Is Santa Real?

Tuesday Tyler came home all excited because Santa was going to call him. At first I didn’t understand what he was talking about until he pulled a form from his folder and gave it to me. The form needed to be filled out by parents and then returned to the school. The school then sends the completed forms to an organization that will make calls to kids allegedly from Santa. I am familiar with Santa letters but had never heard of calls from Santa. Since Tyler still believes in Santa I filled out the form and returned it to school … Continue reading →

Parents Beware The Hidden Danger In Some Kids Toys

As we approach the Christmas shopping season, parents are reminded that when it comes to toys, toddlers put everything in their mouths. As a result, we have to be very cautious of what we put in their hands. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) has been publishing a “Trouble In Toyland” report for the past 21 years. The group has found significant progress in toy safety over the past two decades since they have been advocating for toy safety, but sadly, many problems still exist. And some of the problems are the same old problems that have been … Continue reading →

When You Can’t Take Your Toddler ANYWHERE

Perhaps your two-year-old is a perfect angel all the time. Perhaps they would never, ever, in a million years think of crawling under the table at a restaurant. Perhaps you’ve got the whole discipline thing down pat. If so, I give you credit, because life in my household just got crazy. My daughter will be three at the end of January. She’s bright, beautiful, and charming. She’s also a monster. Up until a few months ago, I could take her anywhere. She’d fuss every now and then, but that’s to be expected. Then, as if someone flicked a light switch, … Continue reading →

10 Ways to Prevent Aggression in Toddlers

As every parent knows there are times when your toddler will become aggressive. For toddler’s, this aggressive behavior is normal. They are learning to become independent and have an undeveloped impulse control. “Some degree of hitting and biting is completely normal for a toddler,” says Nadine Block, executive director of the Center for Effective Discipline in Columbus, Ohio. Toddlers usually do not understand that their behavior has hurt someone. They may feel ashamed because they know they disappointed you not because of their actions. Toddlers often do not know their own strength. She may not have meant to push the … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Potty Training: Then and Now

Potty training is one of those subjects known to spark debate. When is the best time to start potty training? That seems to be the ultimate question with no clear-cut answers. I was fortunate that I didn’t have any major issues with Tyler. I ignored the comments that boys are harder to train than girls or that I may have a harder time training him since I didn’t have the right equipment. But he made it through fine, going from Pampers to Pull-Ups to regular underwear relatively quick. We skipped right over the training pants phase all together. Most parents … Continue reading →

Potty Training with use of Rewards

Experts say we shouldn’t bribe our children in order to achieve a certain type of behavior. However, offering appropriate rewards for accomplishments is entirely different. Not only is it a good way to encourage your child and make potty training a smoother process, but it is also a good life lesson. Children should learn at an early age that there are rewards for working hard and accomplishing goals. In fact, sometimes the greatest rewards are praise and the sense of accomplishment derived from a job well done. If you are inclined to offer more tangible rewards, doing so can also … Continue reading →

Confessions of a Proud Paci Parent

I hate to admit this, but I used to be one of those parents who couldn’t believe that a two year old would still have a pacifier. I say, “used to” because now I am one of those parents. I have two sons, one is four and the other is two. My four year old never loved his paci and basically stopped using it at three months. My two year old is a completely different story. He has loved his paci since birth. I kept telling myself as he grew older that I would get rid of it at a … Continue reading →

Biting: The Why’s and How to Deal With It

Biting can be a big problem. Just ask the child who is wearing a set of red teeth marks on their arm. Biting can be common in children from ages one to three years. It needs to be discouraged from the very beginning. Biters bight for different reasons. Knowing the reason that your child is biting will best help you deal with the biting behavior. Experimental Biting – A young child who is curious what will happen if they bite often does experimental biting. The adult should send clear signals that the biting is inappropriate and tell the child, “No.” … Continue reading →

Getting Rid of the Pacifier

Every parent knows that at some point they will have to wean their child away from the pacifier. After all it wouldn’t do for your five year old to be sucking on a binkie at kindergarten. But the process of weaning can be difficult, although as one parent pointed out, it is easier than weaning a child from sucking their thumb. You can throw a pacifier away but you can’t cut off your child’s thumb. The entire premise of using a pacifier raises some debate among parents and was recently addressed in the baby blog. I personally never used pacifiers. … Continue reading →

Speech: Two to Three Years

Between your child’s second and third birthday you will see a speech explosion as your child’s vocabulary grows from about 50 words to 400 words. She’ll start using sentences with more words. Instead of saying “More milk,” she’ll say, “I want more milk.” The use of pronouns will become common. He will start using language to express and communicate his desires, thoughts, feelings, and ideas. At this age your toddler should understand two-step commands. If you say, “Get your jacket and wait by the door,” he should be able to follow your instructions. It doesn’t mean that he sometimes won’t … Continue reading →