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Parenting a toddler while I was pregnant was not as simple as I thought it would be.
I imagined in that last trimester as my stomach housed a whole human, that I'd be able to sit on the couch and rest while instructing my two-year-old how to engineer towers with blocks.
Laugh on.
What if he is gay? Will he need to be afraid every time he goes out with friends? What if he is targeted for being part Jewish? What if someone chooses to hate him for his profession, his looks, his interests, or his lifestyle?
The first few years of a child’s life are crucial for their cognitive development, also known as the formative years, whereby neural connections are being made and the brain is “wired”. The first 3 years of life have been identified by neuroscientists and developmental psychologists as important for domains such as early language and joint attention. The brain has many functions and interestingly, studies have shown that “attention control” and “working memory” are two faculties that largely develop after birth. The ability to choose the right information to focus on, and thereafter retain it, is important for learning.
Pushing the envelope. Pushing boundaries. Pushing buttons. Here’s to children’s books that expand our assumptions of what a children’s book can be.
Over-scheduled lives lead to questions of whether to stop an activity; teaches decision-making and relieves family tensions
Reading develops only with practice -- the more you read, the better you get; the better you get, the more you read. So how do we help children enjoy reading and choose to read more often?
For a child, everything is new. Refresh your view of a mundane day through the lens of a toddler!
If I had a penny for the number of times, well-meaning friends and family have looked at me and asked “why do you travel so much with young kids? It’s not like they’ll remember any of it!”
Children or teens who are “revved up” and prone to rages or—alternatively—who are depressed and apathetic have become disturbingly commonplace. Chronically irritable children are often in a state of abnormally high arousal, and may seem “wired and tired.” That is, they’re agitated but exhausted. Because chronically high arousal levels impact memory and the ability to relate, these kids are also likely to struggle academically and socially.
In a survey, at least 25 percent of 12-year-olds don't get enough sleep and this has a large impact on their learning and memory.
Recommended amount of sleep for children:
🐾 Infants (4-12 months): 12-16 hours
🐾 Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours
🐾 Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours
🐾 Gradeschoolers: (6-12 years): 9-12 hours
🐾 Teens (13-18 years): 8-10 hours
My little kids love this Pokemon Sensory Bottle I made for when their older siblings are hunting for Pokemon on Pokemon Go! Now my littles can have their very own lure in a bottle, complete with pink confetti. Kids will have so much fun shaking the glittery sensory bottle trying to catch them all!
A new study has shown first-born children are smarter than their siblings. It is thought to come from having to teach their younger brothers and sisters...
She knows that each family and each child are beautiful and special in their own way — but sometimes, people can’t see how special a child really is if that child happens to be born with a disability,
No matter what their culture, or where they live, or whether they have toys, kids will always find ways to have fun. And happy childhood moments captured on camera make for truly magical photos.
If anyone can be called the boss in modern, anti-hierarchical parenthood, it’s the children
"I got to sit down to dinner and hear all the stories from the day with the kids. I got to give them a bath and hear their squeals and giggles. I got to snuggle and love on them for 3 hours more than he did. He is the one sacrificing, not me.”
Toddlers' fussy eating habits can leave their parents wanting to tear their hair out, mainly with worry that they are doing something wrong.
But those blaming themselves for their child's refusal to eat certain foods can stop feeling so guilty because their behavior is likely to be influenced by genetics, according to a new study published Friday.
SINGAPORE: One of the fundamental principles for Singapore is the harmony between our different races and religions, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Racial Harmony Day.
Understanding what they are feeling is crucial for children to grow healthy. Here is the card game that will make your child talk about their experiences of a range of emotions, their body’s physical reactions to emotions and strategies for overcoming overwhelming emotions. It’s a great resource for home and school, and it’s available as a free printable.
Wouldn't it be great for restaurants to hold a special hour of dining for special needs kids? A mom from South Florida is hoping that more restaurants would do this after her experience with her special needs child.
Throughout my ten years as an Occupational Therapist, I have seen and continue to see a decline in kids’ social, emotional, academic functioning, as well as a sharp increase in learning disabilities and other diagnoses.
This FREE Farm Animals activity includes 8 farm animals that children have to match to their beginning letter sounds. Includes both uppercase and lowercase letters so you can choose which one is right for your child.
We all cringe at the parent on the sidelines of the sports field screaming at their child, so invested in their success that you’d think it was their own.
We shake our heads at the stage mums on TV pushing crying children to perform and trying to convince us that it’s all for their child, not them.
We are horrified at the parents who reject their children because of their sexuality.
Easy & Economical way of boosting your child's brain development:
Will strict boundaries lay foundation for rich life or cripple kids' prospects in new world?
Any good parent wants their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults. And while there isn't a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success.
