Perhaps you thought being a parent would be easy. And then you discovered it was a challenge, even though filled with joy. In this piece on Motherly, I write about five easy habits that will help you raise a child with a foundation to thrive. Yes, there is a lot of information about there about how to parent. But when you look at the research and go through the information, here are 5 take-aways.
The start of the school year brings big changes for toddlers, children & families. There are new people, new routines, and separation to master. Even if your child is returning to the same school, going back is a big step. Here are my tips for easing back to school.
Having a conversation with a preschooler has its moments — some of them amusing and some of them are challenging. Kids who are in the preschool age range tend to say “no” and ask “why?” A lot. In this Live Science piece, read my tips for better communication with your young child & why communicating can be hard READ MORE
Read what I have to say in The Washington Post about “threenagers”. If you haven’t heard this term, it’s a 3-year-old spouting an attitude like a spoiled teenager. You can read it here.
Summertime is in full swing and that affords more time for being outside. That is great news if you have a young child. Depending on where you live and what you enjoy, there are many ways for young children to be active outdoors, and they absolutely thrive outside the house. Toddlers are naturally curious and active explorers, moving and touching and running and jumping. It is how they learn. Balance and coordination are growing rapidly in these early years and outdoor movement, on a variety of surfaces and slopes, at different heights, and varying motions all contribute to this development.
Earlier this summer I wrote about my concerns regarding children spending so much time in organized activities. As a follow up, this newsletter is about free play outside. Many parents contacted me to express relief at not being the only one with a child who protested camp or afternoon activities, or refused to go to gym class, or sat on the sidelines of activities. Others reported feeling comforted that their decision to keep summer and afterschool time uncommitted was fine, even if it went against the trends in their community. [Read more…]
