The birthstone for January is the garnet, which represents love and friendship

People born in January are more than just “new year babies” or “winter babies.” According to some studies, they tend to end up in creative or health professional fields and they often stay healthy as they grow up. And, January babies share their special month with many famous people born in January. Does your little one have some of these traits or any that are related to their horoscope? Find out what 2024 has in store for them here. 

People Born in January Are Often Creative and Have Good Problem Solving Skills

people born in January usually have good problem-solving skills
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Sorry, Caps. This one's for the Aquarians. According to a small study, January and February are the right months to be born if you want to be famous. And in this case, "fame" extends well beyond actors on the A-List—we're talking politicians, athletes, scientists, authors, singers, humanitarians, etc. Perhaps this shouldn't be that surprising, given that those born in January and February tend to be more creative and possess higher problem-solving skills.

January Babies Are Smart

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Scientists monitored the development of 21,000 boys and girls, and their research indicates winter-born kids measured longer at birth, were taller and heavier by age seven and had higher scores in a series of intelligence exercises than their peers.

Related: 8 Fun Facts about People Born in February

People Born in January Babies Lean Towards Medicine as a Profession

lots of people born in January end up in the medicial profession
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Get ready for the college long haul, January parents. According to a study conducted in the UK, kids born in the first month of the year become doctors more than kids born in the other months of the year. 

January's Birthstone Is about Love and Friendship

people born in January have a garnet as their birthstone
Wikimedia Commons

The birthstone for January is the garnet, which represents love and friendship. Garnets also have ties to Greek mythology by way of the pomegranate. When Hades, the god of the underworld, took Persephone from the surface world, she was told not to eat any food in the dark realm. However, she ate six pomegranate seeds and therefore had to remain in the underworld for six months every year. The change from winter to spring was explained as Persephone's return to the surface. This is also why the garnet stands for the return of a loved one. 

Related: Why People Born in March Are Natural-Born Leaders (According to Studies)

January Baby Names Can Be Inspired by the Zodiac, the Winter Season or New Beginnings

people born in January, like this baby, are happy
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There are lots of different sources of inspiration when it comes to naming your January baby! Consider naming your baby after the season, Capricorn or Aquarius, or even new beginnings for the new year. Some of our favorites include Sophie, Zane, Kiara, Janus, Onyx, and Ione. See Nameberry's entire list of January baby names here.

Famous People Born in January

Bradley Cooper
Wikimedia Commons

January babies share their special month with plenty of famous people, too. Bradley Cooper, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Morris Chestnut, Eddie Redmayne, Mary J. Blige, Issa Rae, Jason Bateman, and Regina King are only a few of the celebrities born in January. 

Recently, there has been an explosion of information and resources for parents on social privilege and social responsibility. As a result, many parents and children are having deeper conversations about racism and other systems of bias and how to act as an effective change agent.

All this conversation is important, but remember, social justice parenting is broader than activism. It doesn’t just mean preparing your children to stand up for diversity, equity, and inclusion; it also means teaching your children to be authentically sensitive, loving, and empathic. According to Race, Class, and Parenting: 7 Strategies for Raising Sensitive, Confident and Loving Kids, the key is training your children to be curious, rather than judgmental about other people and cultures. By encouraging cultural immersion with your kids, you’ll be opening their eyes and hearts to a whole new world.

Model Curiosity for Your Kids

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Journalist Ian Leslie explains, “Curiosity is a combination of intelligence, persistence, and hunger for novelty.  Curiosity will also enable your children to be humble and adaptable.”

You can model constructive cultural curiosity for your kids by the way you comment about different people:

"That's a pretty scarf she is wearing on her head...I wonder if it has a special meaning."

"I wonder what language they are speaking...it sounds cool."

"I have never seen that food before...I wonder how it tastes."

"Her hair looks really pretty. I wonder how long it took her to style it that way."

