Tragedies like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT evoke many emotions—sadness, helplessness, anger, confusion, and anxiety. Children may wonder if their home, school, and community are safe, although they may not necessarily verbalize their concerns. Parents and caregivers can help children understand these concerns by allowing them to ask questions and […]
Parenting
Top 10 Toys for Infants and Young Children
In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, here is a top 10 list for Infants and Young Children from the blog of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), found here. Here’s My Top 10 Toy Ideas for Infants! 1. Measuring cups and spoons to shake, rattle, and roll 2. Plastic containers to stack, […]
It’s Time to Get “Back to the Kitchen”
Did you know that children who eat fewer meals with their families when they are 4-years-old are more likely to be overweight by the 3rd grade? September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and we’ll be reaching out to families all month-long to discuss how they can realistically increase the number of meals they […]
Being a Grandparent
Being a Grandparent is a special milestone in life. The joys of sharing time and interests with grandchildren give them self assurance. The Search Institute identifies several traits that children need to be successful in life, called assets. What are assets? In short, they are the skills and values children need to overcome troubles and […]
Arguments with Teens and Parents May Be Beneficial
If your house was anything like mine growing up in the teenage years, there were many heated arguments, often over homework, chores, and curfew. Perhaps the issues are different in your house with teens, however, the situation is probably similar. These situations can be very stressful and frustrating (to put it lightly) for both parents […]
Babies and Toddlers should Learn from Play, not screens
As a parent of a small child, I know how tempting it is to set your child down in front of the television to get some things done around the house, like cleaning or cooking…or just a minute of sanity. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently reinforced its recommendations that children under […]