Nuclear family.

Beyond the nuclear family at the Fitzwilliam Museum

05 October 2023

An unprecedented Fitzwilliam Museum exhibition explores the family, informed by psychological research from the ̽»¨Ö±²¥'s Centre for Family Research. Its curator hopes to open minds to newer family forms including those with LGBTQ+ parents and families created by assisted reproduction.

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Father and son talking

Assisted reproduction kids grow up just fine – but it may be better to tell them early about biological origins

13 April 2023

Landmark study finds no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born by assisted reproduction (egg or sperm donation or surrogacy) and those born naturally at age 20. However, findings suggest that telling children about their biological origins early – before they start school – can be advantageous for family relationships and healthy adjustment.

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Set up for life

25 November 2020

We’re used to the idea that as adults we have some control over our destiny: what we eat and drink and how much we exercise can affect our health. But the risks of heart disease and diabetes can be programmed much earlier – even before we are born.

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Woman at home alone

Stigma of broken family relationships compounded by lockdown

18 June 2020

Lockdown restrictions have not brought estranged family members closer together, and recent focus on the importance of family support has made dealing with the pandemic even more difficult for those with challenging family situations, a new study published today has found.

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‘Terrible twos’ not inevitable: with engaged parenting, happy babies can become happy toddlers

06 May 2020

Parents should not feel pressured to make their young children undertake structured learning or achieve specific tasks, particularly during lockdown. A new study of children under the age of two has found that parents who take a more flexible approach to their child’s learning can - for children who were easy babies - minimise behavioural problems during toddlerhood.

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Gardeners and carpenters: the ‘skill’ of parenting

08 November 2018

Wanting your child to have the best chance in life is natural for any parent. But by focusing too much on the ‘skill’ of parenting, are we losing sight of things that matter more – how we talk to and play with children? Cambridge researchers are examining how parents can best help their children in their early years through nurturing rather than shaping.

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