Children learn best through play and exploration. The time we give them to just relax in the world and process all that is around them is far more valuable then signing them up for activities and wearing them out by the end of the day. Activities are great in moderation but sometimes it is nice to just let them play and be kids. Allow them to see the world through their own curious eyes. Enjoy the moment with them as you see how simple it can be to engage in the world and learn to love the small things. The … Continue reading →

A cooperative game is one where the players work together to overcome an obstacle to win the game. Acting within a group setting is essential to social development. We are often called to work together on projects, in school, or even in the workplace. A family defines the ability to live cooperatively. It is important that siblings and parents play games that focus on working together as a unit as opposed to being on opposite teams. A cooperative game allows the parent or an older sibling to mentor the young player through a game. I believe in healthy competition and … Continue reading →

Babies cry to communicate a variety of needs from hunger to needing to be changed. When we parent babies we expect our fair share of crying. We understand a baby had no other way to communicate wants and needs. While crying can be frustrating and exhausting for both mom and baby, we know that it will end. One day our baby will have the ability to communicate wants and needs verbally and thus crying episodes will not be prevalent. We soon realize that toddlers also cry for needs and wants as we go through fussy and tantrum stages. Toddlers are … Continue reading →

Life with a preschooler is unpredictable. They go through many changes and moods and sometimes that is all in one day. They can be fun and fussy and that can be all in one hour. My preschooler is no different. She is a young preschooler of three, just getting her preschool training wheels on. I have another daughter who is six and just took her preschool training wheels off a year or so ago. A six year old is far more mature than a three year old but that does not stop the fighting. I never allow big fights to … Continue reading →

I have a very gracious neighbor who has no love for his daffodils. He allows my six and three year olds to pick them at will. Since my little girls love to pick flowers, he is a favorite neighbor. His ex-wife planted the flowers and he is hardly around to care for them. He is not one to do much more than mow his lawn. Besides that, he is a very nice man who has always been generous and thoughtful. He allows my son to extend the playing distance of our lawn by adding on his. He never minds if … Continue reading →

Yesterday we spoke about how to prepare your child. Today let’s discuss how to prepare yourself and handle poor behavior in guests. How can you prepare yourself? *Try to understand that your birthday child is very excited about the party. All the emotion could easily be misdirected into a meltdown. So stay positive and understanding. *Stay flexible. Changes may have to be made so be prepared. *You put a lot of time and energy into this celebration. Now it is time to enjoy this special day with your child and your guests. How do you handle poor behavior in guest? … Continue reading →

I have a spunky daughter who speaks her mind. So, you can imagine my fear as her 5th birthday party drew near. I was certain my daughter would express undeniable rejection of any gift opened that did not conform to her taste. How could I avoid a future of being banished from having or attending birthday parties? Birthday behavior concerns are common among parents. It is normal to want our guests to feel welcome and appreciated. The unpredictable nature of children often makes us uneasy. Will my child express disappointment over a gift? Will my child make time to play … Continue reading →

I was emailed a very creative and fun idea to teach letters, vowel recognition, spelling, words and sight words. I think this is great idea and had to share! I will have to make this come the weekend. I cannot wait to share this with my children. What I love especially is that it is the kind of activity that grows with the child. You can begin to use it to teach the alphabet. Try using it to teach your child how to spell her name. Once that is mastered you can move on to blending phonics to make to … Continue reading →

Today I was set to make a memory. It is the week before Christmas and a time for special memories. One of my fondest memories of Christmas is baking. I love to bake and my kids love to bake. We love to eat what we bake. During Christmas we love to watch Christmas cartoons, eat the cookies we baked and drink hot cocoa. So it would be a perfect afternoon of baking followed by Christmas cartoons and hot cocoa. Homemade hot cocoa to top it off as well! Sadly, this perfect picture was not how the afternoon turned out. With … Continue reading →

Today a friend’s three year old child looked terrified to be around people. He clung to his mom and did not want her to leave. Another friend’s 4 year old child was in no mood to converse and only wanted to be near her mom. My three year who appeared to be happy before we entered church became shy, began to suck her thumb, and wanted to be carried once we entered. All of the children are more than familiar with church but they were all acting shy or scared today. It seems most children go through a shy phase … Continue reading →