As you demonstrate how to be curious, your children will develop open-mindedness and charisma that will carry them far in their lives and careers.

Related: How I Explain Racism to My White Friends (So They Can Explain It to Their Kids)

Give Your Child Cultural Immersive Experiences

cultural immersion with grandparents
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It is a rewarding process to raise children who are curious rather than judgmental. We need to do a better job of giving our kids more immersive experiences. Take them to concerts to experience different kinds of music and dance. Travel to foreign countries (and leave the resort). Encourage them to learn new languages.

When your children are immersed in new cultural environments, they will organically learn to have respect and empathy for the experiences, talents, and perspectives of others. The most beautiful part about this process is the nuance in their understanding of how we are all different, but how we all share a common humanity.

Help Your Children Learn Humility and Adaptability

two boys laughing at jokes for kids
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There is a difference between having one or two friends from a minority group and immersing yourself in a different cultural context.  In communities that are not very diverse, it does not require as much humility and adaptability for a child from the majority group to find commonality between themselves and one of the few children of color in the school or neighborhood.  On the other hand, if a child attends a religious service or goes to a cultural festival, or travels to a country where they become the minority in that context, much more is required intellectually and emotionally. This kind of growth is the goal of social justice parenting.

Feed Their Curiosity

enjoy cultural immersion by eating sushi
Vinicus Benedit via Unsplash

Food is one of the most fun and simple ways to experience cultural immersion. The foods people cook are a reflection of their natural environment and historical geography. Although we may not all have the opportunity or means to travel all around the world, we can still give our children the opportunity to learn about these places and cultures through food.

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What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is understanding and recognizing your emotions, and how they impact you and those around you. It also involves perspective taking, comprehending empathy, and having a real understanding of others’ emotions too. It is about building self-awareness and learning emotional self-regulation as well as gaining the social skills to connect and understand others.

How Is Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Different from Intelligence Quotient (IQ)?

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is intelligence specifically relating to emotions, how an individual can classify, evaluate, regulate and communicate emotions—people skills. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) refers to processing, applying, filtering, and retaining information, logical reasoning, and abstract and spatial thinking—book smart. It is a different skill set, both of which can be inherent and learned.

The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence for Your Child:

  • Enhances emotional regulation

  • Encourages positive conflict resolution skills

  • Helps your child absorb critical feedback and use it constructively to grow

  • Guides your child to be a team player and work cooperatively with success

  • Activates listening skills

Strengthen Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence through These 5 Actions:

1. Label your child’s emotions, give feelings a name. Acknowledging emotions by using simple language, “I see you are feeling (insert emotion),” provides validation and gives your child the affirmation that you are listening and understanding them at the moment.

2. Do simple breathing exercises to promote emotional self-regulation.

3. Be an active listener, especially if your child is harboring views that are different from yours. Ask questions to gain an understanding of why they may think a certain way and refrain from judgment.

4. Write it down or draw a picture. Sometimes when your child is experiencing a big emotion, the feeling gets trapped and swirls around their head and builds up to grow into something bigger than it may be in reality. Verbalising, writing, or drawing is a release valve.

5. Give your child a task with a goal (finishing a puzzle, getting dressed alone, putting on their shoes, etc.) this gives a sense of ownership over self-motivation. Encourage your child to follow through despite the outcome.

Research shows high levels of emotional intelligence are directly linked to academic achievement, better relationships, greater success for adulthood, and improved mental health. The most exciting thing about Emotional Intelligence is that it can be taught and learned. Nurturing your child’s Emotional Intelligence will give them a strong foundation in which to flourish.

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Do you have a story you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear it! Sign up to contribute your story on our Voices Network.

Hi! I am an author, founder and educator. I have a Bachelor of Media Communications, Bachelor of Elementary Education Degrees as well as an Early Childhood Montessori Certification and in the process of completing a Master of Education. I live between New York and Byron Bay. I'm the mama of Grace, Theodore and Little Dude! 

