Summary: If you can’t find the perfect preschool, at a minimum, choose a school where teachers are warm and nurturing. If possible, find a program where a teacher has a BA in early education or has extensive early education training. There is an enormous amount…
Children who bite, hit and scratch often need to work on the following skills: language, self-awareness and emotional self-regulation. As a parent, you can help by giving your child more attention, reducing screen time and learning more about developmentally appropriate expectations. Kids often fight and…
The developmental psychologist Vygotsky said teaching should occur in the zone of proximal development. This means you support a child doing a task that is “challenging for the child, slightly above his or her independent level of functioning, but not frustrating” 1. In that interim…
Do you want your child to be a creative thinker? Do you want to increase your child’s mental well-being? Then do the following. 🙂 Guidelines Create a climate that encourages children to feel creative. Remember, process is more important than product. Encourage choice to foster…
Definition Autism is defined by the Autism Society Of America (ASA) as: “Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of…
The following article addresses what it feels like for a parent to come to terms with having a child with a serious health issue. WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley. c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved I am often asked to describe…
There are many benefits of play that contribute to a child’s healthy development. Jean Piaget said that a child’s ability to play cognitively changes during early childhood. Stage 1: Practice or Functional Play (birth to two). Children play using senses and motor functions. They kick,…
Summary: Offer your children a wide range of toys that encourage creativity, imagination, and active play. Offer your child a variety of toys to support different types of development and thinking. Make sure the toys match the child cognitively. Also, avoid toys that may be…
BLOCK PLAY OVERVIEW Block play is a central activity in many preschools because it is well known that block play is helpful to children in all areas of development (Wolfgang 2009). Block play has a beneficial impact on problem solving skills, initiative, and construction of…
I believe parents should limit their children’s screen time. Please see the article “Kids and Video Games”. ~ Computers Exposing your young children to limited computer use can have positive outcomes. Children can use text-to-speech programs when learning to write, read interactive books, and write…
Self-regulation is a deep, internal mechanism that underlies mindful, intentional, and thoughtful behaviors of children. Self-regulated children can delay gratification, stop themselves from doing something inappropriate, and consider more appropriate alternatives. There is a big difference between children who behave well because they are controlled…
What are the best types of children’s books should you read aloud to your child? Books you love reading Books your child loves Alphabet books Books that help with emotional intelligence Books that teach how to value those different from yourself Non-Fiction Books to act…