Great Myths of Child Development

Preface x     Introduction 1     1 Beginnings 9     #1 Identical twins have a telepathic connection that originates in the womb 10     #2 Couples dealing with infertility are more likely to get pregnant if they adopt 16     #3 Parents can predict the sex of a fetus by examining the shape of the mother   s body 22     #4 All boys have one Y chromosome (and all girls don   t) 27     #5 The attachment parenting approach strengthens the mother   infant bond 34     Speed busting for beginnings 41     #6 Identical twins have identical genes 41     #7 A woman who is already pregnant can   t get pregnant again 42     #8 The Chinese lunar calendar accurately predicts the sex of a baby 42     #9 Female fetuses have faster heart rates than male fetuses 43     #10 Epidurals create a high risk of harm during delivery 43     #11 More babies are born during a full moon 44     #12 Pre-chewing a baby   s food has no known risks 44     2 Growth, Body, & Mind 47     #13 Letting babies    cry it out    during bedtime is harmful to their development 48     #14 Sugar intake causes children to be hyperactive 55     #15 Using a baby walker will help a toddler walk sooner 60     #16 Showing cognitively stimulating videos to babies boosts their intelligence 65     #17 Using    baby talk    with an infant delays their ability to speak normally 71     #18 Vaccines caused the rise in autism diagnoses 77     Speed busting for growth, body, & mind 85     #19 A good response to stimulant medication is proof that a child has ADHD 85     #20 Requiring children to    clean their plates    promotes healthy eating habits 86     #21 Dyslexia   s defining feature is letter reversal 86     #22 Most babies can learn to read with the right learning program 87     #23 Educational kinesiology promotes learning in children 87     #24 Facilitated communication is effective for children with autism 87     #25 Dolphin-assisted therapy effectively treats children with special needs 88     3 Emotions & Behavior 92     #26 Bed-wetting is a sign of serious emotional problems 93     #27 Most antidepressants for children with depression are approved by the FDA 99     #28 Drawings contain specific signs useful in identifying subconscious problems 106     #29 Most toddlers go through a    terrible twos    stage 115     #30 Kids can be    scared straight    from delinquency 122     Speed busting for emotions & behavior 129     #31 Parents can usually tell when their child is depressed 129     #32 Young girls are more likely to have clinical depression than young boys 130     #33 Helping children avoid their fears is the best way to decrease their anxiety 130     #34 Adults can usually tell if a child is lying 131     #35 Seeing other people be aggressive will decrease children   s aggressive drive 131     #36 School homicides are on the rise 132     #37 Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) prevents drug use 132     4 Social Environment 135     #38 An    only child    is likely to be selfish, spoiled, and socially incompetent 136     #39 Divorce ruins most kids    lives 142     #40 If you    spare the rod    you will    spoil the child    148     #41 Brief time-outs are too weak to help decrease real behavior problems 156     #42 Daycare damages the attachment between children and parents 162     #43 Imaginary friends are a sign of social-emotional problems in children 168     Speed busting for social environment 174     #44 Birth order is a powerful predictor of a child   s personality 174     #45 The most common reason for sibling fights is the rivalry for parental love 174     #46 Parent   child relationship disruptions can be repaired with holding therapy 174     #47 Fathers use more corporal punishment than mothers 175     #48 Rewards usually decrease the desirable behavior they   re intended to increase 175     #49 Praise undermines children   s ability to be successful 176     #50 Parents were not permissive when I was a kid 177     Postscript: Closing Thoughts 180     Index 189