My first child was born in early 2021. Due to pain management, it took several hours for me to attempt nursing. When I was ready, the nurses asked if I wanted to try breastfeeding. Of course, I said yes. I saw breastfeeding as my duty as a new mother. The idea of nursing came with …
Summer can be a fun and exciting time for families! There are so many activities they can do together, it feels like the options are endless. At the same time, summer break can sometimes feel stressful. Changing from a structured school schedule to extra free time can be overwhelming for kids (and parents). With a …
In our previous post, “Choosing Age-Appropriate Fun for Your Wiggly Little One Part 1,” we shared toy safety tips and inexpensive learning toys for children 0-2 years old. You can also find ideas we have learned for affordable, age-appropriate fun as your little one develops from 2 years old to 5 below. Put these lists …
Choosing Age-Appropriate Fun for Your Wiggly Little One Part 2 Read More »
I don’t know about you, but my almost two-year-old is always looking for something new to do. Compiled below is a list of safety tips as you introduce new toys to your child. You can also find ideas we have learned in our house for affordable, age-appropriate fun as your little one develops from newborn …
Choosing Age-Appropriate Fun for Your Wiggly Little One Part 1 Read More »
We’ve all been there (or will be there soon!). Your child is trying to tell you something, but you just can’t figure out what he is trying to say. Your child isn’t ready to be done with the activity he is in the middle of when it’s time to leave. Or maybe you are trying …
11 Helpful Phrases to Confidently Parent the Toddler Years Read More »
Before working at Help Me Grow Utah, I spent ten years as a children’s librarian and fell in love with early literacy. No, I was not teaching toddlers and preschoolers to read, but I was instead teaching parents to put into practice the underlying skills kids need to be good readers when they are ready. …
Book Conversations: How to Get the Most Out of Your Time Reading Together Read More »
I remember babysitting my young niece not too long ago. All evening she asked, “Cars?” This was code for, “Could we watch the movie Cars?” Soon I turned on the TV and sat with my niece as she watched intently. I became intrigued as I started to notice she did not take her eyes off …
Kids ask questions. Some kids ask A LOT of questions. While advice on dealing with questions can range from revisiting the question at a later time to asking your child what he or she thinks the answer is, I believe this powerful phrase can shape the way your child looks at questions for the rest …
I’m on my hands and knees cleaning up my two-year-old’s toys. I ask him to help clean up. His response? NO! It can be hard to know what to expect your child to do as they grow. The balance often involves including them in ways that make them feel like a valued member of the …
In 2018, I started working with children on the Autism Spectrum as a Registered Behavioral Technician. Communication is critically important for children during the fastest growth phase of their lives. Children with autism are often not able to communicate as effectively as children not “on the spectrum”. At first, it was extremely difficult. I caught …
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