The holidays should be a fun, relaxing time where the focus is on spending time together as a family. That said, there is no reason why your child can’t keep practicing school skills over the break -- the secret is to keep it fun! For example, your son can practice his writing skills by helping you address your holiday cards, make shop...
When it’s cold outside, it can be difficult to find ways to chill indoors with your children! The key is to find safe and creative ways to be active inside. Two of my favorite things to do with my own children are building a fort and creating an inside obstacle course using pillows, blankets, and toys. Another fun idea is to turn on so...
Talking to children about New Year’s resolutions is a great way to teach them about the importance of setting goals and self-discipline. Take this opportunity to work together as a family and come up with a resolution you can all take part in – whether it is to be more active and go on a walk together every weekend or to help someone i...
It’s natural for children to compare themselves to other children, so it is important to teach them that everyone is different and that there are many wonderful ways to be special. In fact, giving children the confidence to be themselves is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to their child. You can do this by teaching children...
Children have a hard time separating feedback about their behavior or performance from criticism about themselves. (In fact, few adults have mastered that skill either.) When a child hears that work at school or chores at home are not completed to satisfaction, she may be hearing that she, herself, is not good enough. The best motivati...
It is important that you talk to your son and ask him what happened. Try to find out who is doing the teasing and how long it has been going on. You want your son to know that his feelings matter to you, so be sure to ask him how it makes him feel when he is being teased. Reassure him that there is nothing wrong with liking a girl and ...
Even if your son attends preschool, play dates provide children with a wonderful opportunity to practice important social and emotional skills – some of which your son might not have the opportunity to practice in school. For example, play dates allow children to interact and play with children of different ages (whereas most of the in...
Children do not usually have the fine motor skills or coordination to tie their shoelaces until they are at least 5 years of age. Learning to tie shoelaces also requires patience and determination (which can be just as challenging for parents as it is for children) because it requires lots of practice. To make it easier for your son to...
EEven though your son might be the one in tears, saying goodbye is often harder on you than your child! One way to make goodbyes easier is to make sure your son is busy with an activity that he enjoys before you have to leave. When it is time for you to go, keep your goodbye short and sweet with a few reassuring words and a cheerful wa...
This sounds like a frustrating dilemma. While hungry children will generally eat eventually, it is very important to keep young children hydrated. That your son has developed a preference for a particular style of pouch is probably less concerning from a nutrition standpoint than the fact that he is only drinking juice. You are probabl...
Doctors and nutritionists often advise parents to think about getting complete nutrients over the course of the day, rather than at each meal. Yogurt is at least a healthy choice and a good place to start! What do you think your child likes about yogurt? If it's the taste, perhaps introduce fruits that match her favorite flavors. If it...
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), young children should be limited to less than two hours of screen time a day. It is important to highlight that screen time not only refers to watching television, but time on the computer, tablet, and electronic games. The AAP also recommends parents make children’s bedrooms a “sc...