For a toddler, the world can be an overwhelming place. She’s pushed from place to place, told to do this or not do that, but has no real understanding of your planning or reasoning. It can be frustrating and scary; if she had better command of the language she might cry, “For goodness sake, what […]
It’s irritating, taxing and embarrassing when your toddler kicks, bites and screams to the point that you want to pull your hair out or better yet flee the scene and get your hair cut and styled! Defiant behavior is naughty but normal in most little ones. It’s the rare toddler — fingers crossed that it’s […]
Preschoolers love singing songs, so you may as well wire their brains with some wholesome, weather-related tunes before they belt out inappropriate lyrics about bodily functions and human anatomy. Learning about the weather, snow and sun helps preschoolers make sense of their environment; it will also keep them from asking you a million times, “Where […]
Sensory play activities are enjoyable and educational for your toddler or preschooler. You’re encouraged to join in the fun but expect to get your hands messy! Any pastime that stimulates your little one’s hearing, vision, taste, touch and smell involves sensory acts. Awakening the senses through play will help promote the development of your child’s […]
Potty training is a normal part of every child’s physical and emotional development, but not every child develops at the same pace. If your child is resistant to potty training or just hasn’t gotten the hang of it by the age of three, there may be some psychological barriers preventing his progress. Immaturity Maybe your […]
Some children naturally learn to enunciate their words seemingly without much effort, while others need a little nudge in the direction of proper speech. The “B” sound is one of the first sounds that your child will make, according to Kids Health. Playing games, focused learning and plenty of encouragement are all important in teaching […]
Teaching toddlers and preschoolers about safety is an important year-round topic, but there are some specific concerns related to the changing of seasons. After being cooped up all winter, children are usually ready to spread their wings and explore nature and the joys of warmer weather. With fresh flowers and greenery popping up all over […]
“Mommy, why does Gramma say I need socials? What’s socials, and why do I need one?” Your toddler or preschooler might not understand what Gramma means or that her thoughts might be outdated if she says her grandchild needs more time with peers. According to parenting expert, Raymond Moore, author of the parent handbook, “Better […]
“I can’t do it.” “I’m stupid.” “I’ll never be able to do it.” Do any of these statements sound familiar? Maybe your child isn’t that verbal yet, but seems down or doesn’t want to try anything new. Low self-esteem can get the brightest, happiest child down in the dumps. As a mom, you are your […]
Reading the Bible is a challenge for many adults, never mind for young children. But if faith is an important element of your family’s life, you can introduce your little one to the Bible at an early age. Start by teaching the stories of well-known Biblical characters. Bring them to life for your toddler by […]
The end of October brings brightly colored leaves, plump, round pumpkins and the holiday that brings out the kid in all of us — Halloween. A time for costumes, treats and parties, Halloween begs for creativity and a touch of whimsy to create lasting memories. Halloween scavenger hunts are an interactive way to spice up […]
Tiny hands are often eager to explore the world around them. Instead of waiting to find crayon drawings on the living room wall, prepare a few crafts for your child to complete at the kitchen table. Of course, toddlers require crafts that are easy to complete, which will leave them feeling a sense of accomplishment […]
“Mommy, I get to start big school soon. I’m so excited.” She has her backpack on and looks like she is ready to run out and catch a school bus. Her enthusiasm for moving to kindergarten and beyond thrills you. The day care where she spends part of her day takes its responsibility to prepare […]
Your son’s third birthday party is probably the first he can really anticipate and appreciate. He’s also ready to play and interact with a group, especially if he’s attending preschool or group day care. Aim for the late morning or early afternoon, keeping in mind that many 3-year-olds still need a nap — and plan […]
One obvious and painless way to make your lifestyle a little greener is to reuse shopping bags. Obviously, this saves energy and resources because you aren’t using up any more raw materials. The benefits go a bit further, though. So long as you remember to take your reusable bags with you on shopping trips, you’ll […]
If you are heading out to the toy store to pick up some educational toys for your toddler, you’re about to get bombarded by rows and rows of endless choices. Although the blinky, noisy toys may grab your attention, don’t overlook the blocks. There are several different types of blocks to choose from — and […]
Here my castle, Mommy,” your little one declares as she crawls beneath the kitchen table in your old heels and her blue sparkly dress, which she hasn’t taken off since Halloween. You hear her ordering around her stuffed animals and planning an opulent feast. Sounds like the princess stage is underway! Despite some criticisms in […]
You know how it goes: You buy your child a brand new toy, and all she wants to do is play with the box. So don’t be surprised if your child comes home from preschool chattering about how much she loved a sensory box activity. Sensory boxes are filled with some sort of dry material […]
If you thought that having a perfect little angel who obeys every word — or rather command — that you say is the ideal, think again. Although having a young child who follows the rules is a goal for most moms, an overly obedient child can actually cause some problems. While there aren’t an uber-abundance […]
Family dynamics play a major role in shaping a child’s behavior. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children who grow up in single parent homes are more likely to be financially and educationally disadvantaged than children raised by two parents. The financial and educational hardships faced by children from single parent […]
Ever since the early 1980s, when a pediatrician named Richard Ferber released a book that encouraged parents to let their babies cry at night, parents have been pondering the effects of letting children cry themselves to sleep. While letting your little one cry is torture to you, what exactly does it do to your child? […]
Spending the day with your children by the sea can create beautiful memories that last a lifetime. Or, between the sand everywhere, the complaints that they’re hot or the constant worry that they’ll go out to far into the water, it can create sour memories. Plan a few seaside activities before hitting the beach and […]
As your little baby grows into a toddler, you will discover just how much she uses her senses. Whether she refuses to eat her peas because of the yucky texture or refuses to wear a shirt because of how it feels, toddlers will let you know! On the other hand, having good sensory development later […]
Adam was an exceedingly polite, involved and happy preschooler in all regards but one. He had a dietary range that allowed for ingesting only homemade chicken nuggets and cheese puffs. But, being such a polite little guy, he’d almost put his tongue to the cupcake brought to class for a birthday celebration declaring it, “Yum!,” […]
Just like toddlers, preschoolers learn by experiencing life hands on. If they unroll the toilet paper, they learn that it can go on and on seemingly forever — much like Mommy’s lecturing when she discovers that there is not a single square left in the bathroom. Capitalize on your child’s desire to touch, feel and […]
Face it, toddlers and preschoolers sometimes have trouble sleeping. If they would only stay in their rooms it would be one thing, but little ones often wander out into the living room looking for Mommy or Daddy. Don’t despair — you can actually help enhance your child’s sleep by utilizing a few effective sensory activities […]
Working on developing the five senses with your child may sound like homework, but it’s actually something you do every day without even trying. You and your child use your senses every day to decide what to eat, what the weather is like and what kind of games you want to play. If you are […]
As a parent, you naturally want to protect your toddler from the discomfort of insect bites. Seeing him scratch away at itchy mosquito bumps or cry in pain from a sting can be heartbreaking. What’s worse, insect bites can lead to a multitude of illnesses, especially for toddlers whose immune systems are under-developed. Protect your […]
Relay races are an enjoyable way to teach children positive sportsmanship, how to work as a team and follow simple directions. No matter if you’re suffering through a cold snap or blessed enough to live in a tropical climate, why not draw inspiration from the ultimate underdog story, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, while planning […]
English idioms by theidioms.com
