Family by God&#039;s Design

Infants, Screen Time, & The Brain

A study published in eBioMedicine followed 168 children for more than a decade. Starting in infancy, the research team measured the infants’ screen time and then conducted brain scans at 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years of age. Screen use during infancy impact brain development, especially during the sensitive period of infant brain development. Specific to...

brain development healthy development parent child relationship screen time

March 14, 2026

Born to Connect

Last weekend my wife and I had the opportunity to lead a marriage workshop. One of the participating couples brought their 9-month-old son, a beautiful child, bright-eyed and excited to see the world around him. He would smile and try to imitate when someone made “popping sound” with their mouth. He cooed and made sounds...

Celebration Family Shepherds

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December 29, 2025

The #1 Ingredient of Growth & Learning

We all want to learn and grow, don’t we? Even more, we want our children to learn and grow. We want our whole family to become wiser and more mature with each passing day. There is one ingredient that will promote this growth more than any other ingredient: relationships. We learn more effectively and more...

Family Shepherds Honor

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July 12, 2025

This Is Your Brain on Parenthood

If you’re a parent, congratulations. You have the delight of bringing new life into the world with all the accompanying hopes and dreams, joys and struggles. It is an experience of flourishing in the fullness of life. Research coming out of Rutgers Health and Yale University suggests it is also a “brain-changing” experience. Although your...

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April 28, 2025

Reading, Language, Empathy, the Brain

We all know how important reading is for our children. A study published in Neuroimage showed that this benefit reaches all the way down to the very structure of our children’s brains. That’s right. A study involving over 1,000 participants suggests that reading strengthens at least two regions of the left hemisphere. One region is...

Celebration Family Shepherds

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April 21, 2025

Sedentary Activities Good for the Family Brain

Sometimes we just need to relax, kick up our feet and rest. But not all sedentary activities are equal when it comes to the brain. A study conducted by researchers at the University of South Australia looked at 397 adults over 60-years-old and found that some sedentary activity had a more positive impact on the...

Celebration

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January 13, 2025

Transcendent Thinking & Your Teen

Our teens and children face many struggles, obstacles that can potentially harm them. There are, however, also factors that can support and strengthen teens. One of the most important factors of course is a strong, supportive family. A study published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence and completed by a team from CANDLE (USC...

brain development cognitive health development stress management violence

November 23, 2024

Real Vs. Artificial Intelligence

The other day I watched a young cashier try to count change when the automated cash register was down due to a power outage. The older gentleman making the purchase even gave the cashier a few pennies to make the change easier to count. The cashier had to call a friend over. Then, after a...

Family Shepherds Honor

brain development cognitive health healthy development

November 9, 2024

The Effects of Marijuana on Developing Brains

Marijuana seems to be growing in popularity and acceptance. However, we are still learning about its effect on the developing brain. As new information comes out, I would like to share it with you, allowing you to continue making wise decisions for you and your children. With that in mind, I want to share the...