MARCS BabyLab in Milperra | Medical research centre

MARCS BabyLab

Locality: Milperra

Phone: +61 2 9772 6696

Address: Western Sydney University, Bankstown campus, Bullecourt Ave 2214 Milperra, NSW, Australia

Website: www.westernsydney.edu.au/babylab

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25.01.2022 Hi Everyone, Thank you to those who have dedicated their time to participate in our study on childrens understanding of emotions :) If you are interested in joining the study, it is not too late! We would love to hear from you. ... Feel free to share this post with your friends. Thanks :)

25.01.2022 It's National Science Week! Ever wondered how your child’s language development is going? The MARCS Institute BabyLab, in partership with City of Parramatta Libraries presents this MARCS BabyLab #ScienceWeek video all about our new communication checklist for Aussie kids under three years.

24.01.2022 Thanks everyone for attending our WSU BabyLab webinar today on our new short early communication checklist, the OZI-SF. In case you missed it or would like to share with friends here is the 30-min video recording. Enjoy!

22.01.2022 In line with the Australian Governments advice on COVID-19, we are continuing our break from regular face-to-face studies at our three MARCS BabyLab research centres located at Western Sydney Universitys Kingswood, Bankstown, and Westmead campuses, and preparing a range of new online studies that will be available soon. Click for more info!

21.01.2022 NEW RESEARCH STUDY! Is your baby aged 6-8 months? We want to hear from you - join us for a short, fun study investigating lullabies and language acquisition. Baby Lily earned her honours degree in BabyLab studies from participating in our new musical study Sign up now:... https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSeHXIU2-kU8o305v/viewform See more

21.01.2022 Hi Everyone, If you are a mum of a premature or full-term baby who is currently aged 24 months or under, you may be interested in this study investigating psychological health,maternal confidence and growth as a mother. The study is being conducted by Master of Clinical Psychology student Kristen Mazzitelli, under the supervision of Babylab researcher Dr. Karen Mattock, and colleague Dr. Janet Conti. Please share :)

20.01.2022 NEW STUDY- Do you speak more than one language? Help us investigate how home languages are maintained in Australia! Encouraging your children to speak your home language can be challenging. We seek to identify the strategies used and challenges experienced by bilingual and multilingual families in keeping their home languages alive. If you live in Australia, please complete our 15-minute, confidential survey. Your say is important and can help make a difference to language po...licies in the future. To complete the survey click here: https://bit.ly/2Q3QCfm

20.01.2022 Our colleague, Professor Hannah Dahlen from Western Sydney Universitys School of Nursing and Midwifery was interviewed this week about all the weird (and totally NORMAL) things that happen throughout pregnancy Prof Dahlen helps guide many women through pregnancy, and explains what is happening with all these changes in the latest Babyology Feed Play Love podcast! Click to listen!

19.01.2022 Are you in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of your pregnancy? We are currently investigating the nature of an expectant mothers speech to her baby, both in utero and post-birth, to improve our understanding of mother-infant interaction. Participation in this study involves visits to the MARCS BabyLab to take part in audio/video recording sessions where you will chat with the baby in your tummy, and a researcher.... To find out more about our important research study, please contact Alana Weithaler on 0433 636 285, or email: [email protected] This study has been approved by the Western Sydney University Human Ethics Committee. Approval number: H13425.

18.01.2022 Little Miss Katia earned her Bachelors Degree in BabyLab studies recently after participating in a PhD research study that examines how babies listen to and track pitch differences in speech Join our #BabyGrad club, sign up to our BabyLab Register to be a part of our important research studies. All participants receive $30 to cover your travel and a free gift for your baby! https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/baby/get_invovled/register

17.01.2022 Its National Science Week! Ever wondered how your childs language development is going? The MARCS Institute BabyLab, in partership with City of Parramatta Libraries presents this MARCS BabyLab #ScienceWeek video all about our new communication checklist for Aussie kids under three years.

17.01.2022 Celebrate National Science Week with us! Here at The MARCS Institute, we have partnered with City of Parramatta Libraries to celebrate #ScienceWeek 2020 with a range of interactive online activities. Get involved with our research teams as they present a range of brain science themed webinars across the lifespan - from our BabyLab team talking about toddler speech development, to keeping the brain healthy as we age; and a fascinating talk on the amazing connections be...tween music and mathematics. Read on for Western Sydney Universitys full offering of National Science Week events and activities happening all week!

