Articles
These articles about child development will help you understand the many ways kids grow and learn, and how you can support, encourage, and have fun with them along the way! Sign up for our monthly newsletter and be the first to receive new articles, activities and updates!
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3 Things Parents and Caregivers Can Do to Strengthen Social Connections
Parents and caregivers play an important role in shaping the experience of social connection. Recognizing that strong, secure attachments are protective and a good…
3 Vital Components of Social Connections
Social connections are the interactions, relationships, roles, and sense of connection that humans experience. Social connection is dynamic – it changes over time – and…
I is For Independent 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…
Nurture Their Thinking Skills: Part 2
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…
Nurture Their Thinking Skills: Part 1
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…
How to Encourage Your Baby to Roll Over
Sometimes, kids can’t answer right away when we ask, “What are you doing?” Because sometimes, they don’t know yet! Sometimes, they’re just busy doing.
4 Simple Rules for Healthy Interactions & Relationships
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…
Why Developmental Milestones are Important
As they grow, your kids will experience physical, cognitive, and social-emotional milestones. Reaching their developmental milestones is important because these offer clues…
The Importance of Independent Play
Sometimes, kids can’t answer right away when we ask, “What are you doing?” Because sometimes, they don’t know yet! Sometimes, they’re just busy doing.
Supporting Kids in Transition Times
Transitions are hard. For young kids, feelings of anxiety or worry that pop up during transition times can lead to whining and stalling, tantrums and meltdowns – behaviors…
Foundations for Developing Self-Identity & Relationships
Relationships that are tied to family, culture, and community help kids develop a sense of belonging, and once kids have a sense of their own identity, they can also…
Foundations for Emotional Intelligence
Self-confidence and self-awareness are key signs of emotional intelligence – the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions to…
Get Ready to Write
Your kids’ first attempt at the writing process is called emergent writing, and it begins when they’re as young as 2 years old! When kids create drawings and symbolic…
Kid-Friendly Healthy Recipes
Whether it’s time for breakfast or snack time, toast is a hearty, healthy, warm, and fun choice. These kid-friendly recipes will be fun for you to make and eat together!You…
4 First Steps to Becoming an Active Family
Though it can be difficult to squeeze an extra activity into an already busy schedule, making time to move together is important because active parents raise active kids….
5 Essentials to Meaningful Play
Memories of joyful and meaningful play experiences can bind families together emotionally, even long after the kids have grown up. These five essential elements of play…
Emotional Expression Through Music
One of the many, many benefits of music is that it offers a safe and dependable place to feel our feelings. When we are afraid, sad, or really happy, we can invite music in…
Language Skills & Reading with Under-Threes
Why should reading and sharing stories with your babies and toddlers find a place in your day-to-day routine?
The Benefits of Letting Kids Choose What to Read
Let your kids choose to read books that are interesting to them, even if it’s not something you would have read when you were little. Here’s why:
Making Connections: Physical Activity & Mental Health
Child development takes place simultaneously across every domain; the domains all support one another. That means all the elements of your kids’ health are connected – their…
Social Communities Strengthen Families
Parents have a lot on their minds. We are literally influencing the architecture of our kids’ developing brains, so it’s no wonder we pour our physical, mental, and…
Relaxation Techniques for Kids
Taking a few minutes to engage in simple, everyday relaxation techniques can help sustain your energy throughout your day. Even kids can relax and focus if you use movement,…
Foundations for Early Learning Skills
Kids learn and strengthen their learning by doing. Look for these signs as your kids learn to foster curiosity, demonstrate self regulation, and show an understanding of…
Self-Help Skills for Kindergarten Readiness
Many people focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills when they think of kindergarten readiness, but being “ready” for kindergarten is a lot…
Foundations for Developing Early Math Skills
Supporting your kids’ cognition – what they think and what they know – is vital to learning new knowledge and skills. Developing early math skills helps with logical and…
Foundations for Developing Daily Living Skills
Promoting physical health and development, including daily living skills, enables your kids to explore and function in their environment, which supports their development in…
Self-Help Skills for Babies & Toddlers
Self-help skills are involved in every Domain of Development. As your kids learn these skills they also develop independence, which helps them thrive in their world as they…
5 Ways to Get Kids Outside
Kids really do grow better outside. Here are five easy ways to add outside play to your family’s everyday activities! 1. Relocate a favorite indoor activity outside,…
Physical and Social-Emotional Health Work Together
You can download this infographic HERE.Child development takes place simultaneously across every domain; they all support one another. Physical health, which we call Strong…
Foundations for Social Development
Your kids will demonstrate this list to show they are developing their social skills and building authentic relationships! You can download this infographic HERE.
Language for Validating Feelings
Careful listening helps kids feel heard. Language that communicates careful listening when kids have strong emotions is similar to paraphrasing, but in a way that signals…
What is the Preschool Development Grant?
You can download this infographic HERE.Want to know more about what we’ve accomplished with the preschool development grant so far? Learn more here.
Tips For Helping Kids Build Relationships
You can download this infographic HERE.Relationship-building is the process of establishing emotional connections with others that are based on trust and intimacy. Through…
Interpreting Baby’s Body Language
Your baby’s body language can tell you how they are feeling and what they may need. Responding to their body language helps your baby feel safe and seen, which also supports…
Exploratory Learning Experiences
Exploratory learning experiences are all about curiosity! They engage kids in hands-on investigation of materials, ideas, and concepts. During these experiences, kids get to…
Receptive and Expressive Language
Language is an important part of development, and it’s not just about the ability to say words. Expressive and receptive language skills are both required for effective…