'Positive' parenting protects kids' brains from damage caused by stress, according to a new study. But there’s a catch

(Credit: Getty Images)

We can’t always protect our children from the hard knocks of life—but parenting them with care may shield them from the negative impact of stress.

That’s according to an article published this week in the medical journal PNAS Nexus. “Positive” parenting—defined by researchers as warm, supportive, validating, and responsive—had a protective effect on children ages 10-17 who experienced major stressors like illness, poverty, or the death of a loved one.