Bonding & Beyond Lab
At the Bonding & Beyond Lab at FGCU, we explore how children develop social-emotional
skills, how play can act as a therapeutic medium, and how parenting and attachment
relationships shape developmental trajectories. Our goal is to translate science into
practice, supporting families, informing clinicians, and advancing child development
research.
Research Focus
Our lab’s work spans four interrelated domains:
- Child Development: Investigating how children learn to understand and regulate emotions across the
early years.
- Play Therapy: Exploring how structured and unstructured play can support emotional healing, growth,
and resilience.
- Parenting & Attachment: Examining how parent behaviors, sensitivity, and relationship quality influence
children’s developmental outcomes.
- Emotion Regulation: Studying the mechanisms by which children (and their caregivers) manage emotions,
recover from stress, and build self-regulation capacities.
-
Current Research Partnership Projects
Toggle More Info
The Bonding & Beyond Lab participates in a range of collaborative studies focused
on the emotional and relational foundations of child development and family life.
Active partnered projects include:
Infant Jealousy Study
In collaboration with Primary Investigator Dr. Krytal Mize’s TEAKA Lab, this study investigates how infants aged 10–14 months respond when a parent’s attention
is directed toward a social rival versus a non-social object, using observations and
biological measures such as saliva and EEG to explore early attachment dynamics.
Facial Emotion Recognition (FER) Study
In collaboration with Primary Investigators Dr. Krystal Mize and Dr. Nancy Jones at Florida Atlantic University (https://www.fau.edu/science/psychology/waveslab/emotion-study/), this study investigates the physiological and behavioral underpinnings of children’s
socio-emotional development, including how children with and without autism spectrum
disorder recognize emotions.
-
Upcoming Research Lead Projects
Toggle More Info
We are excited to launch new studies that expand our understanding of family dynamics
and emotion regulation:
Music Therapy and Emotion Regulation
This project will explore how the manipulation of musical elements can enhance child
emotion regulation development.
-
Upcoming Community Outreach Projects
Toggle More Info
-
Resource Hub for Parents
Toggle More Info
Our Resource Hub is designed to help parents and caregivers support emotional growth at home. Here
you’ll find downloadable handouts and tips from our lab and trusted sources on topics
like:
- Understanding Emotion Regulation: how children learn to manage big feelings.
- Attachment & Connection: ways to strengthen bonds through everyday moments.
- The Power of Play: activities that build confidence, creativity, and connection.
- Mindful Parenting: simple ways to stay present and calm during challenging times.
Check back soon for new resources as our research evolves!
-
About the Lab Director
Toggle More Info
Dr. Erin Kilpatrick is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Florida Gulf Coast
University. Her research focuses on parent-child emotional communication, attachment
security, and how play can be used as both a window into emotional development and
a tool for healing. Drawing on her background as a counselor and play therapist, she
integrates research and practice to support family well-being and educate future helping
professionals.
Are you an undergraduate majoring in psychology at FGCU looking to gain research experience?
Join our team! Our lab welcomes motivated students passionate about child development
and family research. Responsibilities include assisting with data collection, coding
play sessions, literature reviews, and potentially co-authoring papers. To learn more
and apply, please contact bondingandbeyondlab@fgcu.edu.
Join the Team
Contact
Bonding & Beyond Lab
Department of Psychology
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers, Florida 33965
Office: Whitaker 266D
bondingandbeyondlab@fgcu.edu