For a long time, well-meaning conversations about the mythical left brain/right brain divide have skewed the way that many parents approached learning opportunities for their children. In truth, the common misconception that analytical skills and creative skills are mutually exclusive has been widely debunked by educators, and experts now say that instead of locking young students into rigid learning tracks, giving them access to a myriad of learning options yields many long-term benefits. Whether they show proficiency in the arts or lean towards all things technical, here are six reasons why an early introduction to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education can help kids flourish.

STEM Fosters Curiosity and Critical Thinking

Robo Wunderkind via Unsplash

Education in STEM subjects isn’t just about helping students prepare for future careers in STEM. When taught correctly, STEM subjects can help students hone their curiosity and problem-solving skills, allowing them to develop good mental habits that can be applied across other studies, disciplines and fields of interest. 

British science writer Robert Lewin, author of Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos, said, “Probably the most important skill that children learn is how to learn. Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.”

When it comes to critical thinking, STEM subjects can help students focus on logical thought processes, “skills that can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they appear,” said Stephen DeAngelis, founder and CEO of Enterra Solutions, an artificial intelligence and advanced mathematics platform.

Early Exposure Can Help Close the STEM Gender Gap

ThisisEngineering RAEng via Unsplash

Despite some recent progress, many girls are still discouraged from pursuing their innate interests in math and science. The damaging “math is hard for girls” trope has long plagued education, leading many girls and women to be systematically tracked away from STEM education, thereby limiting their exposure and ability to pursue careers in these fields later as adults.

According to the American Association of University Women, women comprise only 28% of the STEM workforce and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. Gender stereotyping and lack of role models are just two reasons why the STEM gender gap exists—which has resulted in gender inequity among some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, such as computer science and engineering. 

The good news is that women are starting to make gains, both in STEM education, earnings, and careers, especially in life sciences, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many organizations are working to close the STEM gender gap, including a program focused on girls in STEM from NASA, among others.

STEM Subjects Encourage Engagement and Opportunity

Kuanish Reymbaev via Unsplash

In our quick-fix, short-attention-span culture, STEM subjects demand active learning, which in turn requires greater engagement, attention and focus. Research has shown that engaged students are motivated to practice higher-level critical thinking skills, and STEM education encourages engagement through project-based learning.

Before her passing in 2020, tech entrepreneur Leila Janah, founder and CEO of artificial intelligence data company Samasource, famously said, “Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not.” STEM education can provide opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to other educational breaks.

Collaboration Is Key to STEM

Adam Winger via Unsplash

While some students prefer working solo and others are naturally inclined toward team projects, STEM education gives students of all sensibilities the chance to balance these dual impulses—but it especially rewards those who seek to collaborate.

When it comes to STEM subjects, rarely does a single person possess all of the answers. In most cases, innovation is derived from teams of people collaborating. Early exposure to the collaborative environment required in STEM can help prepare young students for the collaborative workplaces of their future careers.

STEM Can Help Normalize Failure

stem.T4L via Unsplash

In a society that’s obsessed with winning, education in STEM allows students to confront and normalize occasional failure. The scientific method is rooted in experimentation, and any learning process that fosters thoughtful inquiry can sometimes result in a failed attempt. Resilience is built through the perseverance of trial and error, and STEM subjects allow students to test, learn, and grow.

In the words of philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates: “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”

STEM Careers Are Leading the Future of the Global Economy

Giu Vicente via Unsplash

Guiding kids into future careers in STEM isn’t the only (or even primary) reason to expose them early to science, technology, engineering and math. But future-proofing their job prospects may be a useful side effect. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM careers are among the 10 fastest-growing jobs over the next decade, and many opportunities will focus on categories including renewable energy, data, and health care. Regardless of what careers kids may want to pursue in the future, a robust STEM education invariably helps prepare them for any path they may choose to follow.

