Dec 6, 2024 | Art & Music, Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Building Your Power Mindfulness is so powerful, it can strengthen your brain. In fact, brain science has shown that mindfulness affects parts of the brain that help us stay calm and be good problem solvers – attributes that are useful every day as a parent!...
Dec 5, 2024 | Child Development, Communication, Language, & Reading, Parents, Play
Staying connected as a family during the holidays can be tough, even when it feels like everything we are doing is to create happy holidays for our family! Try these simple things to reconnect with your kids throughout the season and to keep your focus on the joy. You...
Nov 14, 2024 | Art & Music, Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that plays a big part in your kids’ emotional growth and overall well-being! Encouraging kids to express and practice gratitude promotes a positive mindset, boosts empathy, and strengthens their relationships with others. You can...
Oct 29, 2024 | Parents
A guest article by Marisa Crane Approximately 20% of children and adolescents are affected by mental health conditions. Mental health challenges among young people require specialized approaches for identification and care, distinct from adult strategies. Children and...
Oct 21, 2024 | Art & Music, Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
It’s not just arts and crafts. “Making” describes the ways hands-on, creative expression gives kids opportunities to explore, create, learn, and try something new. You can download this resource HERE. Fine Motor Skills & Hand-Eye Coordination Doing tasks that...
Oct 21, 2024 | Art & Music, Child Development, Parents
Music is one of the first ways kids experience math. Without thinking, our bodies react to music: we rock our babies, clap along, and even look toward the source of the sound. These are reactions to musical elements such as steady beat, rhythm, and melody, all of...
Sep 18, 2024 | Child Development, Parents, Social & Emotional
Meltdowns happen, it’s a fact of life with kids. And while they can be emotionally draining – for you and for them – with the right approach, you all can handle the hard moments so they become easier and easier to manage. You can download this resource...
Sep 4, 2024 | Child Development, Nutrition & Exercise, Parents
Try these healthy, energizing snacks to help get your kids from pick up time to dinnertime! You can download this resource HERE. Nut Butter, Strawberry, & Banana Quesadillas Ingredients 2 Tortillas 1/2 – 1 Banana 2 – 4 Strawberries Nut Butter of Choice...
Aug 16, 2024 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Parents, Play
Risky play is an important part of growth and development, and instrumental in lifelong learning. You can download this resource HERE. When kids engage in risky play, they can: be challenged and solve problems connect to the outdoors direct their own play be...
Aug 12, 2024 | Child Development, Play, Social & Emotional
When kids play, they use their bodies, brains, and emotions. Because play is joyful, it positively affects kids’ physical and mental health, which in turn helps build their confidence. Here’s how. You can download this resource HERE. During play, kids: Make...
Mar 18, 2024 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Play
When kids are allowed to play in whatever way they want – when they can choose the materials and the actions and activities – they are free to express themselves in the way they choose. You can download this resource HERE. During free play, kids use their...
Mar 4, 2024 | Child Development, Parents, Play
Guided play combines play that is kid-led with gentle instruction or suggestions from adults. It allows kids to be in control of the way they are playing, while adults help them to reach a goal or learn a new skill. It’s play with a purpose! You can download this...
Feb 7, 2024 | Communication, Language, & Reading, Parents, Social & Emotional
A good foundation of communication between you and your kids is important for developing positive, healthy relationships, and it will create a safe space for you to talk as a family about difficult topics as they get older. You can download this resource HERE. Babies...
Feb 5, 2024 | Child Development, Developmental Milestones, Parents, Social & Emotional
Self-love means appreciating yourself and treating yourself with kindness and understanding. Self-love means accepting yourself for who you are. You can download this resource HERE. Kids need to practice self-love because the way they perceive themselves plays a big...
Jan 22, 2024 | Child Development, Communication, Language, & Reading, Parents
Communicating with your kids goes beyond developing language skills. It helps them feel safe and secure in their relationships, which is the foundation for learning and development! You can download this resource HERE. Develop and encourage good communication from...
Dec 15, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Nutrition & Exercise
Food is fuel for your kids’ brains! The foods kids eat – and the nutrients in the food – are important to your kids’ cognitive skills and brain development. Consider this: You can download this resource HERE. Kids need a high level of fat in their...
Oct 19, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Developmental Milestones
Curiosity drives kids to try new things, and to continue to do so. You can download this resource HERE. When they feel comfortable and safe in their environment, kids develop the confidence to explore the world around them, and the confidence to try new things. As...
Sep 13, 2023 | Child Development, Parents, Providers & Educators, Social & Emotional
Parents and caregivers play an important role in shaping the experience of social connection. Recognizing that strong, secure attachments are protective and a good foundation for other healthy relationships is an investment in your relationship with your kids and...
Sep 6, 2023 | Child Development, Social & Emotional
Social connections are the interactions, relationships, roles, and sense of connection that humans experience. Social connection is dynamic – it changes over time – and there are many ways to connect socially. But each connection has one or more of these...
Jun 21, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Developmental Milestones, Play
There are big benefits to independent play, which exercises imagination, creativity, persistence, patience, problem-solving skills, and much more. Here’s how to get started with your kids! You can download this resource HERE. Put the light-up noise-makers away. The...
Jun 21, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Kids are eager to figure out how things work. They’re like little scientists, constantly doing experiments, like throwing a ball on the ground to see if it will bounce, and then throwing a doll on the ground to see what it will do. They also learn to use objects as...
Jun 21, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Kids are eager to figure out how things work. They’re like little scientists, constantly doing experiments, like throwing a ball on the ground to see if it will bounce, and then throwing a doll on the ground to see what it will do. They also learn to use objects as...
May 15, 2023 | Child Development, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Developmental Milestones
Rolling over is your baby’s first experience moving their entire body and it’s a big step in their sensory development. While rolling over is a skill your baby will naturally learn, there are ways you can encourage them to meet this milestone! You can download this...
May 8, 2023 | Child Development, Parents, Social & Emotional
Kids learn about relationships and how to interact with others from the adults in their lives – adults are their most powerful models. Use these four simple rules to guide how you engage in healthy interactions and relationships – with other adults and your...
May 8, 2023 | Child Development, Developmental Milestones
As they grow, your kids will experience physical, cognitive, and social-emotional milestones. Reaching their developmental milestones is important because these offer clues and insights into your kids’ health. You can download this resource HERE. When your kids reach...