Category: Parenting

The Importance of Household Chores for Kids

Kids hate doing chores. But are any of us over the moon about them, really? Chores are like Spanx. They’re both unsung heroes: Spanx of the form-fitting dress, chores of the average household. Most people notice the fabulous dress, never imagining the spandex scaffolding holding everything in. Same with cleaning

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What Is Non-Reactive Parenting?

Non-reactive parenting is a conscious approach to parenting that seeks to react strategically rather than with automatic emotion. It involves being mindful and aware of your own feelings and making choices about how you respond to your child’s behavior based on long-term goals rather than immediate gratification. This style of

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toddler reading book

6 Essential Early Literacy Skills

Early literacy is not learning to read. Early literacy is the development of the skills needed to be able to learn to read. Don’t get me (and child development experts) started on the madness that is expecting kindergartens to read. A huge part of early literacy involves awareness and appreciation

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12 Easy Developmental Easter Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

It’s hard to find easy developmental Easter activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Many Easter preschool and toddler activities are too complex, messy, and time-consuming. The crafts involve scissors or dreaded paper mache. There are too many steps; they ask toddlers for more attention and dexterity than they possess. Here’s a

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How to Talk with a Nonverbal Child

Though a nonverbal child may not answer (in a way that you’re used to), they’re as interested in conversation as anybody else. In this article, I’ll break down how to talk with a nonverbal child. He’s So Quiet… Says the super nice sales lady at the cosmetics counter. “Oh, he’s

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Sensory Activities For Autism

Sensory activities for autism help Big A (my autistic four-year-old son) make sense of his world. That sounds like a grand statement, especially since I’m talking about finger painting. But seriously. Put down the workbooks and grab some sticks from the back yard. While sensory activities are helpful to all

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12 Easy Developmental Christmas Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

It’s hard to find easy developmental Christmas activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Many Christmas preschool and toddler activities are too complex, messy, and time-consuming. The crafts involve scissors or dreaded paper mache. There are too many steps; they ask toddlers for more attention and dexterity than they possess. Here’s a

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newborn and parents

Survival Guide to Welcoming A New Baby: Sibling Edition

Welcoming a new baby to his siblings is a joyful time, sure. But it’s also a bit of a mess. Toddlers, with their lack of frontal lobe development, emotional regulation, and executive functioning skills, can take the arrival of a new sibling especially hard. That leaves newborn parents, already sleep-deprived,

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