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Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents. Here's what parents of successful kids have in common:
Preschool children expand their vocabulary and become more articulate at expressing their thoughts every day and if you do something more frequently in the very early years, it will help shape their character for years to come.
A renovated Marine Cove at East Coast Park has thrown open its doors this week, welcoming visitors to spanking new eateries, as well as a big children's playground.
People probably know the recreational enclave by its former landmark, the McDonald's outlet, which has been torn down.
In its place is a new beach-style building, with more "gourmet" offerings, such as a salad bar.
Writing is a waterloo for many children. The act takes a lot of effort and deliberate movements which can be discouraging for some kids. Do not feel pressured for your child to develop good handwriting as soon as he can hold a pencil. Holding a pencil to paper and using deliberate movements of the hand to write letters and numbers is not as easy as it seems. It is a fine motor skill that only gets gradually developed with proper preparation and practice.
It’s hard for parents to understand how a toddler can go from eating everything to barely touching his or her meals. It’s even more difficult for them to understand why kids are so reluctant to try new foods. And without a big picture understanding of why kids eat the way they do, parents are left frustrated and are more likely to make feeding mistakes.
Real voices, real lanterns, and they are just mesmerising.
"When people are bullied, especially children, they feel horrible inside and sometimes don't show or tell others how they are feeling."
Crying baby in the plane is everyone's challenge and conundrum. For passengers, they are disturbed. For parents, they understand painfully well the eyes of other passengers and want to do everything they can to stop the baby crying, but no games, not even the baby's favorite blanket, can soothe the baby. And the answer came out from the wise old man: Engage yourself and offer help.
Suggested apps that are both engaging and educational
When Beth Laitkep was fighting for her life in the hospital, she found unwavering support from her best friend, Stephanie Culley as she became a critical part of not only her friend's battle with breast cancer but also in the lives of Beth's six children.
Now that I have kids of my own and work really hard to create a positive home with honest communication, I am hopeful that will never feel the need to lie, at least not any worse than I had. Why do we want our children
to be honest and understand the value of truthfulness?
Below are 13 tips for parents that will help them teach their kids about healthy money management.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month and an opportunity to spread awareness and advocacy throughout the community.
If you’re a parent, your days can be challenging enough. That’s why separating the truths from the myths of Down Syndrome can be helpful.
Stay-at-home moms hear it all the time:
You're so lucky to be able to stay home with your baby!
Well, I wish I could afford to do that...
So you watch TV and play games all day?
So like... you don't work?
Enough is enough. It's high time we all paid attention to the real work stay-at-home moms (and dads!) put in day in and day out. One man, who is engaged to a hard-working stay-at-home mom, posted a picture to Facebook that helps us see this in action. When men appreciate the work of women, it's a wonderful thing for us all. Take a look at this:
Secondhand smoke isn’t just bad for your kids’ health. According to a recent study, exposure to household tobacco smoke in early childhood can also cause behavioral problems, The Mirror reports.
Researchers from the University of Montreal have found a link between exposure to antisocial behavior, which is “characterized by proactive intent to harm others, lack prosocial feelings, and violate social norms.” This can manifest in the following...
Ever since I took on the job of SAHM, I’ve tried my best to save our family money while also continuing to cook healthy(-ish) meals at home. I’ve always enjoyed cooking and coming up with new meals for Mr. Oyster and me to eat – but my excitement for it has changed a bit since having to juggle 1 or 2 children while cooking and also cooking things that they won’t eat. I know it’s a common parenting challenge, but it’s one that’s definitely taken away some of my enjoyment of cooking.
Researchers suggest helicopter parenting may keep kids from making — and learning from — mistakes. Helicopter parents are those who intercept their kids' mistakes before they even have a chance to make them. That protectiveness may help keep kids from getting hurt or from getting bad grades, but a new study found this parenting style may cause serious harm to a child's psyche..
Children are increasingly at risk from essential oils that are often used in natural remedies, a Tennessee poison center reports. The oils, which are derived from plants and used in aromatic and homeopathic products, can cause harm when consumed. And children face a heightened risk from exposure.
Sensory tubs gives children opportunities for learning so many things, not just making a mess. The one that I see most often with the 3-year-olds I work with and thinking back to my own children is storytelling.
I see you looking my way – when I hold my 7 year old, my 5 year old, my 3 year old in my arms. I want to tell you something: my 9 year old doesn’t fit there anymore… and that is why I still carry my kids.
Anyone who’s ever bitten into a slice of watermelon knows it induces a state of relaxation like few other fruits. But did you know that the fruit can also be used as medicine? Humans began doing just that thousands of years ago. Renowned physicians like Hippocrates and Dioscorides actually praised the bright red melon for its healing properties.
Adequate magnesium levels are crucial for brain, cardiac and muscle function!!