17.01.2022 "Kids like routine, and its perfectly OK to have the same thing for days in a row". Dr Leonie Arthur, early childhood specialist at Western Sydney University spoke with ABC News on the new ways parents are adding routine to their week during social distancing.

17.01.2022 How have you stayed connected with your grandchild, niece or nephew during COVID-19? Thank you to the parents who have completed the survey so far! Did you know there is a version for grandparents and other relatives keeping in touch. We are looking for grandparents, aunts and uncles with grandchildren, nieces or nephews under the age of 5 to complete an online survey looking at the ways technology has helped you stay connected during these strange times.... If you would like to complete the survey, please follow this link: https://surveyswesternsydney.au1.qualtrics.com//SV_9Red5uu

16.01.2022 Should you introduce your child to a second language? Absolutely! Associate Prof Mark Antoniou from the MARCS BabyLab speaks with Medium about the benefits of bilingualism.

15.01.2022 You’re invited to our webinar! Wednesday 24 June 1pm - 1:30pm AEST Ever wondered how your child’s language development is going, but didn’t know where to look? Join us for a FREE 30-minute webinar as we launch our new short communication checklist for Australian kids under three.... To register and receive the Webinar link, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/youre-invited-to-our-webina This checklist, the OZI-SF, asks you as a parent the expert on your child to select which words your child says or understands. The checklist is online, safe, and takes 10 minutes. You get a free report, plus tips from our website. The checklist has been developed by Western Sydney University researchers at The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour & Development and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, in collaboration with speech pathologists at Liverpool Hospital, and with special thanks to Western Sydney University Early Learning. (Project funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language.)

15.01.2022 Covey Bear and his research friends need your help! Researchers from Western Sydney University's MARCS BabyLab, The University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, UNSW, and Macquarie University are seeking kids aged 3 to 12 years to share their memories of life during the COVID19 pandemic lockdown as part of the Bear in a Window research project. Tell Covey Bear about indoor games, disaster cooking, home schooling, or whatever you like! We can't wait to hear your stories ...and experiences. More info here: http://bearinawindow.org

13.01.2022 We are seeking 6-8 year old children for a study of childrens emotion situation knowledge. The study is online and involves completion of a series of online activities. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Brigette via email, [email protected] Please tell your friends about our study :)

12.01.2022 PARENTING MASTERCLASS VIDEO UNICEF sat down with Dr Marina Kalashnikova from our The MARCS Institute BabyLab to find out what baby talk is and why its the most important language in the world in this mini parenting masterclass video!

12.01.2022 How have you and your children stayed connected with your family during COVID-19? Our researchers are looking for parents and caregivers with children under the age of five years old to complete an online survey looking at the ways technology has helped you stay connected during these unprecedented times. Follow the link to begin our online survey:... https://surveyswesternsydney.au1.qualtrics.com//SV_d4H29Bd See more

12.01.2022 Having a baby is stressful enough without a coronavirus pandemic and all the associated misinformation. Professor Hannah Dahlen AM from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University explains where to get trusted information.

11.01.2022 We are the only species in the world who can acquire language, and even machines up to date are not prepared to learn language in the same way as humans do. Bu...t our tiny babies who cannot sit straight, or who cannot tie their shoes are already masters in that system. In fact ewe know from research that babies are already learning about their language when they're still in the womb! Dr. Marina Kalashnikova from the MARCS BabyLab at Western Sidney University draws on her research about "babytalk or Infant-directerd Speech"

11.01.2022 NEW STUDY - Thank you to all the parents for participating with your child in our BabyLab studies. Now its your turn! We are currently conducting a language study with adults. Due to Covid19 we are doing this on online, so there is unfortunately no reimbursement for travel time.... However, we are sure it will be of interest to you and the results will assist us in learning more about adults language processing and in devising future studies with infants. If you are interested in participating, please click the link below to fill out a consent form and a quick questionnaire. We will then contact you with the link to the experiment which will take about 10-15 minutes.

09.01.2022 MARCS BABYLAB IN THE MEDIA The Daily Telegraph interviewed our MARCS BabyLab Postgraduate Fulbright Research Fellow, Emily Tan, on her research study investigating how word learning can occur from lullabies and song. Is your little one aged 6 to 8 months old, and loves music, songs and lullabies? Sign up to our #BabyGrad club to get involved in this musical study! Link in comments.

