Woman reading to a group of children.

Research and Resources

Below is our growing research library dedicated to documenting the impact of programs and interventions that utilize creativity, invention, and artistic skill to spark healing, connection, and growth in children and families facing stress and trauma related to poverty and racism.

WCU Students and alumni are italicized in relevant citations.

Takeaways and Tools

Publications

From the REACH Lab

  • Wolf, D., Anderson, K., Murphy, M. (in preparation). Sharing Internal Worlds: Lullaby-writing as a Context for Bonding. In Perkins; R. (Ed.) (in preparation). Music and Parental Well-being (working title). Oxford University Press.
  • Brown, E.D., Weaver, Z., Streich, M., Shivde, G., & Garnett, M.L. (2023). Cortisol across preschool day relates to teacher ratings of executive functioning for children facing economic hardship. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 62, 31-40. DOI:10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.07.006
  • Brown, E.D., Blumenthal, M.A., & Allen, A.A. (2022). The sound of self-regulation: Music program relates to an advantage for children at risk. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.01.002
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Laurenceau, J.P., Garnett, M.L., Anderson, K.E. (2021). Deconstructing cumulative risk: Poverty and aspects of instability relate uniquely to young children's basal cortisol. Child Development. DOI: 10.1111/CDEV.13512
  • Holochwost, S. J., Goldstein, T. R., & Wolf, D. P. (2021). Delineating the benefits of arts education for children's socioemotional development. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.
  • Holochwost, S. J., Hill Bose, J., Stuk, E., Brown, E. D., Anderson, K. E., and Wolf, D. P. (2021). Planting the seeds: Orchestral music education as a context for fostering growth mindsets. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, e3617.
  • Holochwost, S. J., Gomes, L. A., Propper, C. B., Brown, E. D., & Iruka, I. U. (2021). Child care policy as an anti-poverty strategy: The need to address neurophysiological self-regulation. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences.
  • Holochwost, S. J., Kolacz, J., & Mills-Koonce, W. R. (2021). Towards an understanding of neurophysiological self-regulation in early childhood: The need for a new approach. Developmental Psychobiology.
  • Wolf, Dennie P. (2021). Make the Anvil Theirs: When Poetry Meets Folklore. Journal of Folklore and Education. 8:4-11. https://jfepublications.org/article/make-the-anvil-theirs/
  • Wolf, D. P., & Poulin, J. M. (2021). When questions are our best answers: responding to the impact of COVID-19 on community-based arts education organizations: a special issue of Arts Education Policy Review. Arts Education Policy Review

Related Research

  • Brown, E.D., Blumenthal, M.A., & Allen, A.A. (in press). The sound of self-regulation: Music program relates to an advantage for children at risk. Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
  • Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P, Goldstein, Thalia, (2022). More Light About Each Other - Theater Education as a Context for Developing Social Awareness and Relationship Skills. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.
  • Steven J. Holochwost & Elizabeth Stuk. (2022). Music Education: Child Development and Human Rights. In Julian Fifer, Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, George Ulrich, Manfred Nowak, & Angela Impey (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights. Routledge.
  • Brown, E.D. (2020). The art of early childhood education. National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)’s The Standard, 20 (1), 14-20.
  • Wolf, D. et al (2020). Making a joyful noise: The potential role of music-making in the well-being of young families. https://wolfbrown.com/insights/reports/making-a-joyful-noise/
  • Holochwost, S. J., Robb, S. L., Henley, A. K., Stegenga, K., Perkins, S. M., Russ, K. A., Seethal, J. A., Delgado, D., Haase, J. E., & Krater, C. M. (2020). Active music engagement and cortisol as an acute stress biomarker in young hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and caregivers: Results of a single case design pilot study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, e2865.
  • Brown, E.D., Garnett, M., Velazquez-Martin, B., & Mellor, T. (2018). The art of Head Start: Intensive arts integration associated with advantage in school readiness for economically disadvantaged children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 45, 204-214.
  • Brown, E.D., Garnett, M., Anderson, K., & Laurenceau, J.P. (2017). Can the arts get under the skin? Arts and cortisol for economically disadvantaged children. Child Development, 88, 1368-1381.
  • Holochwost, S. J., Propper, C. B., Wolf, D. P., Willoughby, M. T., Fisher, K. R., Kolacz, J., Volpe, V. V., & Jaffee, S. R. (2017). Music education, academic achievement, and executive functions. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 11, 146-166.
  • Wolf, D. P., & Holochwost, S. J. (2017). From the middle: A quarter century later. Voices from the Middle, 25, 27-29.
  • Wolf, D. P., & Holochwost, S. J. (2016). Music and juvenile justice: A Dynamic systems perspective. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 10, 171-183.
  • Wolf, D. P., Holochwost, S. J., Dargan, A., Selhorst, A., & Bar-Zemer, T. (2014). The Role of folk and traditional arts instruction in supporting student learning. Journal for Learning Through the Arts, 10.
  • Brown, E.D., & Sax, K. (2013). Arts enrichment and emotion expression and regulation for young children at risk. Early Childhood Research Quarterly 28, 337-346.
  • Brown, E.D. (2013). Tapping the arts to teach r's: Arts-integrated early childhood education. In L. Cohen & S. Waite-Stupiansky (Eds.). Advances in Early Education and Care, Vol. 17: Learning Across the Early Childhood Curriculum. Derby, UK: Emerald Group.
  • Brown, E.D., Benedett, B., & Armistead, M.E. (2010). Preschool arts enrichment and school readiness for children at risk. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 25, 112-124.

