If you have young children, this is likely the first time you’ve had to parent through a pandemic. COVID-19 has completely upturned our daily lives, our routines—everything. And we have concerns about our health, our children’s health, how to talk to our kids about Coronavirus, and where to get financial support during a time of […]
The Power of Play For You and Baby
Babies are born with a unique desire to play. It’s how they learn about the world, problem-solve, and work through their emotions, not to mention build muscles and resilience. To quote Fred Rogers: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really […]
Preschool Readiness and The Importance of Play-Based Learning
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 […]
Encouraging Independent Play
Preschoolers and their parents lead busy lives. There are pretend cakes to bake; dolls and stuffies with “boo boos” that need mending; and grocery shopping to do for the play kitchen. As fun as these games are for kids, there are very real tasks that all parents need to get done during the day—and it’s […]
Helping Children Manage Big Emotions with Everyday Conversations
When my daughter started preschool, we prepared for the transition. We visited the open house and played games at home with toys who we pretended were going to school for the first time. I took the morning of her first day off so that I could stay if needed. When we arrived, my daughter sat […]
Hands-on Fun: Fall STEAM Activities
As parents, many of us strive to provide our children with well-rounded experiences that, hopefully, aid them in their learning and understanding of the world. Following the STEAM model of education is a practical way of giving your preschooler (and older children) opportunities to learn a variety of skills across multiple platforms of education. These […]
In The Moment: Being a More Present Parent
Our children are connected and attached to us! Sometimes that attachment is overwhelming and it seems like they just want our attention all the time. Whether it’s an infant’s cry, your older son endlessly talking about Minecraft, or your toddler needing extra snuggles at the end of a long day, it’s built into their DNA—and […]
The Lazy—and Learning—Days of Summer
August has always been my favorite part of summer—first as child and then as a teacher. For many of us, the school-year calendar dictates our schedules and time available to relax and play in the summer sun. My family moved to Eugene 21 years ago from a small town on coastal Maine. Our first summer […]
Spring Into STEAM
Spring Into STEAM As your child gets to be preschool and kindergarten age, you might hear a lot of talk about the importance of STEAM, or its earlier version STEM. STEAM is an acronym for: Science Technology Engineering Art Math STEAM (and STEM) is a way for educators and parents to help children combine different […]
Strategies For Giving Instructions
Strategies For Giving Instructions It seems straight-forward enough: “Please go brush your teeth.” But 5-minutes later, you find your child playing in their room, their teeth unbrushed and still covered in the night’s dinner. At first glance, it’s easy to assume that your child is purposely ignoring you or refusing your request. But, in many […]
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