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Recently in: Pre-Schoolers
Raising Confident Kids
It takes confidence to be a kid. Whether going to a new school or stepping up to bat for the first time, kids face a lot of uncharted territory.
Naturally, parents want... Read more
Not Just By the Books
By Aviva Patz
When it comes to reading, your child's first -- and most important -- teacher is you. "Children who have been read to since birth have a distinct advantag... Read more
More Peas, Please
By Patricia Berry
Your child is lunching on chicken nuggets and carrot sticks. Correction -- she's nibbling the coating off the chicken and ignoring the vegetable alto... Read more
Early Literacy Materials Available for Free Download
Washington Learning Systems has just posted a new set of free parent-child early literacy materials, titled "On the Go". These materials include 14 activities designed to be used outside the home: in the car, while walking, during bus rides, etc. The activities encourage early language and literacy development from birth through preschool. They are appropriate for children with disabilities as well as children who are developing typically. The development of these materials was supported by Grant H324M020084 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
When Amy Paterson and her husband started looking for preschools for their son, Jonah, they found the process pretty overwhelming. "I grew up here, but I was at a loss for where to start," says Paterson, 35, who lives with her family in Portland, Ore. "Eventually I starting asking my friends and family, and we found a great school for our son. But it was confusing."
Paterson isn't the only one bewildered by all the choices. Shopping for preschools for your little one for the first time is exciting, but it can be difficult to know which is the best choice. The first thing you should co
... Continue reading Shopping for Preschools.
Separation Anxiety?
By Hal Runkel, LMFT
When I give seminars to parents, I always leave some time at the end for questions. One that I seem to get quite often deals with an issue that simply begs me to stand on a soapbox. The question in question deals with separation anxiety. My soapbox deals not with the one asking the question, but rather, the philosophy behind the question itself. So, are you ready for a ScreamFree rant? That may be a contradiction in terms, but this question deserves it. So, here goes:
Separation anxiety is another of my industry's attempts to diagnose an observed set of behaviors in children. And mos
... Continue reading Separation Anxiety?.
Mastery of Early Math and Reading Skills by Kindergarten Linked to Better School Performance Later
Everyone knows letters and numbers are a basic part of any good preschool curriculum. But a new study shows just how important these early skills are. In fact, when kids enter kindergarten with a good grasp of fundamental math and reading concepts, they do far better in school in the long run.
Looking at existing data from six separate large studies of child development, the researchers found that mastering early reading and math skills by the start of kindergarten was associated with better performance in elementary and middle school. Although reading and attention skills were somewhat linked to later performance, entering
... Continue reading Mastery of Early Math and Reading Skills by Kindergarten Linked to Better School Performance Later.
20 Fun, Indoor Activities for Bored Kids
by Amanda Formaro
When it's raining, snowing, or just plain too cold to play outside, your household can fall victim to the "I'm Bored Blues". With a little creativity and imagination, you can turn the tables and find fun things to do without running to the store or turning on the television. Keep this list of ideas handy, or write each idea on a slip of paper and put them in a hat. The next time the kids are bored, let them draw a slip of paper from a hat to decide which activity to do first!
1. Plate of Bubbles - All you need for this fun activity is a small plate, a plastic drinking straw, dis
... Continue reading 20 Fun, Indoor Activities for Bored Kids.
Disciplining Your Child
How do you keep a 1-year-old from heading toward the VCR? What should you do when your preschooler throws a fit? How can you get a teenager to respect your authority?
Whatever the age of your child, it's important to be consistent when it comes to discipline. If you don't stick to the rules and consequences that you set up, your child isn't likely to either.
Here are some ideas about how to vary your approach to discipline to best fit your family.
Ages 0 to 2
Babies and toddlers are naturally curious. So it's wise to eliminate temptations and no-nos - items such as VCRs, stereos,
... Continue reading Disciplining Your Child.
Playdate Etiquette
By Jacqueline Mroz
Whenever Erika Leavitt catches her daughters misbehaving or forgetting to say please, she reminds them -- again and again and again. "I don't give them things unless they say please first," says the Basalt, Colo., mother of two.
That's exactly what parents need to do to teach their children social skills, according to Lisa Finan a mother of two in Montclair, N.J. and the owner of Courteous Child, which offers social skills classes to children. "Kids need to be constantly reminded to say please, thank you, and may I," says Finan.
One of the best times for children to practice g
... Continue reading Playdate Etiquette.
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