than admit they're scared. Watch the latest podcast episode.

Parents often remember Halloween from when they were older than their own children are right now. Giving up scary fun may be harder on them than their childr...

10/15/2025

Letting children know ahead of time that Halloween can be scary and allowing them to communicate any fear they feel should be the driving factor in how parents pursue the holiday celebration. Listen to the Halloween episode of The Hidden Language of Children podcast.

What are the important points for parents and youger children to discuss before enjoying Halloween. An excerpt from Ep. 15 of the Hidden Language of Childre...

10/15/2025

We focus on children's separation anxiety so much, but we tend to overlook the power of the "reunion" between child & parent at the end of the school day. https://bit.ly/3Jrs4fg shares more in this podcast.

Child development expert Dr. Tovah P. Klein, author of "Raising Resilience" talks about the deep bond between parents and children, and how it impacts a chil...