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Tooth and Gum Care Tips for Infants and Toddlers
by Marnie Bii October 18th, 2021 | Care, Infants/Toddlers
Preventative care is key when it comes to dental health. For kids, this means starting dental care as early as possible to give them the best chance at avoiding cavities and other dental problems in the future. Regular tooth and gum care can also make the teething process much easier to cope with for everybody. You can start caring for the gums when your
Talking to Your Teen at Dinner
by Jane Wangersky October 11th, 2021 | Communication, Teens
Getting teens to talk is hard, getting a contemporary family together for a sit-down dinner is hard, so why attempt to do both at the same time? Because a few simple (not easy) things you can do will help make it a time for the family to reconnect with each other, something you should ideally do every day.
So what will help get your teen talking at dinner?
So what will help get your teen talking at dinner?
- Set a regular dinner time. You won’t be able to find one that works for everyone, every night, especially with a teen in the family, but if it’s the same time every night,
4 Fun Places to Build Tween Friendships
by Lori Sciame October 4th, 2021 | Social, Tweens
The tween years can be described in one word: awkward. Children this age grapple not only with their changing bodies, but they must cope with changing friendships as well. It's not as easy as asking someone on the elementary school playground to be your friend anymore. For tweens it's more about establishing a group of friends.
Parents have the power to assist children in establishing group friendships. One way to do so is to include your tween's friends in fun fall outings. These excursions need not be expensive. The important things is that the group does something fun together to
Parents have the power to assist children in establishing group friendships. One way to do so is to include your tween's friends in fun fall outings. These excursions need not be expensive. The important things is that the group does something fun together to
4 Easy Ways to Increase a Child’s Sociability
by Lori Sciame September 27th, 2021 | Elementary, Social
Being able to relate to others is a skill set all children must develop. Basically, being sociable will enhance a child's life in many ways, including performing better in school. All parents, then, should assist their children with developing people skills. Read this post to learn four easy ways to increase a child's sociability.
Set the Stage - the 4 Ps
Teaching social skills may seem difficult, but it doesn't have to be if you follow specific steps. As Edward Christophersen Ph.D. and Susan Mortweet VanScoyoc Ph.D. explain in their essay, Strategies for Teaching Important Social Skills to Young Children, the basic steps include
Set the Stage - the 4 Ps
Teaching social skills may seem difficult, but it doesn't have to be if you follow specific steps. As Edward Christophersen Ph.D. and Susan Mortweet VanScoyoc Ph.D. explain in their essay, Strategies for Teaching Important Social Skills to Young Children, the basic steps include
4 Ways To Help Preschoolers Eat Food Safely
by Marnie Bii September 20th, 2021 | Preschool, Safety
As kids reach their preschool years, they have the teeth and ability required to chew up their food into smaller pieces before swallowing. Kids also develop stronger tongue muscles for increased dexterity needed to push food into range of their teeth. As a result, you can start introducing foods that were previously off limits for being a serious choking hazard. Despite their improved physical abilities, however, young kids still require their parents' assistance and guidance to safely eat these new foods. Here are a few ways you can help.
Spread Sticky Foods Thin
When serving up sticky foods, it is important
Spread Sticky Foods Thin
When serving up sticky foods, it is important
4 Unexpected Movements in Your Baby’s 1st Year
by Marnie Bii September 13th, 2021 | Development, Infants/Toddlers
As you eagerly await your baby's first movements, you may be surprised at the way the learning process transpires. Your child may throw you a curveball by inventing his or her own interesting ways to move around. Since the traditional movements will quickly follow suit, you can sit back and enjoy the inventive movement techniques your child develops. Read on to learn about four movements kids often employ before picking up the natural crawling and walking methods you likely expected to see.
Inch Worm
With adherence to the 'Back to Sleep' safety guidelines, your baby will only learn to move like
Inch Worm
With adherence to the 'Back to Sleep' safety guidelines, your baby will only learn to move like
Teen’s Perspective on Back to School Behavior
by Sam P. September 6th, 2021 | School, Teens
School is here, but no one wants to go. It seems to be this way every year. Of course, I am eager to go back; I start my senior year, but I am also dreading it. The thought of being a senior is exhilarating, but also terrifying. I feel
3 Steps to Effective Written Communication: Tweens
by Lori Sciame August 30th, 2021 | Communication, Tweens
As a college English teacher, I often work with students who have trouble communicating through the written word. Most of these students have magnetic personalities, and they are highly verbal; however, they just can't seem to organize their thoughts into an effective essay. Why does this happen? From experience, I have learned that most of these students "dislike" reading and writing; they simply have no value for the written word - other than what is found on social media.
As the parent of a tween, you still have time to make a difference. You can help your child become the effective
As the parent of a tween, you still have time to make a difference. You can help your child become the effective
Build Elementary Communication Skills
by Joe Lawrence August 23rd, 2021 | Communication, Elementary
Communication is the biggest problem in any organization. Elementary-aged children and parents are no exception to this. With some simple guidelines, you can eliminate most communication barriers.
Ask any CEO or General and they will tell the importance of communication and the dangers of barriers to communication. In our workplaces we see this all the time. Someone sends an email that is misunderstood and tempers begin to flare. We have the same issues in our homes too. Most of the fights between my wife and me are because our channels of communication became crossed.
Communication with our school dwellers is vital.
Ask any CEO or General and they will tell the importance of communication and the dangers of barriers to communication. In our workplaces we see this all the time. Someone sends an email that is misunderstood and tempers begin to flare. We have the same issues in our homes too. Most of the fights between my wife and me are because our channels of communication became crossed.
Communication with our school dwellers is vital.
