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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Building Self-Regulation Skills Step by Step
Self-regulation is a skill. Skills can be taught! But they also need to be practiced. To help kids manage their emotions…
Creating a Literacy Environment at Home
Communication and early literacy development starts in the very first year of life, through interactions with parents and…
The Basics of Early Literacy
“Early literacy” means everything kids know before they learn to read or write. Developing early literacy skills helps set…
Exploring Shadows
Shadows are science! And they are great for conducting experiments. Shadows appear when an object blocks the light. Kids…
5 Ways to Raise Curious Kids
Curiosity is incredibly important for learning. Curious kids get to know their world, the people in it, and themselves! Try…
Projecting Positive Energy
So much of what parents say and do and how we act affects our kids. Even the energy we project has an effect. While it’s…
Teaching Kids to be Kind Friends
“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to…
Gentle Parenting, Explained
During the first years of life, when kids’ brains are growing and changing so much every day, how adults interact with them…
Teaching Compassion to Young Kids
Compassion is tied to empathy, but it’s bigger than simply having the ability to imagine another person’s feelings….
Self-Care Habits for Kids
Establishing healthy self-care activities for kids doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be fun!You can download this…
Tricks for Mealtime with Picky Eaters
Mealtimes with picky eaters can be both frustrating and worrisome. Try to remember that it’s your job, as the parent, to…
Fairy Bread Two Ways
This recipe is so simple and fun! Your kids will love making it with you.You can download this resource HERE.Supplies…
Mindfulness is Your Superpower
Building Your Power Mindfulness is so powerful, it can strengthen your brain. In fact, brain science has shown that…
5 Ways to Connect As a Family During the Holidays
Staying connected as a family during the holidays can be tough, even when it feels like everything we are doing is to…
Nurturing Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that plays a big part in your kids’ emotional growth and overall well-being! Encouraging…
A Guide to Understanding & Addressing Mental Health Challenges in Children
A guest article by Marisa CraneApproximately 20% of children and adolescents are affected by mental health conditions….
Learning Through Making
It’s not just arts and crafts. “Making” describes the ways hands-on, creative expression gives kids opportunities to…
Learning Math with Music
Music is one of the first ways kids experience math. Without thinking, our bodies react to music: we rock our babies, clap…
Managing Meltdowns
Meltdowns happen, it’s a fact of life with kids. And while they can be emotionally draining – for you and for them – with…
Because They’re Hungry Now
Try these healthy, energizing snacks to help get your kids from pick up time to dinnertime!You can download this resource…
Supporting Risky Play
Risky play is an important part of growth and development, and instrumental in lifelong learning.You can download this…
Play Builds Confidence
When kids play, they use their bodies, brains, and emotions. Because play is joyful, it positively affects kids’ physical…
Free Play is Playful Learning
When kids are allowed to play in whatever way they want – when they can choose the materials and the actions and activities…
Learning Through Guided Play
Guided play combines play that is kid-led with gentle instruction or suggestions from adults. It allows kids to be in…
Why It’s Important to Communicate with Your Kids
A good foundation of communication between you and your kids is important for developing positive, healthy relationships,…
Self-Love & Young Kids
Self-love means appreciating yourself and treating yourself with kindness and understanding. Self-love means accepting…
Tips for Communicating with Babies & Kids
Communicating with your kids goes beyond developing language skills. It helps them feel safe and secure in their…
Brain Food
Food is fuel for your kids’ brains! The foods kids eat – and the nutrients in the food – are important to your kids’…
Curiosity is Important
Curiosity drives kids to try new things, and to continue to do so.
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,…
3 Vital Components of Social Connections
Social connections are the interactions, relationships, roles, and sense of connection that humans experience. Social…
I is For Independent Play
There are big benefits to independent play, which exercises imagination, creativity, persistence, patience, problem-solving…
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…
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…
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…
Why Developmental Milestones are Important
As they grow, your kids will experience physical, cognitive, and social-emotional milestones. Reaching their developmental…
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…
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…
Foundations for Emotional Intelligence
Self-confidence and self-awareness are key signs of emotional intelligence – the ability to perceive, interpret,…
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…
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…
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…
5 Essentials to Meaningful Play
Memories of joyful and meaningful play experiences can bind families together emotionally, even long after the kids have…
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…
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…
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…
Relaxation Techniques for Kids
Taking a few minutes to engage in simple, everyday relaxation techniques can help sustain your energy throughout your day….
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-Help Skills for Kindergarten Readiness
Many people focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills when they think of kindergarten…
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….
Foundations for Developing Daily Living Skills
Promoting physical health and development, including daily living skills, enables your kids to explore and function 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…
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! …
Physical and Social-Emotional Health Work Together
You can download this infographic HERE.Child development takes place simultaneously across every domain; they all support…
Foundations for Social Development
Your kids will demonstrate this list to show they are developing their social skills and building authentic relationships! …
Language for Validating Feelings
Careful listening helps kids feel heard. Language that communicates careful listening when kids have strong emotions is…