I remember when I was 12 my family went to a restaurant and the waiter asked me the classic question, "Do you want soup, or salad?". I had just graduated from the kids menu and wasn't used to that question, so misunderstanding what he said I responded very confused with, "yeah I'll have the super-salad…". Thinking he was going to bring me a ginormous salad. My answer obviously confused him, so he responded with, "so you want the salad then?", whi...

My two-year old son is crawling in my lap and my three-year old daughter is at pre-school. Frozen 2 is on the TV because it's my son's favorite movie and his older sister rarely lets him watch it, because siblings. This is relatively straightforward, but in one sentence I can point several things that hit that Mom Guilt Button. Screen time. Listen, I lie on the pediatrician questionnaire. I don't know how much screen time they get. It's not out o...

  Like it has done to most parts of daily life, COVID-19 has complicated the already complex search for childcare. Additional concerns may include "what should my backup child care plan look like if my center closes?" or "is it safe to take my kid to child care?" For information on creating a child care backup plan, take a look at this article . For pandemic specific questions to ask your childcare provider, watch this video . These answers ...

Holiday traditions bond families together. Whether we realize it or not, our traditions give us a sense of belonging, importance, and security. Regardless of the changes occurring in our lives, we know that these family rituals will stay constant! Halloween will probably have a lot of changes this year. Many of us are missing getting together with family or even trick-or-treating. This is an excellent time to create a new tradition: start creatin...

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we've all been using screens more, and overall, that's OK. Screen time is less about the hours than the content. Screens can connect and educate, and keep us all safe indoors. However, research shows that for our youngest children, under age three, we need to be more careful and deliberate with devices. A study out of the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology in 2015 illustrates the limitations of digital learning w...

I remember sensing the guilt my mom had as she dropped my siblings and I off at the neighbor's house where she traded babysitting services. Both of my parents have worked full time since I can remember. Making the decision to have child care versus staying home can be a taxing choice for parents. There is so much to consider when deciding what will work best for your family's needs. Some of these decisions include; the cost of working outside the...

We've all seen them. Cute baby with a cute funny helmet on his head in a shopping cart at the grocery store or in a stroller at the mall. Why are there so many these days? Are these moms letting their babies fall on their heads?! Probably not. Most likely, they have a case of plagiocephaly or "flat head syndrome". In 1994 the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) launched "Safe to Sleep" (also known as "Back to Sleep...

Children in today's hurried, high-tech world need structured, routine times when they can connect with their parents and siblings. One of the best ways to do that is family mealtimes. Many of us are so busy that we may feel if we are not multi-tasking all the time, we are not productive enough. We often multitask feeding our children by putting a meal down in front of them and then turning around to do dishes, move over a load of laundry, or take...

Memories and physical pictures remind me of my relationship with my dad. From sitting in the pew next to him in church or on the couch for a movie, dad wanted to squeeze my ears, arms and fingers.  As I grew up and became more aware of my dad's way of loving, I grew to hate physical touch. I shrunk from it. I claimed he made my ear lobes bigger. I resisted his effort to care in this manner. This took a toll on our relationship, which began t...

"Vaccine " is a hopeful word during this pandemic. We hope for a vaccine that will dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19. Development of this vaccine is a top global priority; countries are working tirelessly on it. But with all our focus on COVID-19 right now, it is easy to forget that there are many current vaccines available to prevent a series of childhood diseases. Parents may also have concerns about visiting their doctor's office, or ...

Whether you're considering homeschooling this coming year or plan to have the kids back in private or public school, there are a few important aspects to consider regarding their education. Often, I hear parents worry about their child's attention span. Some child development experts suggest that the average child should be able to concentrate on one task for 2-5 minutes multiplied by their age. So, an average 6-year old should be able to focus o...

With many areas in a reopening phase, you may need to prepare for your children's school to open back up for the new academic year as well. Some schools may return to in-person classes, while others may offer online learning opportunities or a combination of both. Below, find out how your family can get ready for either situation and discover how to get your kids set up for success this year. Getting Ready for Digital Learning Depending on your s...

The famous words of my childhood summer days were, "I'm bored." Often my mom would reply, "Read a book." Quickly I would snark, "No, I don't want to." The times in children's lives that are most unstructured, such as during a break from school, are the times we hear the word "bored" the most. About a month ago, I wrote a blogpost on " Alternatives to TV Time ." There I outlined the importance of self-directed independent play in child development...

As a parent, worrying about your finances every now and then is probably second nature, however, it is also something that you probably never want your child to experience. If you're hoping to instill financial wellness in your child at a young age, there are plenty of places for you to start. Consider the five tips below as you navigate raising your kids to be smart with their money. Educate Them Firstly, educating your kids on the topic of fina...

Know your limits As parents, we get pushed to our limits. The rollercoaster of parenthood takes us up, down, around, backward, and sometimes through flaming rings of fire. Often we may ask the question: am I going to survive this? The Window of Tolerance offers perspective into understanding one's own personal limits. Knowing one's own personal breaking points and how to rejuvenate can help parents keep their cool. What is the Window of Tolerance...

Most of us have heard of postpartum depression in women, but did you know it can also affect fathers?! Figures vary depending on the source, but it's estimated that for every two women that have postpartum depression, one man will have PPPD (paternal postpartum depression), and approximately 25% of new fathers (though only 10% of cases are reported) will develop PPPD. Most cases of paternal postpartum depression get missed because (1) postpartum ...

It is safe to say that right now we are all using technology a lot more than we used to. This is not just because we are bored and don't have a lot of options. Using tech is how we are all functioning, socially and economically. We connect with others for schooling, work, socialization, and basically every activity we can think of all through the internet, and technology, and that's not a bad thing. There are so many more options and resources no...

You may have heard your neighbor talk about how a certain toy is helping Sally develop her fine motor skills and wondered "What does that really mean?" or "What's the big deal with fine motor skills?" The reality is that the beginnings of fine motor skills lay the foundation for necessary everyday abilities later on. Fine motor skills are basically the things you do with the small muscles in your hands and fingers (e.g. playing a musical instrume...

There are numerous benefits to having plants or "green space" in your home. For example, green space has been shown to decrease stress, anxiety, blood pressure , and can even purify the air in your home. Building a terrarium is a perfect way to bring green space into your home and enjoy the benefits that come with it. It's also an activity that can be enjoyed and accomplished at any age. When I created my own, my 2-year-old joined me and helped c...

It can be hard to choose the right baby food because many people give you advice on how to feed your kid. It can also be difficult when you don't know whether you should warm it or not. All parents are concerned about the safety of their kids. It is necessary to practice safe heating procedures when preparing your children's menu. You might be used to cooking everything safely, but other family members and babysitters might not know how to h...