3 Ways to Boost Preschoolers Conversation Skills
by Joe Lawrence August 16th, 2021 | Preschool, Social
Preschoolers are fun to watch as they learn and grow. They are constantly developing physically, mentally and socially. It is the social aspect that many parents struggle with, but keep reading for some advice on this.
We watch our children go from being the babbling blob of infant-hood to walking and talking machines. Physically, they continue to grow and develop at very fast rates. They are constantly stretching their minds too, and synthesizing what they are learning. However, many of us parents struggle with developing our kids socially.
We still are answering for them when at stores or restaurants. “Sally, tell
We watch our children go from being the babbling blob of infant-hood to walking and talking machines. Physically, they continue to grow and develop at very fast rates. They are constantly stretching their minds too, and synthesizing what they are learning. However, many of us parents struggle with developing our kids socially.
We still are answering for them when at stores or restaurants. “Sally, tell
Getting Your Toddler Interested in Sports
by Jessica B. August 9th, 2021 | Development, Infants/Toddlers
It can start to feel a little isolating if you are spending your days caring for a young toddler, and you may start to think it is important to hang out a bit with kids the same age as your child. While toddlers don’t play well together, they often enjoy the parallel play and the stimulation of having other kids around. Here are a few tips for building up your toddler’s social life.
It is too early to teach your child specific sports skills, but you can get them interested, help them run off some energy, and keep yourself entertained
It is too early to teach your child specific sports skills, but you can get them interested, help them run off some energy, and keep yourself entertained
Teen’s Perspective on Team Sports
by Sam P. August 2nd, 2021 | Teen Perspective, Teens
Team sports are so important, especially in middle school and high school. It allows your child to become more social and learn how to work together with people. Team sports also teach your child how to take the blame when something is their fault, but also to learn that it isn't always their fault. They build trust in others, as well as the understanding of how to think as one with other people.
Growing up
Growing up
4 Super Social Activities for Tweens
by Lori Sciame July 26th, 2021 | Social, Tweens
Study after study tells parents that children spend too much time on electronic devices. The ramifications of doing so are many, including decreased social development. This summer, work with your tween to improve his or her social skills by moving away from the computer, and into the real world.
How to Prevent Sunburns in Children
by Lori Sciame July 19th, 2021 | Elementary, Safety
A day at the beach can be blissful...the crashing waves, the cool water, the endless sunshine...what could go wrong? A parent's first thought may be drowning. I agree. Children should be monitored at all times to prevent this from happening; however, another safety issue should be on one's mind: the possibility of sunburn.
The tricky thing about sunburn is that is doesn't show up for several hours after exposure. This leads to being lax about keeping the skin protected. And those who have dark skin may think that they do not need to worry about being burned, yet they most
The tricky thing about sunburn is that is doesn't show up for several hours after exposure. This leads to being lax about keeping the skin protected. And those who have dark skin may think that they do not need to worry about being burned, yet they most
How to Protect Your Preschooler From the Sun
by Jessica B. July 12th, 2021 | Preschool, Safety
In some ways it can be trickier to protect your preschooler from the sun than your little one, because they have a bit more independence. Here are a few tips to make sure your preschooler takes sun safety seriously so that you can all work together to make sure your kid is covered and safe in the sun.
1) Talk to your kid about sunscreen – When you start adding sun screen to your getting ready to go out ritual, make sure you talk to your preschooler about why it is important and allow them to get involved. You don’t
1) Talk to your kid about sunscreen – When you start adding sun screen to your getting ready to go out ritual, make sure you talk to your preschooler about why it is important and allow them to get involved. You don’t
Teddy Bear Picnic For Young Children
by Tania Cowling July 5th, 2021 | Infants/Toddlers, Social
Eating a meal al fresco (aka picnic) is fun for all ages. And, your baby or toddler will enjoy eating this new way outdoors amongst their teddy bears, just like in the book The Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy. There are quite a few teddy bears at the picnic, and the author tells you if you want to know what is happening, you’d better go in disguise. At the beginning of the story, a little boy is dressed in a bear costume followed by
Teen’s Perspective on Summer Work
by Sam P. June 28th, 2021 | School, TeensMy personal opinion on summer work is that we shouldn't have it, but alas, we do. I think that it is unfair for teachers to give us work to do over the summer while they don't do anything, but we do, so there isn't much you can do besides do the work. I also think that teachers should get things graded faster because the excuse that they have (other classes and assignments to grade) is unfair because we have
4 Ways to Create a Memorable Vacation
by Lori Sciame June 21st, 2021 | Tweens
Family vacations rule! Why? They provide a much needed break from the daily grind, as there are no deadlines to meet, no school lunches to pack, or no fourth grade science projects to complete. Even more importantly, they have the power to create positive and lasting memories for your
No Sweat Olympics: Active Indoor Games for Kids
by Tania Cowling June 14th, 2021 | Elementary, Entertainment
Summer weather can often be so hot and humid that no one wants to be very active. These no-sweat active indoor games for kids do not require high-energy output, but are exciting and fun. Living in the south, these activities kept my kids engaged in easy competitive and skill games in the comfort of the cool air-conditioned house. "No Sweat Olympics" can be set up as a team competition or you can give each child a list of activities to do depending on the child's age and stage of development. You can even add some family spirit to this
Vacations With Preschoolers and Fun for Parents
Joe Lawrence June 7th, 2021 | Preschool, Seasonal
Vacation season is finally here. Summer is just around the corner and many of us have or are starting to make plans for the family. What can you do to make the vacation fun for the whole family?
I noticed that most of our vacation plans have been centered on the children for the past several years. For the most part, this is fine. In all honesty, most of our
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I noticed that most of our vacation plans have been centered on the children for the past several years. For the most part, this is fine. In all honesty, most of our