Parenting Now Blog

For families looking for updates on the wildfires, information on air quality and how to best protect children from its negative health effects, use the resources below. We will continue to update this list as the situation progresses: • Searchable list of local resources for families in Lane County, including financial assistance, help lines, basic ...

Even in infanthood, we learn that there are consequences for our actions. If a baby puts a too-small toy in her mouth, mom or dad will take it away. If a toddler goes outside without shoes on, their feet will get cold. If your middle school child doesn’t get his homework done, it will affect ...

Sensory bins are growing in popularity—and for good reason! Parents are realizing sensory play is crucial toward enhancing child development. Sensory play is great for neurotypical children and children with sensory processing disorder and autism. Getting started with sensory bins may seem overwhelming, but it is actually easy to start sensory play with your child ...

  Children are constantly developing new likes and dislikes, ideas and feelings. Along with amazing growth and independence, children can also experience frustration and anger, and seem defiant and stubborn. But through these experiences and emotions, children learn persistence and determination! As a parent, you can guide your child to help them become independent, learn ...

Each child is born with a unique “temperament.” Temperament is the way we approach and respond to the world. Some children warm up quickly in social situations, while others are more cautious. Children can also be persistent or easily agitated, or easy going, jumping right in to explore their world. Your role as a parent ...

All new parents are at-risk for developing Postpartum Depression (PPD), sometimes referred to as Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMD) during pregnancy or after the birth of a new child. PMD includes postpartum anxiety and postpartum psychosis (very rare). But having a baby during a pandemic presents even more challenges for parents, as you navigate social distancing, ...

It’s no secret that toddlers and preschoolers love music. But what you might not know is that music plays an important role in your child’s development, benefiting early literacy skills and building fine- and gross- motor skills. A 2016 study from the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that having musical experiences ...

In our One-2-One support chats with parents, we get a lot of questions about how to balance working from home when you also have young children and toddlers to take care of.  With summer activities limited and an uncertain school structure next fall, we offer these tips for working from home: Keep expectations for yourself ...

As an infant, did your child excitedly try new foods, only to become more selective as they entered their toddler years? Some parents jump to label their child a “picky eater” if they: Don’t want to sit at the table to eat Play with their food Are fussy about what they eat Refuse to try ...

We’ve made it to summer break! We can say goodbye to remote learning responsibilities (at least for awhile) and gloomy weather, and say hello to the carefree days of summer! Right? Well, almost carefree. As COVID-19 continues to run its course, safety precautions will continue to dictate how and where we spend our summer vacation, ...

As early as 6-months old, babies begin to notice differences in people, including their skin color, hair, and eyes. It's never too early to have conversations about race with your child and there are wonderful, kid-friendly resources out there to help guide you along in the process. Our Parenting Educators have rounded up some of ...

  Routines build a strong foundation for children of all ages, and it’s important that, as parents, we try to provide a routine for the family, even when times are tough. Why routines matters We all do better when we have some structure around us. Routines provide a predictable pattern to our days that helps ...