Researchers to Discuss Strong Family Relationships in Symposium

UC Merced will host its fourth annual Symposium on the Child and Family from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28, offering a day of talks by researchers on the theme of “Strong Families: Fostering Healthy Parent-Child Relationships and Child Development.”

The symposium is designed to be of interest to individuals who work with young children or have an interest in learning more about early child development. It will consist of a series of talks by distinguished researchers and small-group discussions between researchers and attendees.

Certificates will be available for those seeking professional development hours, and food and beverages will be provided. Tours of the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) and research labs will also be offered.

Planned research talks include:

• UC Merced Professor Eric Walle, on parent-child attachment;
• WestEd Senior Research Associate Emily Newton, on the role of caregiver-child relationships in early development;
• UC Merced Professor Matthew Zawadzki, on the effects of stress and rumination on well-being; and
• UC Merced Professor Alexandra Main, on family systems perspectives on healthy child development.

Space is limited for the symposium. A $20 registration fee covers a coffee break and lunch. Attendees can register online before Jan. 20.

The symposium is organized by a committee that is chaired by Professor Jeff Gilger and includes Walle, Main, fellow professors Rose Scott and Heather Bortfeld, ECEC Director Danielle Waite, and psychology graduate students Megan Smith and Carmen Kho. Support for this year’s event comes from the ECEC, the UC Merced Alliance for Child and Family Health and Development, First 5 Merced County, Lakeshore Learning, and the Carlston Cunningham Endowment.

For more information, contact Jeff Gilger or Danielle Waite.