Every family deals with stress. This is normal and it is not always a bad thing. Families can experience stress when waiting for something exciting, like adding a new child to the family. This stress helps motivate preparation for the new baby. Stress can help us realize that something is wrong and it can help push us to be better. However, big stressful events or chronic, long-term stress can be hard on family relationships. The stress the famil...

There are so many different methods for potty training your little one. The number of ideas, the mess, and the fear of resistance from your child can really cause anxiety and stress. I want to share my experience training my daughter and emphasize some tips that really helped us that can be applied other methods of potty training. Our Experience Just before my daughter turned 2 she started to show interest in going potty. I was excited because I ...

Every morning is the same. Wake up. Eat breakfast. Get dressed. Brush your teeth. It may feel like you are in a cycle of doing the same thing every day, but according to zerotothree.org , having a daily routine for your child can help them build brain power and help support good mental health. For the free spirit, routines may seem too rigid, but there are ways to have a solid routine and also keep it flexible. Routines can come in any shape or s...

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood," Fred Rogers ( zerotothree.org 2018 ). Before our children develop language skills to ask questions about the world around them, they learn by using their senses. They explore and discover at their own pace through play. Play supports children's skills across all developmental domains. There a...

"I have tried many times to express my feelings, but at each attempt, I find myself tongue-tied" -Kate Cary Did you know that being tongue-tied is something more than just an experience one feels when they struggle to find words? A tongue tie is a small bit of skin tissue, called the frenulum, that attaches the bottom of your tongue to the bottom part of your mouth underneath it. When this frenulum is too short or tight, this is referred to as a ...

As humans, we are always experiencing sensory input, and everyone experiences times when they feel sensory overload. For children with sensory processing issues, those moments may be especially overwhelming. Experiencing sensory overload can happen to any child, but is often more common in children who have ADHD, autism, or other behavioral issues. It's important to remember that when children are overstimulated, they don't know how to cope with ...

Sometimes it seems like our children are constantly fighting us. Everything leads to a tantrum and they won't follow directions to save their lives. You might be wondering what else to try to manage this behavior besides yelling and punishment. Here are a few strategies for improving behavior by connecting and teaching. Set up routines and rules to eliminate power struggles . Consistency is crucial for kids because it helps them feel safe and kno...

  Si es un desafío acostar a su hijo, usted no está solo. Ya sea que pida un vaso de agua cada 5 minutos, escuche "No estoy cansado," o un berrinche en general, la hora de acostarse puede ser caótica. Todos sabemos que es importante dormir, pero para los niños, recibir suficiente sueño ayuda con las cosas como el comportamiento o el aprendizaje. Los estudios muestran que los malos hábitos en la niñez pueden conducir a dificultades para dormi...

It is widely known that routines are beneficial for anyone, especially children. Though establishing one may seem daunting, knowing why they are important can help you create one that works well for your family. Today, I'm here to share why daily routines are important and give tips on how to establish them in your home. Here are a few benefits of having routines for your children: Sense of Predictability- Routines let children know what is comin...

Teaching a child to read can feel like a huge responsibility especially when your child is behind or above grade level. How are you going to catch them up or how are you going to keep propelling them forward? Read below for some tips and tricks on how to aid your child in their reading development. Kids who are behind on their reading. Seek reading support sooner rather than later. If you notice your child is behind classmates or siblings, don't ...

Your child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and your doctor has recommended ABA therapy, but what is that and how can it help your child? ABA Therapy stands for Applied Behavior Analysis and is one of the most common interventions for children with autism. The goal of ABA therapy is to teach skills and change behaviors. The skills taught in ABA are individualized for each child, based on their needs. ABA is a data driven approach that u...

"No two children develop alike." "Don't compare your child to someone else's child." Don't get me wrong, this advice has its place. However, there are always two sides to every coin. A range exists for when children are most ready and able to learn certain skills, and if we aren't seeing those skills there might be underlying medical or physical concerns. What's the risk? A child just might catch up with their peers as time goes on, but research ...

​ From the stepsisters in Disney's Cinderella to Lotso in Disney's Toy Story 3, it is not uncommon to see the role of bullies presented in family movies. Unfortunately, this behavior can happen outside of the screen. As your children take on the world, there are ways to teach them how to react to bullying, prevent it, and change their own behavior if they engage in bullying. How Children Can React to Bullies: Talk to a trusted adult, parent, or t...

Learning a new language is not an easy task. There can be a lot of barriers present in learning a second language: different conjugations, unknown pronunciations, atypical phrases, and the list goes on. However, as someone who learned a language as a child, I have come to highly appreciate my unique abilities that emerged in my youth. Let's take a look at how learning a second language helps children in school, and as they grow and develop. Resea...

Do you remember the first pet you ever owned? I remember being 5 years old when I got my first pet; a blue betta fish named Rainbow Blue. I was thrilled to have this little fish that was all mine. Every day I made sure to feed it and attend to its needs. Eventually, I got pet crabs and then a dog! Each pet we owned gave me confidence as I cared for them. It also helped me create memories that have lasted a lifetime. I learned many skills from the...

We all know the nursery rhyme rain, rain, go away, come again another day. I'll be the first to admit that rainy days get me down, but it doesn't have to be that way. I'm here to share both indoor and outdoor activities so that you and your children can make the most out of rainy days together. Outdoor Activity Ideas: Dance in the rain- this is a really simple, but fun way to spend a little time out in the rain. Play some music or sing a song tog...

Having a birth plan is a growing desire for pregnant women. First introduced in the 1980s due to increased medical births, birth plans have been a source for many women to relay their preferences during and around the time of childbirth. If you choose to have a written plan in place, take some time in the weeks before your baby arrives to decide what's important to you in your birthing experience. Below I will share different kinds of birthing pl...

Nearly two years ago my husband and I were getting ready to bring our newborn baby home from the hospital. As I put my tiny baby in his car seat for the first time I felt nervous and unsure that I was doing everything right, even though I had spent time preparing for this moment. Using a car seat properly can be an overwhelming task for parents, so I'm here to share a few tips with you to help you feel more confident in keeping your child safe in...

Recently, my husband and I took our nearly two-year-old son on a nature walk. We found a quiet stream and sat along the edge. We began tossing pebbles in the stream and our son quickly became interested in doing the same. He was so intrigued with the impact the different sizes of pebbles made on the water and the splashes they produced. It brought me back to my childhood and how simple outdoor activities are some of my favorite memories. This mad...

"Why didn't I think of that?" frequently crosses the minds of parents watching other parents handle their children successfully in the grocery store, during a playdate, or out in public. Memorizing some short basic phrases and the situations in which to use them creates confidence even in doubtful parents. 1. Say yes more than you say no . Even when you have to say no it can be done gently. For example, "I know you want a cookie, you can have one...