09.01.2022 Do you follow us on Instagram? Get on the gram for the latest updates from our #BabyGrads and the BabyLab research team https://instagram.com/marcsbabylab/

09.01.2022 In case you missed it - Earlier this week, the Daily Telegraph interviewed our Postgraduate Fulbright Research Fellow, Emily Tan, about her lullaby and song research findings!

08.01.2022 Back to School with BabyLab - making the transition to school easier for the whole family! Tip 4: TAKE A FAMILY KINDY-MOON As a family preparation and bonding initiative, Dr Christa Lam-Cassettari and her family have taken a Kindy-Moon family getaway to relax and foster positive feelings and memories in the lead up to her sons first day of Kindergarten.... Similar to how some people go on a Honeymoon or even a Babymoon to relax, celebrate and prepare for a new life stage, my family has taken a Kindy-Moon trip down to the NSW South Coast to enjoy time away from our regular routines, explains Dr Lam-Cassettari. Giving kids the chance to be little explorers in the great outdoors is a great opportunity for family bonding, building your childs confidence and promoting relaxation and happiness. "We supported our son on our Kindy-Moon trip as he selected the clothes he would need to pack for the trip and he also made a range of decisions on behalf of the family like which beach we would visit first from a map of the local beaches; which spot to set up the beach tent; and where we would get dinner from a choice of two options. "There were so many everyday learning experiences that he attempted in a new environment, she said. A Kindy-Moon is a great opportunity to spend quality family time together, relax and foster positive feelings and memories which will support and celebrate your little one transitioning to the next stage of their development. You do not need to travel far or spend a lot of money a fun camping experience in your own backyard is just as beneficial!

08.01.2022 Are you curious which words your baby is learning? Try our online vocabulary checklist! Associate Professor Caroline Jones, from MARCS BabyLab speaks with Child Magazines about vocabulary development in Australian children, and supporting parents to learn more about how their children learn to communicate.

08.01.2022 We are seeking 6-8 year old children for a study of children’s emotion situation knowledge. The study is online and involves completion of a series of online activities. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Brigette via email, [email protected] Please tell your friends about our study :)

08.01.2022 Are you in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of your pregnancy, and have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression? We are currently investigating the nature of an expectant mothers speech to her baby, both in utero and post-birth, to improve our understanding of mother-infant interaction. Participation in this study involves visits to the MARCS BabyLab to take part in audio/video recording sessions where you will chat with the baby in your tummy, and a researcher.... To find out more about our important research study, please contact Alana Weithaler on 0433 636 285, or email: [email protected] This study has been approved by the Western Sydney University Human Ethics Committee. Approval number: H13425.

08.01.2022 Dr Christa Lam-Cassettari from The MARCS Institute BabyLab was interviewed by South West Sydney Research about her important research into the impact of Postnatal Depression #PND on conversations between a mother and her baby, and how these conversations affect the childs future development. Read on to learn more about Dr Christas important work into PND and how her research is helping mums and bubs.

06.01.2022 Back to School with BabyLab - making the transition to school easier for the whole family! Tip 3: THE POWER OF POSITIVITY Building up your little ones confidence starts with positive thinking and encouragement! ... Point out the positives of starting school to encourage your child and create positive anticipation about their first day. Remind your child they will see old friends and/or meet new friends, and talk about all the different activities they will get to participate in such as painting, playing sports, and reading stories. Talk with them about positive experiences they may have had at pre-school, playgroup or with other groups of children.

06.01.2022 Youre invited to our webinar! Wednesday 24 June 1pm - 1:30pm AEST Ever wondered how your childs language development is going, but didnt know where to look? Join us for a FREE 30-minute webinar as we launch our new short communication checklist for Australian kids under three.... To register and receive the Webinar link, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/youre-invited-to-our-webina This checklist, the OZI-SF, asks you as a parent the expert on your child to select which words your child says or understands. The checklist is online, safe, and takes 10 minutes. You get a free report, plus tips from our website. The checklist has been developed by Western Sydney University researchers at The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour & Development and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, in collaboration with speech pathologists at Liverpool Hospital, and with special thanks to Western Sydney University Early Learning. (Project funded by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language.)

06.01.2022 Last chance to register for our FREE 30 minute webinar on tomorrow at 1pm. Ever wondered how your childs language development is going, but didnt know where to look? Join us as we launch our new short communication checklist for Australian kids under three!

