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Recently in: Toddlers
Using Effective Time-Outs
By Jody Pawel
Many parents use the same type of discipline for every problem situation. One tool, however, is rarely effective for all situations. Pl... Read more
5 Ways to Spend Time With Your Child
By Rita Webb
Like adults, no two children are alike. Therefore, children need to be treated as individuals. With three children in our family, it is... Read more
Cleanup on Aisle Two
By Jenny Runkel
We've all been there. It usually occurs at the most inopportune moments and somehow, the room always quiets just before it happens. ... Read more
Toddlers love to play with their pals, but as any parent who's refereed a preschool playdate knows, learning how to get along with each other isn't always fun and games. "Kids this age are the most energetic and impulsive that they're going to be their whole lives, and they have short attention spans," says Michele Borba, Ed. D., author of numerous parenting books, including Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me (Jossey-Bass). But this is the perfect time for tuned-in parents to teach toddlers the skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
Taking a young child for their first haircut doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Following are some tips to ensure it is an enjoyable experience for you and your child:
Bring your child along to a sibling's or a parent's haircut beforehand so they can get familiar with the process.
Avoid saying haircut to your child as the word "cut" may evoke fear of pain. Instead, call it a hair trim.
Visit the salon at a time of day that works best for your child. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to go right before naptime when your child may be fussy.
The screaming child in the shopping cart grabs at the candy while his frazzled mother tries to unload the groceries at the checkout. Before she has the chance to react he rips off the wrapper and proceeds to cram the chocolate into his mouth. Does this sound all too familiar? Have you ever asked yourself the question, 'Is My Kid Spoiled?' Well, you are not alone. According to a recent study* 94% of parents believe that American children are spoiled. Deciding if your little angel is, in fact, a little devil is not rocket science. Thankfully, neither is the solution.
It might seem like kids' brains are now more stimulated than ever with all the media they're exposed to -- TV, the Internet, computer games, cell phones. But in fact, all that electronic input is actually eroding their sense of imagination, educators say. "When children are given images, they don't learn to form pictures in their mind's eye, which is the basis of creative imagination," says Elizabeth Rose, Ed.S., director of National Youth Storytelling Showcase, an organization that aims to get youth involved in storytelling.
When Paula Costa gave birth to a baby girl a few months ago, she expected her son, Alec, 2, to have a hard time adjusting. But she didn't expect him to take his aggression out on her.
"Initially, he wasn't interested in the baby, but he'd have tantrums with me," says Costa, of Glen Ridge, NJ. "He would get really ornery and say, 'I want milk.' When I gave him milk, he'd say, 'No, I wanted juice!' Then he'd say that the cup was wrong. He'd create situations where there was no way to please him."
Defiance and aggression are common reactions for toddlers who ha
... Continue reading Beating the New Baby Blues.
How Many Friends Are Enough?
By Vanessa Voltolina
Four-year-old Ryan McLynn of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., has no problem making friends. "Ryan will just go up to other kids on the playground and ask 'do you want to play with me?'" says mom Susan. But his sister, Kerry Ann, was always very cautious making social connections. "When Kerry Ann was a toddler, she would only be friends with kids who befriended her first -- and she definitely wouldn't initiate it."
Parents of shy, quiet or reserved toddlers worry that their kids may grow up to be loners or lack a social life. But it's important to remember that toddlers have dif
... Continue reading How Many Friends Are Enough?.
The Magic of Make Believe
By Aviva Patz
Parents have always wanted to provide their children with as much enrichment as they can. Today, that means even three- and four-year olds spend their days flitting from soccer to music to swim lessons with hardly a break in between. But the best research shows that what kids need most for optimum growth and development is good old-fashioned playtime, when they can use their blossoming imagination.
"Young children learn numerous skills through make-believe play," says Yale University child development expert Dorothy Singer, EdD, author of Make-Believe: Games & Activities for Im
... Continue reading The Magic of Make Believe.
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