TipRevving fine motor skills
Kids’ ability to grasp objects develops gradually from grabbing with the whole hand to holding a pencil between fingers.
Reading & Writing
Are you being teased?
Older infants and toddlers love to tease their parents.
Personal & Social Skills
A fresh look at vegetables
Instead of saving dessert for last, tell your child that he can only eat his vegetables once he eats his dinner.
Personal & Social Skills
What to wear
Letting children choose their outfits helps encourage their sense of self.
Personal & Social Skills
Emotional roller coaster?
During the toddler years, children begin to figure out how things work. They want to be independent, yet they struggle with their own abilities. It's normal for toddlers to have emotional highs and lows.
Personal & Social Skills
DiscussionHow can I make cleaning fun?
Cleaning up can be fun when it’s a shared experience, when it’s accompanied by a song (“Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere…”), and when there’s a goal in mind. Make the clean-up process a fun activity by incorporating a challenge, such as trying to fit all the toys into a specific basket, or attempting to clean up all the blocks...
Logic & Problem Solving
Do motor skills develop naturally? How can I help my child?
Children's physical and motor skills tend to develop a rather predictable sequence. As a children's bodies grow, they will also acquire the skills needed to coordinate and maneuver those body parts. Of course, these skill do not appear out of nowhere or develop in a vacuum.
Personal & Social Skills
How can I wean my toddler off the pacifier without getting a full blown tantrum?
Though we cannot promise tantrum-free results, here are some tips to smoothing the pacifier weaning process. You may want to give your child some warning that “in a few days, we will say bye-bye to your binky.” Continue to remind your child that this will happen, with matter-of-fact language, until the day it goes away. This will prepa...
Personal & Social Skills
How can I get my toddler to put on her coat when she refuses?
Getting organized and out the door with young children is a challenge in itself, add a toddler who refuses to put on a coat and it’s enough to make you want to stay inside! While it is important to give your toddler the opportunity to make her own choices, you need to make sure that she is adequately dressed for the weather. One way to...
Personal & Social Skills
My 3-yr-old's favorite word is "No." How do we deal with his defiance?
I know it's frustrating when your child responds to your every request with “No!” If it helps, you can rest assured that it is actually a healthy sign of development— he is developing autonomy. Your child is beginning to understand that he is separate from you and can exert some control over his world. When he says “No,” he is really s...
Personal & Social Skills
How can I make goodbyes easier on my son?
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...
Personal & Social Skills
My two-year-old only wants to eat yogurt all day. How can I encourage her to eat other things without inciting a tantrum?
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...
Personal & Social Skills