1. Beginnings -- Identical twins have a telepathic connection that originates in the womb -- Couples dealing with infertility are more likely to get pregnant if they adopt -- Parents can predict the sex of a fetus by examining the shape of the mother's body -- all boys have one Y chromosome (and all girls don't) -- The attachment parenting approach strengthens the mother-infant bond -- Identical twins have identical genes -- A woman who is already pregnant can't get pregnant again -- The Chinese lunar calendar accurately predicts the sex of a baby -- Female fetuses have faster heart rates than male fetuses -- Epidurals create a high risk of harm during delivery -- More babies are born during a full moon -- Pre-chewing a baby's food has no known risks -- 2. Growth, body, & mind -- Letting babies "cry it out" during bedtime is harmful to their development -- Sugar intake causes children to be hyperactive -- Using a baby walker will help a toddler walk sooner -- Showing cognitively stimulating videos to babies boosts their intelligence -- Using "baby talk" with an infant delays their ability to speak normally -- Vaccines caused the rise in autism diagnoses -- A good response to stimulant medication is proof that a child has ADHD -- Requiring children to "clean their plates" promotes healthy eating habits -- Dyslexia's defining feature is letter reversal -- Most babies can learn to read with the right learning program -- Educational kinesiology promotes learning in children -- Facilitated communication is effective for children with autism -- Dolphin-assisted therapy effectively treats children with special needs --
3. Emotions & behavior -- Bed-wetting is a sign of serious emotional problems -- Most antidepressants for children with depression are approved by the FDA -- Drawings contain specific signs useful in identifying subconscious problems -- Most toddlers go through a "terrible twos" stage -- Kids can be "scared straight" from delinquency -- Parents can usually tell when their child is depressed -- Young girls are more likely to have clinical depression than young boys -- Helping children avoid their fears is the best way to decrease their anxiety -- Adults can usually tell if a child is lying -- Seeing other people be aggressive will decrease children's aggressive drive -- School homicides are on the rise -- Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) prevents drug use -- 4. Social environment -- An "only child" is likely to be selfish, spoiled, and socially incompetent -- Divorce ruins most kids' lives -- If you "spare the rod" you will "spoil the child" -- Brief time-outs are too weak to help decrease real behavior problems -- Daycare damages the attachment between children and parents -- Imaginary friends are a sign of social-emotional problems in children -- Birth order is a powerful predictor of a child's personality -- The most common reason for sibling fights is the rivalry for parental love -- Parent-child relationship disruptions can be repaired with holding therapy -- Fathers use more corporal punishment than mothers -- Rewards usually decrease the desirable behavior they're intended to increase -- Praise undermines children's ability to be successful -- Parents were not permissive when I was a kid