Presentations

From the REACH Lab

  • Varnell, S., Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S., Wolf, D.P., Allen, A., Malatesta, J., Garnett, M.L., & Velazquez-Martin, B. (2023, March). Visual Arts Activities Relate to Interest and Cortisol for Children in Head Start Preschool. 2023 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Allen, A., Charya, P., Garnett, M.L., Velazquez-Martin, B., & Varnell, S. (2023, March). The Magic’s in the Making Music: Music, Dance, and Cortisol for Preschool Children Facing Adversity. 2023 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Allen, A., Charya, P., Garnett, M.L., Velazquez-Martin, B., Varnell, S., and Schnarr, E. (2022, October). The Magic’s in the Making Music: Music, Dance, and Cortisol for Preschool Children Facing Adversity. MasonARC22 Conference, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
  • Wolf, D. (2022, June). Lullaby Research Session. Weill Music Institute Annual Lullaby Convening, Carnegie Hall, New York
  • Brown, E.D., Varnell, S., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Garnett, M.L., Velazquez-Martin, B., Allen, A., Malatesta, J. (2022, April). Visual arts activities relate to cortisol and observed interest for preschool children. West Chester University’s Research and Creative Activities Day. West Chester, PA.
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Garnett, M.L., Velazquez-Martin, B., Varnell, S., Allen, A., Malatesta, J., Blumenthal, M.A., & Tettey, E. (2022, April). Creative arts and child stress regulation: Should teachers guide or get out of the way? West Chester University’s Research and Creative Activities Day. West Chester, PA.
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Garnett, M.L., Velazquez-Martin, B., Varnell, S., Allen, A., Malatesta, J., & Hennessey, K. (2022, April). Cortisol relates to emotion expression for young children facing economic hardship. West Chester University’s Research and Creative Activities Day. West Chester, PA.
  • Brown, E.D., Holochwost, S.J., Wolf, D.P., Malatesta, J.L., Allen, A.A., Garnett, M.L., & Velazquez-Martin, B. (2022, April). Creative Arts and Child Stress Regulation: Should Teachers Guide or Get out of the Way? Society for Research in Child Development Special Topic Meeting: Learning through Play and Imagination. St Louis, MO.
  • Pinchback-Johnson, A., Chism, M., Torres, E., Wolf, D.P., & Elpus, K. (2022, March). Researchers and Funders Policy Briefing. Arts Education Partnership. Virtual Webinar.
  • Wolf, D.P. (2022, January) "Assessing Impact: Why Lullaby Matters." Invited session: International Lullaby Project 10th Anniversary Convening. Carnegie Hall. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Holochwost, S.J., Volpe, V.V., Propper, C.B., Mills-Koonce, W.R., Brown, E.D., & Jaffee, S.R. (2021, November). A Developmental Perspective on Allostatic Load. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Wolf, D.P. (2021, November) "The Lullaby Project Has Arrived | Magic Happens." Invited panel: Cheshire and Merseyside Baby Week. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Wolf, Dennie Palmer. (2021, June) "Four foundations for understanding the import and impact of lullabies." Invited session: International Lullaby Project Conference. Carnegie Hall. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Varnell, S., Velazquez-Martin, B., & Garnett, M.L. (2021, April). Music Education Program Relates to Social-Emotional Growth for Children Facing Economic Hardship. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Ippolito, P., Garnett, M.L., & Chang, J. (2021, April). Does Skin Color our Judgments? Experimental Study of Implicit Bias and Ratings of Child Behavior. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Shokunbi, F., & Garnett, M.L. (2021, April). Playtime and Bedtime Relate to Cortisol Levels for Young Children Facing Poverty-Related Stress. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Varnell, S., Velazquez-Martin, B., & Garnett, M.L. (2021, April). Music Education Program Relates to Social-Emotional Growth for Children Facing Economic Hardship. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Weaver, Z., Garnett, M.L., Streich, M., and Shivde, G. (2021, April). Cortisol Levels Relate to Executive Functioning in the Classroom for Children Attending Head Start Preschool. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.

    • Related Research

  • Brown, E.D. (2021, November). Toxic Stress: The Biopsychology of Ending Poverty. West Chester University First Year Experience: Disease, Health, & Society: Psychological Perspectives. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Davis, T., & Brown, E.D. (2021, October). Bridging the Achievement Gap: Arts-Integrated Early Childhood Education. Philanthropy Network SPARX Conference. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Davis, T., & Brown, E.D. (2021, June). Integrating the Arts in Early Childhood: Coaching to Success: Leading Conversations that Empower Childcare Owners & Operators as Business Leaders. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Davis, T., & Brown, E.D. (2021, June). The Art of Early Childhood Education. Public Citizens for Children and Youth. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Wolf, Dennie Palmer. (2021, June) "Meaningful metrics: Capturing the impact of education and community programs during a pandemic." Invited panel: League of American Orchestras National Conference. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Akbar, G.L., & Brown, E.D. (2021, June). The Impact of Two Pandemics (COVID-19 & Structural Racism) on Child and Family Development: How Do We Promote Healing and Resilience? Research Address: Chester County Aces Coalition. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Davis, T., & Brown, E.D. (2021, May). The Art of Early Childhood Education. Representative Mary Louise Isaacson, PA District 175. Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Ippolito, P., Garnett, M.L., & Chang, J. (2021, April). Does Skin Color our Judgments? Experimental Study of Implicit Bias and Ratings of Child Behavior. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.
  • Brown, E.D., Wolfe, B., Valdez, K., Miller, S., & Mosley, K., (2021, March). Want to Change Perspectives on Social Justice? Academic Courses Matter, but Social Movements may Matter More. Association for Women in Psychology Annual Meeting, Virtual due to COVID-19.

In the News

About the REACH Lab's Work