Tantrums are a normal part of development, so take comfort knowing that you are not the first parent to struggle with your child’s tantrums. When your son gets upset or frustrated, he becomes flooded with emotions that he is not yet able to regulate on his own. As his parent, you can help him build the skill of regulating his emotions ...
The National Education Association suggests that parents follow the "10-minute rule," which calls for 10 minutes of homework per day, per grade. Following this recommendation, your daughter would receive little (less than 10 minutes) to no homework at the preschool level. If you find that your daughter routinely takes more than 5-10 mi...
Thanksgiving dinner might feel like comfort food to adults, but for toddlers, it is a table full of new colors, textures, tastes, and experiences. To keep your child’s first experience with these new foods as positive, and low pressure, as possible, try serving some of the dishes you will have at Thanksgiving dinner beforehand at a reg...
Toddlers love to help, so a fun way to keep your child busy while you cook is to have him/her help you in the kitchen. You can do this by having your child help you with the actual preparation of the food (e.g., adding premeasured ingredients or helping you stir with a spoon), or by giving your child play dishes and getting him/her to ...
There are so many valuable qualities we want to instill in our children, but learning to be thankful–or grateful–is one of the most important. Not only are grateful people more pleasant to be around, research has shown that they report higher levels of happiness and optimism, as well as lower levels of depression and stress. But learni...
Play is a great way to help children develop fine motor skills. Playing with toys such as puzzles, blocks, Lego, lacing beads, and paper dolls are not only fun, they help your child strengthen hand and finger muscles, and improve coordination. Another fun way for your child to practice fine motor skills is through art activities such a...
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...
Expert opinions on the optimal age for potty training have changed over time. The current consensus is that you can begin training earlier but that many children will not be ready until three or even four years of age. If you begin training earlier, you may be in for a long, gradual process. Look for signs of readiness, such as having ...
While educational programs can be a fun way for many children to learn, they are not essential to your child's education. Toddlers have short attention spans and your child may not yet be ready to watch an entire movie or show. In fact, screen time may decrease, rather than increase, your child's attention span. If your concern is that...