Our Research

ur research aims to understand the foundations of healthy social and emotional development and the critical roles of parents. All parents agree to participate in research when they enroll their toddlers at the Toddler Center. Studies vary from year to year, but all aim to better understand early development and parenting, in typical and atypical circumstances. Barnard and Columbia students gain valuable experience as research assistants on the projects.

A sampling of recent studies and publications/presentations from each:

Parenting Young Children Study
is a qualitative study of parenting in the early years. Two hundred and twenty-five parents (mothers and fathers) were interviewed about their experiences of becoming parents, being parents, challenges and pleasures of parenting young children, and work and family issues. We are currently analyzing the data, looking particularly at how parents balance and make decisions about work and family.

• Klein, T.P., Miranda, C., Nofi, E. & Bresgi, G. (2006). Parenting Toddlers Today: Ins and Outs, Ups and Downs. Presentation at the Zero to Three Conference, Albuquerque, N.M.

World Trade Center Study of Young Children
is an NIMH-funded study conducted immediately after 9/11/01 on the effects of the WTC disaster on young children and parents. Most of the 240 children in this study, ages 1-5, lived downtown at the time and directly witnessed the events. This study is in collaboration with Dr. Ellen DeVoe of Boston University.

• Klein, T.P., DeVoe, E.R., Miranda-Julian, C., & Linas, C. (in press). Young Children’s Responses to September 11th: The NYC Experience. Infant Mental Health Journal.

• DeVoe, E., Bannon, W., Klein, T.P., & Miranda, C.M. (2007). Post-9/11 mental health service help-seeking among a group of highly exposed New York City parents. Families in Society, 88, 311-316.

• DeVoe, E., Bannon, W. & Klein, T.P. (2006). Post-9/11 Helpseeking by New York City parents on behalf of highly exposed young children. Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76, 167-175.

• Klein, T.P., Eddington, J., Miranda, C., Nofi, E., Setton, R., & DeVoe, E.R. (2005). Young Children’s abilities to Communicate about Traumatic Events: Responses to the World Trade Center Disaster. Presentation at the Zero to Three Conference, Wash. DC.

• Pfefferbaum, B., DeVoe, E.R., Stuber, J., Schiff, M., Klein, T.P., & Fairbrother, G. (2005). Review of psychological impact on children and families. In Y. Danieli, D. Brom, A. Shalev, & J. Waiser (Eds.),
The Trauma of Terror: Learning from the Israeli and American Experiences.

• Klein, T.P., DeVoe, E., Miranda, C., Garduno, J. & Linas, K. (2003). The Responses and Adaptation of Young Children Living Near Ground Zero. Presentation at Zero to Three Conference, New Orleans.

• Klein, T.P., DeVoe, E.R., Miranda, C., & Bannon, W.M. (2005). Post-9/11 Adaptation in a Sample of Highly Exposed NYC Preschoolers. Presentation at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Atlanta, GA.

• Klein, T.P., DeVoe, E., & Miranda, C. (2003). Impact of the World Trade Center disaster on young children at Ground Zero. Presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, Fla.

Parent-Toddler Socialization Study
is a study conducted over a two-year period at the Toddler Center. This study looks at mothers and fathers thinking about their own children's early friendships and social interactions.

• Tasopoulos, M., Katz, S., Linas, K., Garduno, J. & Klein, T. (2003). Mothers' and fathers' thinking about toddler peer interactions: Relation to parenting behaviors. Presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, Fla.

Toddler Imitation Study
was conducted with a doctoral student at Columbia. This study looks at early imitation in toddlers.

• Subiaul, F., Lurie, H., Romansky, K., Klein, T., Holmes,D., & Terrace, H. (2007). Cognitive imitation in typically-developing 3- and 4-year olds and individuals with autism. Cognitive Development, 22, 230-243.

• Subiaul, F., Lurie, H., Romansky, K., Klein, T., Holmes,D., & Terrace, H. (2007). Cognitive imitation in 2-year old children (Homo Sapiens): A comparison with rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Animal Cognition, 10, 369-375.

Other Publications:

• Klein, T.P., Pope, A., Getahun, E., & Thompson, J (2006). Mothers' reflections on raising a child with a craniofacial anomaly. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 43, 590-597.

• Grimes, C., Klein, T.P., & Putallaz, M. (2004). Parents' relationships with their parents and peers: Influences on Children's Social Development. In J. Kuperschmidt & K.A. Dodge (Eds). Children's Peer Relations: From Development to Intervention, 141-158. Wash. DC: APA Press.

• Klein, T.P., Wirth, D., & Linas, K. (2003). Play: Children's context for development. Young Children, 58, 38-45.