Count yourself among the rare and lucky if you are a parent of a toddler who willingly—maybe even eagerly—hops right into bed for a peaceful night’s sleep, because most families with toddlers experience bedtime challenges. In fact, it’s part of the delightful package called toddlerhood! It’s so common, that it’s estimated that one in three …
Counting Stars: Ways to help toddlers who resist sleep Read More »
The data is in! Research shows that children of present, engaged fathers are less likely to drop out of school, go to jail, and avoid high risk behaviors later in their lives, such as smoking, underage drinking, or teen pregnancy. This is great news, especially as cultural roles are shifting and many families are choosing …
Albert Einstein once said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” We live in a world filled with miracles. We can see them every day—if we know where to look. A miracle occurred the day …
It’s Never Too Early to Start Reading With Your Child Read More »
When working with parents, I am often asked: “Is my toddler ‘ready’ for a preschool?” The next question that follows is: “Will it help or hurt my child in any way?” Every child is different, but research into early childhood shows that even a few hours a week in an intentionally prepared environment with age-based …
Preschool Readiness and The Importance of Play-Based Learning Read More »
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we make New Year’s resolutions? It turns out that the tradition dates back all the way to the Babylonians, some 4,000 years ago. Of course, they weren’t making resolutions to eat healthier, hit the gym more, or spend less on frivolous coffee drinks. Instead, they were making promises …
Managing Parenting Stress Over the Holidays Sometimes it seems like the demands and stresses of parenting just keep building up! For some parents, it just seems like there is too much to do each day—especially during the holidays! The good news is there are ways you can handle the very real stresses of parenting through …
If you’ve got a toddler, you may be wondering about preschool options. And, believe it or not, now is the time to start planning for enrollment next fall! Before you start furiously scheduling preschool tours, it’s helpful to have a list of questions handy to help ease the process of selecting the perfect preschool …
At Camilla’s 6-year birthday party she was showered with gifts from friends and family. Her parents were overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity that was shown to their daughter. But when the family arrived home after the party, Camilla became upset, crossing her arms and pouting because “she didn’t get the gift she really wanted.” Instead of …
Practicing Gratitude: What Are You Thankful For? Read More »
Did you have nightmares as a kid? Even if you don’t remember having them, chances are you probably did. And, for some of us, our childhood nightmares were so powerful that we still remember them to this day! Childhood nightmares are common in children 3-5 years old. With changes to their routine (starting in preschool …
During a recent car seat inspection at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, two Certified Car Seat Technicians identified several brand new car seats that were missing crucial safety features. The parents, who bought their car seats new via online vendors, were shocked. With online shopping as popular as ever, how can parents be …