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

 

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Literacy leader Amira recently announced the launch of its brand-new app—Read with Amira. Backed by 20 years of research from Carnegie Mellon, the app uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help kiddos become better readers!

Targeted for children ages five through 10, Read with Amira provides real-time reading feeding that may boost a young child’s literacy level. If your kiddo is suffering from a school reading lag or just needs extra help with their literacy-based lessons, this app is a tech-friendly helper to explore.

photo courtesy of Amira

The app listens to your child as they read, checking for correct pronunciation. Read with Amira then provides real-time feedback, correcting your child when needed. Not only does the app help your child as they read, it provides you with detailed feedback on the correct number of words read per minute, what your child is reading and how many times each week they read.

Mark Angel, CEO and Co-Founder of Amira Learning, said in a press release, “Closing the literacy gap among children in the U.S. will increase academic engagement in school and at home for children.” Angel continued, “Amira is focusing on correcting early literacy issues by combining the science behind how young people learn to read and recent developments in AI to create a virtual reading scientist for every teacher and every student.”

Learn more about Read with Amira and get started with the app right here!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

 

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If there is one thing we have learned over the past few months, we have come to see the importance of raising our children to make the world a better place through their actions and reactions to what is going on around them. As their first teacher, there are many virtues parents look to model for their little ones. According to a new Parents survey, Kindness is the most important value parents want to instill in their children, topping intelligence and strong work ethic. 

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Parents today announced the results of its first-ever Parents Values Study which reveals that although parents believe raising kind children is the most important value they can instill, they  also believe that kids today are less kind than past generations. The study, which uncovers insights about American  parents’ biggest parenting challenges, concerns and priorities, as well as their views about their own parenting skills and parenting in the pandemic, is highlighted in Parents‘ second annual special November Kindness Issue and on parents.com/kindness.

Moms were asked to select the top three qualities they most hope to instill their children. The top selections are:

  1. Kindness (73%)
  2. Love of family (68%)
  3. Intelligence (51%)
  4. Strong work ethic (51%)
  5. Individuality (31%)

Julia Edelstein, Editor in Chief of Parents said, “As a mother, I care more about instilling kindness in my kids than any other trait, and it turns out that the vast majority of parents are on the exact same page. One of the many things that the pandemic has taught us is that kindness is a life-giving force, and we need more of it. With that said, one of the most disappointing findings from this study is that although our priorities are aligned when it comes to raising kind kids, most moms don’t see kindness reflected in kids’ behavior today. We have a lot of work to do, but we will get there. Parents‘ November issue—our second annual kindness issue–is a roadmap to prioritizing kindness in your family, and raising truly kind people.” 

To help parents in their effort to raise kind, compassionate people, the Parents special November Kindness issue has a collection of articles offering feel-good stories, profiles of inspiring families who stepped up in big ways and small during the pandemic, expert insights and creative ways that parents can take action.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

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When choosing a name, parents hope to find one that conveys something positive. In order to discover the trendiest lucky baby names of 2020, Compare.bet examined Nameberry’s Top Baby Names of 2020. The list was narrowed down to reveal which ones are bringing parents-to-be hope, luck and good fortune. 

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According to the research, the most popular lucky girls name is Iris which means “rainbow” in Greek. Asher which means “happy” in Hebrew tops the charts for lucky boy names. Of those surveyed, 94% of those using lucky names think that this will help their child later in life. Of the parents who don’t favor lucky names, 38% would avoid them because they are too mainstream.

