FREE SHIPPING on orders over $60
Reading Resolutions

Preschool

All Articles

  • 5 Tips for Orchestrating a Young Child's Music Learning

    The new year is a great time to add music learning to your little one's schedule. Here are 5 fun and easy-to-follow tips to help young children maintain their music learning resolutions.

  • Preparing Young Children to Play a Musical Instrument

    Many parents want their children to learn musical instruments, yet are unsure of the best way to proceed. We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions and answers to help get you “in tune” with the process!

  • The Role of Parents in Early Music Education

    Parents often wonder what they can do to help their children with music learning. Here’s an easy-to-follow five-point plan to assure your child’s success.

  • Boosting the Musical Ear

    Children’s music skills develop best when they’re supported by a foundation of aural skills. We call this training “the musical ear”.

  • Early Music Education

    Most young learners have an inherent love for and interest in music. Teaching them these building blocks of music early on sets the foundation for future music understanding and enjoyment.

  • Spark Your Child's Imagination

    While children’s active imagination is often thought of as a passing phase—something that they grow out of when they start to deal with the “real” world—psychologists recognize that imagination is an important ingredient for learning and life.

  • It's a Small World: Raising Socially Aware Children

    It’s up to parents and teachers to help children become aware of the similarities and differences across cultures and among people with varying levels of abilities, backgrounds and family types. Social awareness helps young children understand how they fit into the world as they develop their values and attitudes about others.

  • Perspective Taking: Can You See It My Way?

    Tattle-taling, name-calling, not sharing—these early childhood behaviors are examples of how children have a hard time taking the perspective of others. Young children need to be reminded of how other people feel and how their own words and actions affect others.

  • Preschool Skills Checklist

    Use our preschool readiness checklist to determine if your child is ready for preschool.

  • Article: How and When to Choose a Sport for Your Child

    Sports are great for building coordination, learning teamwork, and staying healthy. Find out how to choose the right sport at the right time.

  • Article: Acknowledging Caregivers

    It's important for caregivers and teachers to know they're appreciated. Giving thanks also provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn this important social skill.

  • Article: How Boys and Girls Differ in the Way They Learn

    From the time they are in the crib, boys and girls demonstrate differences in their learning styles. Discover these differences in learning styles and how to identify your own child’s preferred style of learning.

  • Article: Boys: Not as Tough as You Think

    Why do so many boys seem to feel that being thick-skinned, tight-lipped, dry-eyed and in-your-face is the best way to live life and conduct meaningful relationships? The answer has as much to do with gender differences as it does with differences in parental behavior towards boys and girls. Here are some recommendations for nurturing the emotional, moral and spiritual development of your son.

  • Article: Six Steps to Teaching a Child to Appreciate Performing Arts

    Foster an early appreciation for the arts in your child with these suggestions on introducing your child to the joy of live performances.

  • Article: Musical Intelligence

    While it is uncertain whether listening to Mozart will increase your child’s IQ, early exposure and active involvement with music will increase your child’s musical intelligence. Here are some tips for fostering your child’s musical intelligence.

  • Article: Manners

    Rules about behavior and civility are both written and unwritten—and abiding by them is essential to success.

  • Article: Playing Around: The Benefits of Dramatic Play

    As most early childhood teachers know, dramatic play is an extremely valuable part of the daily curriculum. Read this article to learn some of the benefits of dramatic play.

  • Article: 'Values' Is Not a Four-Letter Word

    Regardless of political affiliation or faith, all parents want to instill good values in their children. Learn the importance of a moral education, plus tips on how to raise a moral child.

  • Article: Sounds of Silence: The Need for Quiet in a Child's Life

    With the busy schedules of extracurricular activities, children have fewer opportunities for unstructured free time. Children benefit from time set aside just to relax, restore and reflect.

  • Article: What Makes a Good Toy?

    Use these criteria to help select a good toy for your child.

  • Article: Parent Involvement For Working Parents

    If you area working parent, staying connected to your children’s school life can be challenging. Here are some ideas for ways to fit in school involvement around your work schedule.

