DiscussionEver since a traumatic preschool potty experience, my 4-yr-old refuses to potty train. Now I'm worried he won't be ready to go to kindergarten. Help!
First, know you are not alone. There are plenty of parents with normally developing four-year-olds who refuse to go to the potty. With school deadlines approaching, you are understandably feeling some pressure. By four years of age, most children are capable of using the potty consistently, so it will take some detective work to determ...
Personal & Social Skills
What if my child refuses to wear his costume on Halloween?
Holidays such as Halloween can disrupt routines that are a comfort to young children. This may lead to a child not wanting to participate in festivities, which may include a refusal to wear a costume. It may be helpful to ask your child whether there is something about the costume that bothers him/her, and to see if it is something tha...
Personal & Social Skills
My son loves to paint but always makes a huge mess. Any tips?
Messy (or sensory) play is a fun and interesting way for children to explore and learn about the world around them, but for parents it is just so, well messy! Here are a few ways to minimize the mess. The first is to choose a location that is easy to clean up such as the kitchen, bathtub, driveway, or backyard. Lay a vinyl shower curta...
Creativity & Life Skills
How can I get my daughter to tell me more about her school day?
I experience this every day when I pick up my son from preschool. I am so excited to see him and hear about all the fun things he has done at school that day, and when I ask him he usually responds with a one word answer.
Personal & Social Skills
Any advice on dealing with my son’s constant “Why?"
Young children love to ask “Why?”, and while it can be frustrating for parents be asked the same question over and over again, “Why?” is a reflection of children’s natural curiosity and drive to learn and explore the world around them. If you find yourself unsure of how to answer one of your child’s questions, tell him that you don’t k...
My child has an imaginary friend, should I be concerned?
Having an imaginary friend is more common than you might think -- approximately 40-65% of children have an imaginary friend during the preschool years. While extremely common, many parents are concerned that this type of play might be indicative of extreme shyness and difficulties establishing normal relationships with peers. Fortunate...
Personal & Social Skills
What are some ways to help learn to write letters besides tracing?
Along with having your child practice tracing and writing letters on paper, you can have your child make letters with fun materials. Head outside and have your child use a wet paintbrush to "paint" letters on a warm sidewalk, write letters in the sand with stick, or use sidewalk chalk to create driveway messages. If it's more of an in...
Reading & Writing
How can I teach my son how to handle teasing or bullying at school?
Bullying begins as early as preschool, so it’s wonderful that you want to teach your son coping strategies for dealing with a bully. One of the best ways to teach your child how to handle teasing and bullying is to model confident, respectful behavior with other people. You can also practice standing up to a bully by role playing with ...
Personal & Social Skills
Why is it important to learn about the seasons?
Learning about the seasons helps children understand the passage of time, and teaches them about change. While some seasonal changes are more obvious (like changes in the weather), there are many important subtle differences related to each season like changes in the type of food that is available. For example, in some parts of the wor...
Science
How do I keep my kids interested in learning over the summer?
I can hear it already. “Mom, I’m borrrred!” No matter how hard I try to keep my house stocked with fun games and activities, my kids don’t seem interested. One way I’ve learned to help them engaged is to engage in activities myself. Last summer I purchased a few drawing books that I thought would be fun for my kids. I kept setting th...
How can I explain recycling to my 3-year-old?
One of my favorite ways to get children interested in a topic and make subject matter age-appropriate and relatable is through books. There are a number of great picture books that help children understand what it means to recycle, such as “Why Should I Recycle?” by Jen Green, or the Little Green Books’ series on how to be more eco-fri...
Why does my son act out the same stories over and over?
While it may be frustrating to parents, repetition helps children learn. When your son acts out or reads the same story over and over again, it helps him better understand the storyline and become more familiar with the ideas and vocabulary in the story.