Tag Archives: developmental stages

When Children Regress, Part One

You have finally got your child potty-trained or moved her from a crib to a big bed all to herself. Things may be going along swimmingly and then something happens, and it is as if she had never progressed out of diapers or to sleeping independence. Regression is fairly common and it can happen for a variety of reasons. This does not make it any less frustrating or challenging, but it can help if you understand what is happening. The arrival of a new baby, a move to a new house, a divorce, death, travel or any myriad life changes … Continue reading →

Expect a Few Practice Leaps Before Leaving the Nest

My own personal experience with leaving home has left me a little skewed. I may have mentioned before, but I turned 18, graduated a half-year early from high school, enrolled in college, rented my own apartment and moved out—all within about a week. Of course, I had been planning, budgeting and saving for nearly two years leading up to my emancipation but I did it boldly and never looked back. I think that since this was the way I did it, I assumed that everyone leaves the nest with such assuredness. The truth is, however, that most kids need to … Continue reading →

Interest and Readiness are Not the Same Things

As a parent, it can be hard to figure out when is the right time to introduce new skills or expectations with our children. When do we introduce solids? When do we start to potty-train? “When?” tends to be the big question that parents are constantly asking themselves. One good indicator of when a child is ready to take on a new skill or make a developmental leap is when they start to express and interest. It is important to remember, however, that interest does not always mean that the child is ready. A child might start reaching for solid … Continue reading →

Are There Optimal Ages for a Move or Relocation?

One of the questions I get asked periodically by parents, particularly single parents, is if there are ages that it is “better” to move or relocate children and ages where it is less advised. It is interesting because I DO have some experience with this and my own children, we have definitely not always lived in the same place/state/city. I do not think that it is necessarily a black and white situation, however. What I do tell people is that all children and all families are different. Some kids thrive on different experiences and locations while others have a really … Continue reading →

Book Review: The Adoption Life Cycle

The Adoption Life Cycle,by Elinor Rosenberg, fills a niche in adoption literature by talking about issues such as separation, loss, identity and family relationships not only as they emerge at different stages of children’s development, but also in the context of family systems. Rosenberg has seen adoption from several perspectives—as a social worker working with birthmothers, as a therapist working with adopted children in residential treatment centers, and later as an adoptive parent of two. She devotes her first chapter to the myth of adoption as “the perfect solution”. While strongly supportive of adoption, she recognizes that it usually leaves … Continue reading →

The Toddler Pull

A couple of days ago, my daughter was digging around in the bin that houses all of her old baby toys. We’ve held onto them for sentimental reasons, for the most part, but there are four toys in there that were purchased for her on her first Christmas, so it’s neat to have those as some of the first Christmas gifts she ever received. One of the toys she pulled out and started playing with immediately enchanted my now walking (I can’t believe he is growing so fast!) 10 and half month old nephew. He toddled towards it excitedly and … Continue reading →