To tell the truth, babies do not need much—love, a clean body, warmth and nourishing food. Still, we all like to give gifts to welcome new little souls. We like to see babies react to new experiences and we like to share things with new parents that our own children enjoyed. All through the first year, whether a new parent or the friend or relation of one, people enjoy bringing toys into a baby’s life. Here are a few thoughts … Read More...
What is it about blocks that makes them one of the first toys babies play with, as well as an activity that children return to throughout childhood? You’ve seen your baby, only just having mastered sitting up, begin to stack two or three blocks together. You’ve seen your toddler building the tallest tower they can manage, glorying in the crash when it tumbles down. And you’ve seen older children lost in their play as they maneuver their blocks this way … Read More...
Just as we celebrate a baby’s “birth day”, when they are born and enter the world, a child’s birthday can be a time to hold him foremost in your heart and remind him of how glad you are that he arrived. There will probably be gifts, but birthdays and other holidays become a day apart when you mark them with your own traditions that have nothing to do with presents. One nice thing about building birthday traditions is that they … Read More...
“Trees are all different, as you know, and I am sure some tiresome person must have told you that there are no two blades of grass exactly alike. But in streets, where the blades of grass don’t grow, everything is like everything else. This is why so many children who live in towns are so extremely naughty.” – E. Nesbit, The Five Children and It
Even a century ago when Ms. Nesbit was writing, people were concerned about the amount … Read More...
Most children respond to music from their earliest days; parents’ rhythmic crooning soothes, at least momentarily, a newborn. A silly song or jumpy nursery rhyme can divert an upset toddler. A song with a strong beat can help a preschooler march along beside you as you try to finish a grocery trip. Up until about age 13, a long car ride can be made more pleasant by singing all these songs and more. We are born with music inside us, … Read More...
Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner and Charlotte Mason might not have agreed on many things regarding children and the best way to support their development. However, they all shared at least one similar premise, that children enjoy and even need work and other kinds of purposeful activity. They each had different ideas on how adults should meet this impulse but they all agreed it was there.
One place you might see it surface in your own children is through their … Read More...
At a physical for my children a couple of years ago, the nurse practitioner worked through a standard list of questions that I had answered for at least ten years. “Is there violence in the home? Does anyone smoke in the home?” But her last question was new.
“Does your child get at least one hour of focused physical activity per day?”
I did not ask why, but I did ask her to define what “focused physical activity” meant. I … Read More...
Moms and dads often feel guilty if they aren’t occupying their baby’s attention day and night. Because a baby’s small and not yet self-sufficient, there is a tendency to feel that our little ones must be entertained all the time. Although it may seem counterintuitive, giving your baby some “breathing room” can actually be good for both parent and child.
As long as your baby is in an area that’s self-contained, protected, and baby-proofed (as well as within your sight), … Read More...
Every parent strives to raise a healthy, compassionate child who has high self-esteem and respect for others. We all go to great lengths to make sure their physical and emotional needs are met and that they are learning and developing the way they should be. As parents, we are our children’s first teachers so it’s important to know how to positively foster a child’s early learning and what we can do to help that along every step of the way.… Read More...
It happens to every parent at some point. We’re standing in line at the grocery store and our little one starts to fuss and cry because they’ve just been told no candy before dinner. A little whining transforms itself into a full blown tantrum, and now Mom (or Dad!) is frantically trying to get through the checkout line with a smile on her face while attempting to appease and calm her little angel. Sound familiar? Even the most easy-going, well-behaved … Read More...