  • Article: I Can Do It Myself!

    When you let your child prepare or assemble his own food, he gains a sense of accomplishment and may even acquire a taste for a greater variety of foods.

  • Article: Imaginary Friends

    Find out what role fantasy friends play in your child’s development.

  • Article: Dealing with Dawdlers

    Is your child a dawdler? Discover reasons for dawdling and tips for how to deal with a dawdling child.

  • Article: Children's Sense of Time

    Time is an abstract concept to young children. Helping your child develop a sense of time gives him a feeling of control in his life and is fundamental to learning organization.

  • Your Preschooler

    Your curious preschooler finds learning fun. It's important for parents to nurture this love for learning now, while attitudes toward learning are being formed.

  • Article: How Can I Help My Child Be Creative?

    Creative children aren't just good artists--they're good writers, problem solvers and thinkers.

  • Article: Play Date Basics

    Plan a stress-free play date with these helpful tips.

  • Article: The Importance of Play

    It might look like a whole lot of silliness, but what's going on in your child's developing brain as she goofs off is more than child's play.

  • Is My Child Ready for Preschool?

    When is a child really ready for preschool? Dr. Kyle Pruett says your child's readiness depends on his personality.

  • Article: Avoiding the Rewind Routine

    Concerned about screen time? Find out how play becomes part of your child's media literacy.

  • Article: The Creative Parent

    Learn tips for becoming your child's creative role model.

  • Article: Early Success in Reading Unlocks a Lifetime of Learning

    Research shows that children who read a lot have better vocabularies than their peers who read little. No surprise there, but the real revelation is that the avid readers have higher cognitive abilities, better reading ability, verbal intelligence and practical knowledge of the world.

  • Article: Write On!

    Reading and writing support each other. The more your child does of each, the better she will be at both.

  • Article: Reading to Your Child Every Day

    Early literacy opportunities at home encourage reading readiness. Use these tips to help your child develop the prereading skills that will prepare him for kindergarten.

  • Article: The Right Start to Reading

    Use these tips to create early literacy experiences for your child that will contribute to his success in kindergarten and beyond.

  • Article: Creating a Reading-Friendly Home

    Learning to read is one of the most important skills your child needs for school and life success. Start at home, now, to encourage growth.

  • Article: How to Choose a Children's Book

    Choose children’s books wisely with these helpful criteria.

  • Article: 10 Ways to Encourage a Love of Reading

    Encourage a love of reading in your child with these ten suggestions from The National Head Start Association.

  • Article: What Happens Next? Raise a Reader with Predictable Books

    Predictable books have repeated phrases, questions or rhymes, and give yourng children a wonderful opportunity to participate in the reading process.

  • Article: Rhyme with Me! It's Fun, You'll See!

    Help your child develop an ear for rhyme with these rhyming tips, activities and books.

  • An "Eye" for Math: Encouraging Visual Skills for Your Child's Math Success

    Well-developed visual skills are a prerequisite for success in math. Here are some tips for fostering your child’s visual skills.

  • Article: Girls and the Hard Sciences

    A father’s involvement in his daughter’s life has been shown to increase her interest in math and sciences. Find out more about the influence of the father-daughter connection.

  • Article: Cooking with Kids

    Cooking is a fun and practical learning activity for children. When you cook with your child, you can talk about family traditions and expose your child to new foods and flavors. Use these tips to ensure a positive experience for you and your child.

  • Article: Tipping the Scales: Cultivating Your Daughter’s Interest in Math and Science

    Educational research has shown that while many young girls excel at math and science, most girls lose interest or become discouraged by middle school. Here are some ways to keep your daughter's test tubes bubbling.

Preschool Learning

Your curious preschooler finds learning fun. It's important for parents to nurture this love for learning now, while attitudes toward learning are being formed.

Preschool development >

Preschool Skills

Many preschool teachers agree that a child's preschool readiness depends more on her individual personality and temperament—a combination of mental, physical and emotional traits—than her so-called "academic" abilities. Even so, our developmental checklist can help you and your child get ready for this big step.

Preschool skills checklist >