The Top 20 Most Popular Lucky Girls Names and Their Meanings:

  1. Iris – Derived from the Greek word Iris, meaning rainbow
  2. Evangeline – Has Greek origin, meaning ‘bearer of good news’
  3. Beatrice – ‘She who brings happiness; blessed’ in Latin
  4. Jade – A precious green stone transmitting wisdom, clarity, justice and courage
  5. Kiara – ‘Bright’ or ‘light’ in Italian and ‘God’s precious gift’ in Hindi
  6. Felicity – Derived from Latin word Felicitas, meaning ‘luck, good fortune’
  7. Winfred – ‘Friend of Peace’
  8. Clover – A traditional symbol of good luck and prosperity, particularly when found with four leaves
  9. Octavia – Derives from Latin Octavus, meaning 8 – which is a lucky number in many cultures and represents infinity
  10. Amber – derived from the Arabic, Ambar, which means jewel

The Top 20 Most Popular Lucky Boys Names and Their Meanings:

  1. Asher – Strong religious connotations such as happiness and joy, or blessings in abundance
  2. Felix – Derives from Latin, meaning happy or lucky
  3. Quinn – Irish Gaelic origin, meaning sense and intelligence
  4. Chance – Often found in Middle English to mean good fortune
  5. Bennett – Stems from Latin and means blessed
  6. Edmund – Meaning prosperity and riches
  7. Benedict – Derives from the Late Latin name Benedictus, meaning blessed
  8. Fisher – Meaning ‘fisherman’, linked with superstitions
  9. Seven – Has English origin meaning inner wisdom
  10. Arley – Rooted in American and Hebrew meaning promise

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

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This talk show is out of this world. On Fri. Sept. 4, Disney+ will debut 10 episodes of its first original talk show Earth to Ned. The fresh take on the late-night format stars larger-than-life extraterrestrial creatures Ned and Cornelius as they interview some of the biggest stars in our galaxy.

This brand new talk show comes from The Jim Henson Company. Hosted by alien commander Ned and his lieutenant Cornelius, who call off the invasion of Earth after they fall in love with human culture. Broadcasting from the bridge of their spaceship, hidden deep underground, Ned and Cornelius interview Earth’s greatest resource, celebrities. With the help of the ship’s artificial intelligence, BETI, and the destructive CLODs (Cloned Living Organisms of Destruction), Ned must keep his show a secret from his home planet or suffer the wrath of his father, the Admiral of the Galactic Fleet. 

Each episode focuses on a topic or theme that is both equally unique to earthlings and fascinating to Ned, including comedy, sports, social media, and fashion. Ned beams in celebrity guests from across the known universe to put on the ultimate chat show, and the more he learns about our human culture, the more obsessed he becomes.

Guests include Bindi and Robert Irwin, NeNe Leakes, Joel McHale, Andy Richter, RuPaul, Jenny Slate, and Raven Symoné.

Ned, Cornelius, their Artificial Intelligence BETI, and army of CLODs are brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the team behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+

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If your child has special needs they will need to take an IQ test every few years in order to maintain or modify services through your school district. For decades, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children is the gold-standard test neuropsychologists use to determine the intellectual abilities of children with special needs. Unfortunately this test can take over two hours to administer and many children with special needs have a hard time participating in such a long test. 

child taking test

To solve this problem, researchers at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders identified measures in the test that appeared to be repetitive and succeeded in shortening the test by up to 20 minutes while still maintaining its accuracy in determining a child’s IQ.

“As neuropsychologists, we spend a considerable amount of time — usually a full day or a full afternoon at least — with patients to really get to know them, and that can be a lot for a child with a neurological disorder like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” said John Lace, a doctoral student who is completing an internship in clinical neuropsychology in the MU School of Health Professions. “If we can efficiently maximize the information we get from our patients during this test without overburdening them, we can save time and money for both clinicians and patients, which reduces the overall health care burden on families with neurodevelopmental disabilities.”

Neuropsychologists use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children test to not only assist in diagnosing individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, but also to help inform decisions about treatment and educational plans.

“Our overall goal is to help people understand any cognitive or learning differences they may have, which can lead to treatment options such as behavioral therapy or interventions at school,” said Lace. “As neuropsychologists, our profession is at the crux of addressing these challenges both academically and practically to help clinicians streamline what they do and positively impact patient care.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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