06.01.2022 Languages like Japanese, Korean, Turkish and the indigenous languages of the Amazon, East Africa, and New Guinea build sentences in a way that lets them grow to enormous length. Dr Hannah Sarvasy writes for The Conversation today about her new research which shows how learning one of these "clause chain languages may help children create complex sentences that express multiple ideas at a younger age.

05.01.2022 Is your child: aged 16-24 months, and learning two languages at home? OR aged 12-30 months, and with a sibling? We are Honours students at Western Sydney University, looking to interview parents of toddlers about their early communication development!... The study involves a 40-min Zoom or phone call. First a short (12-minute) online checklist (OZI-SF) about your childs vocabulary, followed by a follow-up chat to learn more about your childs development, and your perspective as a parent. We would be grateful if you are interested in volunteering for our project. Thanks! If you are interested, please email one of us: Klia Glezakis: [email protected] Isabel North: [email protected]

05.01.2022 Dr Hannah Sarvasy appeared on Radio Adelaide's Breakfast program earlier this week talking about new research that has found that kids who speak 'clause chain' languages such as Japanese, Korean, Turkish and the indigenous languages of the Amazon, East Africa, and New Guinea, can form complex multi-clause sentences from just 2 years of age which is when anglophone kids start forming regular sentences. Listen to the interview here

04.01.2022 Are you running out of ideas to keep active children busy at home? After watching Michael Rosen perform his timeless book we made an indoor obstacle course with soft toys, cushions and teddy in a tent. I hope you have as much fun as we did! Dr Christa xx

04.01.2022 Dr Hannah Sarvasy appeared on Radio Adelaides Breakfast program earlier this week talking about new research that has found that kids who speak clause chain languages such as Japanese, Korean, Turkish and the indigenous languages of the Amazon, East Africa, and New Guinea, can form complex multi-clause sentences from just 2 years of age which is when anglophone kids start forming regular sentences. Listen to the interview here

03.01.2022 Back to School with BabyLab - making the transition to school easier for the whole family! Tip 5: ADJUST SLEEP SCHEDULES Consider starting your child on their new school sleep/wake schedule in the week ahead of their first day to help them prepare for the daily school routine. ... Having them practice this morning routine will make the first day of school smoother and less stressful for the whole family! Practice skills such as dressing in the new school uniform, packing school bags the night before, and practice tying shoe laces.

03.01.2022 Back to School with BabyLab - making the transition to school easier for the whole family! Tip 7: SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY The first day of school is a special and exciting milestone in your childs life often documented with the much anticipated first day of school photograph - we all have one! ... Be mindful when sharing your precious milestone images on social media that identifying features such as school logos and the colours/patterns of uniforms can reveal the location of your childs school. Consider reviewing your social media privacy settings when sharing images of your children, or consider editing out any identifying logos or name tags.

03.01.2022 "Kids like routine, and it's perfectly OK to have the same thing for days in a row". Dr Leonie Arthur, early childhood specialist at Western Sydney University spoke with ABC News on the new ways parents are adding routine to their week during social distancing.

03.01.2022 Back to School with BabyLab - making the transition to school easier for the whole family! Tip 6: INVOLVE THE KIDS IN PACKING LUNCH BOXES For the last few weeks, my son has been helping me prepare his lunches. He loves helping me make air popped popcorn or portion out crackers and cheese cubes into reusable containers for a morning tea snack," explains Dr Christa Lam-Cassettari.... "Involving him in making quick and healthy lunches makes it even more exciting that he will get to eat what he helped to make, she said. What do your kids like to help you make in the kitchen? Show us in the comments below!

02.01.2022 NEW STUDY - Understanding how infants detect different vowel sounds Would you like to help us understand more about how infants detect different vowel sounds? Sounds are the building blocks of language, and this study is looking at how infants can detect differences between words that differ in only one sound, and at what age in development infants are capable of doing this for different vowel sounds. Age range: 14 15 months. The study is being conducted via Zoom, and part...icipation involves a session of 10-15 minutes. Every child will receive a BabyLab degree for their participation. For more information or to register interest click here: https://bit.ly/31wgvJY

01.01.2022 MARCS BABYLAB IN THE MEDIA! Our MARCS BabyLab and Western Sydney University researchers, Dr Christa Lam-Cassettari, Professor Paola Escudero and Professor Virginia Schmied authored an article for The Conversation with helpful tips for grandparents to improve video calls with their grand kids. https://theconversation.com/grandparent-grandchildren-video