The research behind Kalmdix

Family dinner conversation and children's vocabulary: what the Harvard research found

October 13, 2026 · The research · 4 min read

Researchers at Harvard recorded family mealtimes and found dinner talk full of rare words, stories and explanations. What it means for parents and for Kalmdix.

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Serve and return: the Harvard idea behind every good conversation with a child

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Serve and return, from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard: the back-and-forth that builds young brains, its five steps, and what it means at dinner.

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The RULER approach: what Yale's emotional intelligence research means for families

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

RULER, from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, teaches children to recognise, understand, label, express and regulate emotions. What it means at home.

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Emotion coaching: John Gottman's five steps, explained for family life

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Emotion coaching, from John Gottman's research, turns children's big feelings into moments of connection. The five steps, the evidence, and how to use them.

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Family routines and rituals: what Barbara Fiese's research says about family meals

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Psychologist Barbara Fiese spent decades studying family routines, rituals and mealtimes. What her research found, and how to make dinner a ritual that matters.

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Storytelling at dinner: what UCLA learned from filming everyday family life

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

UCLA researchers filmed the daily lives of 32 families and studied how they tell stories at dinner. What they found, and how to bring stories to your table.

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How you eat together matters as much as how often: the Max Planck research on family meals

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Max Planck researchers in Berlin found that the atmosphere, the TV and even the length of family meals matter for what children eat. Here is what to change.

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Talking about thoughts and feelings: what Cambridge research says about children's social understanding

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Cambridge research by Claire Hughes links how parents talk about thoughts and feelings to children's understanding of other people. What to try at home.

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Mentalizing: the idea from Anna Freud and UCL that helps parents read between the lines

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Mentalizing, seeing behaviour in terms of thoughts and feelings, is central to Peter Fonagy's work at Anna Freud and UCL. What it means for everyday parenting.

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Family bonds across generations: what the Milan research on family relationships teaches us

October 13, 2026 · The research · 3 min read

Researchers at Università Cattolica in Milan see the family as a bond between generations built on trust and hope. What it means for family time with kids.

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