Oct 29, 2019 | Communication, Language, & Reading
The capacity to communicate is the ability and desire to connect with others by exchanging ideas and feelings, both verbally and non-verbally. Most children learn to communicate to get a need met or to establish and maintain interaction with a loved adult. Babies...
Oct 18, 2019 | Communication, Language, & Reading
Being a good listener takes concentration and practice, and it’s an important skill to develop. A good listener is an active listener; active listening leads to better comprehension, communication, and problem-solving skills, and it encourages positive...
Oct 3, 2019 | Communication, Language, & Reading, Social & Emotional
Are babies really listening when we sing to them? Absolutely! Here’s what your baby is learning while you sing:
Sep 26, 2019 | Art & Music, Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Simple creative activities are some of the building blocks of child development, including cognitive, social and emotional skills. Here are seven ways participation in the Arts positively affects your child.
Sep 18, 2019 | Art & Music, Nutrition & Exercise
Dance helps kids develop physically, socially and emotionally, cognitively and psychologically, because dancing involves every part of them – inside and outside.
Sep 5, 2019 | Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Curiosity is a desire to learn, an eagerness to explore, discover, and figure things out. Nurturing your child’s curiosity is one of the most important ways you can help them become a lifelong learner.
Aug 8, 2019 | Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Spark your child’s curiosity and imagination by asking them one of these open-ended questions. Jon the fun by coming up with your own answers as well! Download this FREE printable...
Aug 7, 2019 | Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning, Math & Science
Math is everywhere. That’s great news for parents, because we can talk with our kids about math in fun, natural ways. And that kind of math-talk is really important. Studies show that a child’s math skills at kindergarten entry are a better predictor of future...
Jul 15, 2019 | Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
Have you ever noticed your child watch a truck driving by or pick up a ladybug? That is an example of how your child develops thinking skills. Young children develop thinking skills—such as understanding cause and effect and developing the ability to reason—by...
Jun 5, 2019 | Nutrition & Exercise, Parents, Providers & Educators
It’s always important to protect your children from the sun, and in the summer it’s equally important to be mindful of the heat. 80 degrees Fahrenheit or below is considered comfortable to be outside, but as the temperature rises from there it’s...
May 17, 2019 | Nutrition & Exercise
Many of your child’s daily activities require fine motor skills. Your child can do more things for themselves when they have opportunities to practice these skills.
Apr 18, 2019 | Nutrition & Exercise
Assuring your children have access to nutrient-dense foods allows them to reach their developmental milestones with strong and healthy bodies and minds!
Mar 8, 2019 | Social & Emotional
Learn 4 ways you can encourage your child to express their feelings and support their emotional development.
Feb 20, 2019 | Child Development, Parents, Providers & Educators
What is epigenetics and how does it relate to child...
Jan 8, 2019 | Communication, Language, & Reading, Parents, Social & Emotional
Building Social and Emotional Skills at Home School classrooms are busy places where young children learn all sorts of things, including social and emotional skills such as how to express feelings and how to work together with friends on a project. Here are some...
Dec 14, 2018 | Communication, Language, & Reading, Social & Emotional
Nov 14, 2018 | Communication, Language, & Reading
The “literate home” for this age child only needs a few inexpensive materials, but parent involvement is key. Your young child or kindergartner continues to build her language base (understanding and using language) in preparation for learning to read, so...
Oct 8, 2018 | Communication, Language, & Reading
Zero to Three’s National Parent Survey shows that nearly half of parents (45%) think that reading to children starts to benefit long-term language development at 2 years or older—about a year and a half later than it actually does. Research shows that the...
Sep 10, 2018 | Curiosity, Cognition, & Learning
“WHAT’S THIS?” At 3 months, Tessa has good control over her neck muscles. Sitting on her mother’s lap, she turns her head slowly from side to side to look at the brightly colored dishes and cups on the table in front of her....
Aug 1, 2018 | Child Development, Parents
How Your Child Learns and Grows Through Play from Birth to Three When you make time to play each day, you are giving your child a big dose of love and learning. Wise words from Mister Rogers. Play is more than just fun, it’s serious learning! It’s a very...
Jul 23, 2018 | Parents
Parenting comes with mistakes and missteps. What makes a parent great is recognizing when things haven’t gone right and responding with love to repair the relationship. That’s positive parenting in action. Take time in everyday moments to show your child...
May 11, 2018 | Child Development, Nutrition & Exercise
Brain development is most sensitive to a baby’s nutrition between mid-gestation and two years of age. Children who are malnourished–not just fussy eaters but truly deprived of adequate calories and protein in their diet–throughout this period do not adequately...
Apr 12, 2018 | Child Development, Nutrition & Exercise
Food is at the center of our lives. And it’s much more than the fuel that keeps us going. It can be a source of pleasure, celebration, and—sometimes—challenges. Mealtime routines helps build strong family relationships and a healthy relationship with food. Figuring...
Mar 21, 2018 | Nutrition & Exercise
There’s a lot going on in babies’ minds in the first year of life, and their early experiences in the world affect how their brains grow in ways that can last a lifetime. Many parents underestimate just how deeply children are affected by early experiences and how...
Feb 8, 2018 | Child Development, Social & Emotional
It’s important for parents to help their child learn how to cope with their feelings. Learn how parents are their child’s guide in sharing the joys and coping with the challenges, starting on day one. It wasn’t that long ago that the conventional wisdom...
