Hello, I’m Dr. Celina Benavides! As a parent and researcher, I know that there’s a ton of parenting and educational resources online. However, not all of the recommended information is grounded in evidence-based practices. It can be hard determining which information is credible.
After having different friends and family reach out for parenting advice over the years, I became even more passionate about sharing accurate and useful strategies that are developmentally appropriate.
You’re here, so I know that you want the best for your children. On this site you’ll find free, research-based resources and tips that aid in children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. If you’d like specific guidance and step-by-step strategies to implement within your home or classroom, I also offer individualized coaching.
Thank you for allowing me to join you on your journey!
My Background
I’ve studied learning and development across the lifespan. My educational background includes earning:
- Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Claremont Graduate University,
- M.A. in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard, and
- Ed.M. in Education with a Preliminary Teaching Credential in Mathematics at Whittier College
I’ve worked in the education field for over 17 years in a multitude of capacities. This includes:
- directing a non-profit that supported family child care providers,
- serving as an early childhood education coordinator for a national organization,
- training educators and school administrators,
- teaching young children at a preschool,
- supporting kindergarten to 2nd graders as part of an early mental health initiative, and
- working with junior high and high school students in algebra and geometry classes, to name just a few!
Additionally, I have taught undergraduate and graduate students in both child development and psychology departments for the past 9 years.
My Research
My research, teaching, and program development experiences are in early childhood education, positive youth development, civic engagement, and higher education access and retention. In case you’re interested in learning more about my work in the fields of education and psychology, below are some of my selected publications and professional conference presentations.
Selected Publications
Wray-Lake, L., Burkhard, G., Benavides, C., & Wilf, S. (2021). Youth civic engagement: Exploring micro and macro social processes. In A. Kostic & D. Chadee (Eds.), Positive Psychology: An International Perspective (pp. 152-176). Jon Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Riches, B., Benavides, C. M., & Dubon, V. (2020). Development of a fostering purpose intervention. Evaluation and Program Planning, 83, 1-11.
Cotton Bronk, K., Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., Riches, B., Dubon, V., Benavides, C. M., & Bono, G. (2019). Fostering purpose among young adults: Effective online interventions. Journal of Character Education, 15(2), 21-38.
McCann, A. (2019, January). Best and worst states to raise a family – Feature by Celina Benavides. WalletHub.
Wray-Lake, L., Rote, W., Victorino, C., & Benavides, C. M. (2014). Examining developmental transitions in civic engagement across adolescence: Evidence from a national U.S. sample. International Journal of Developmental Science, 8(3-4), 95-104. doi: 10.3233/DEV-14142
Wray-Lake, L., Flanagan, C. A., Benavides, C. M., & Shubert, J. (2013). A mixed methods examination of adolescents’ reports of the values emphasized in their families. Social Development, 23, 573-592. doi: 10.1111/sode.12065
Benavides, C. & Lopez, A. (2011). Early Childhood Education for the 21st Century: Linking Research, Language, and Culture. Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza.
Benavides, C. & Lopez, A. (Eds.). (2011). NCLR Core Qualities for Successful Early Childhood Education Programs Tool Kit. Washington, DC: National Council of La Raza.
Selected Conference Presentations
Sidiqi, M., Benavides, C. M., Ribera, D., & Ruiz-Mesa, K. (March, 2020). First Generation, Latinx Students’ Perceptions of Faculty and Peer Support. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Adolescence. San Diego, CA.
Didarloo, S., & Benavides, C. M. (March, 2019). Young Adults’ Perception of the United States Before and After the 45th Presidential Election. Paper symposium presented at the Pacific Sociological Association Conference, Oakland, CA.
Riches, B., Dubon, V., Giesemann, X., Benavides, C. M., & Bronk, K. (November, 2018). Using Technology to Foster Purpose among Early and Late Adolescents. Paper symposium presented at the Association for Moral Education Annual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Ettekal, A. & Benavides, C. M. (October, 2018). Examining an intervention to promote intellectual humility with middle school students. Paper symposium presented at the SRCD Character Development Special Issue Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Bronk, K., Baumsteiger, Mangan, S., Riches, B., Dubon, V., & Benavides, C. (April, 2018). Fostering Purpose among Adolescents. Paper symposium presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence, Minneapolis, MN.
Kouyoumdjian, C., & Benavides, C. M. (March, 2018). Navigating the Student-Mother Balance in Higher Education. Symposium presentation at the Pacific Sociological Association Conference, Long Beach, CA.
Didarloo, S., & Benavides, C. M. (March, 2018). Creating the Ideal World: Social and Political Changes After the 45th Presidential Election. Roundtable presentation at the Pacific Sociological Association Conference, Long Beach, CA.
Benavides, C. M., Kouyoumdjian, C., Harris, R., Marquez, L., & *Rodriguez Lazo, J. (January, 2018). #Transferring Love: Transfer Student Services That Promote Mental Health and Wellness. Symposium presented at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Mental Health Strategies Conference, Portland, OR.
Benavides, C. M., Dubon, V., & Riches, B. (November, 2017). Students’ Political Values and Civic Engagement Under the 45th President. Paper presented at the 43rd Association for Moral Education Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.
Lin Lin, Bronk, K. C., Benavides, C. M., & Zhang, J. (October, 2015). Exploring Perceived Stress and Purpose in Political Engagement: A Sample from Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement. Paper presented at the Taiwanese Psychological Association Annual Convention, Taipei, Taiwan.
Benavides, C. M. & Wray-Lake, L. (March, 2014). Civic Engagement Among Ethnic Minority Youth: An Examination of Motivations and Obstacles to Participation. In P. J. Ballard’s (Chair), Complex links between experiencing discrimination and developing ideas about society among diverse youth. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Yates, T. M., Wray-Lake, L., Murphy, K., Benavides, C. M. & Williams, J. R. (March, 2014). A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Civic Engagement among Foster Youth. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Benavides, C. M., Wray-Lake, L., & Victorino, C. (September, 2013). Examining Developmental Transitions in Civic Engagement across Adolescence in a U.S. Sample. In M. K. Pavlova & R. Silberiesen (Co-Chairs), Civic engagement in adolescence and beyond. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the XVI European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Benavides, C. M., & Thomson, A. L. (June, 2013). Charitable Donation: Factors Behind Giving. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Positive Psychology Association, Los Angeles, CA.
Benavides, C. M., & Wray-Lake, L. (April, 2013). Youth in Action: Developmental Pathways to Civic Engagement through the Building of Assets. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Li, Q., Benavides, C. M., & Wray-Lake, L. (April, 2013). Examining Civic Engagement Profiles in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Adolescents. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Sloper, M., Chiao, E., Benavides, C., & Wray-Lake, L. (April, 2012). Are Adolescents’ Civic Behaviors Value-Based? Exploring Associations between Values and Actions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Lopez, A., & Benavides, C. (July, 2011). Meeting the Needs of Young Dual Language Learners. Workshop presented at the annual conference for the National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC.
Benavides, C., Beltran, E., & Palacios, R. (July, 2011). How to Create a Bilingual Classroom. Workshop presented at the conference for the American Federation of Teachers, Washington, DC.