Weaning my toddler was a bittersweet experience. She had been my little nursling, and I wasn’t sure how she’d handle the transition. To my surprise, she amazed me with their adaptability. We slowly cut down nursing sessions and focused on creating special bonding times through play and exploration. Weaning brought us even closer as a family. That’s why I’d like…
Three-year-olds Emma and Noah are quietly playing in the sand on the beach. Suddenly, the little girl starts crying because Noah has taken the watering can from her. The next second, she hits him on the head with the sand shovel. Toddlers get into conflict time and again. One reason is that they have a primitive sense of time. Before…
For several weeks now, four-year-old Alice has started to assert her wishes adamantly. She turns a deaf ear when her mother says that they should leave her friend’s house, protests when it is time to get dressed in the morning, and outrightly defies her dad when he tells Alice she is not allowed to throw balls and spoons around the…
“Play is the beginning of knowledge.” ~ George Dorsey Knowing the types of play kids engage in can help parents better empathize with and also encourage the cognitive development of their young ones. Almost one hundred years ago, social psychologist Mildred Parten Newhall, who outlined six stages of play in her dissertation paper, described the importance of games for kids’…
Jealousy between siblings is a fact of life. Though it is difficult for parents to witness it, it’s common for children under seven to say things like: Do you even care about me anymore? I hate that baby, and I hate you! I don’t want a sister! Pinching, kicking, teasing, arguing, fighting over toys and grades are all signs of…
In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, researchers have found that children with well-established bedtime routines have higher than average social and emotional skills. By knowing their schedule ahead, children should not feel anxious about what comes next and, in turn, can focus on learning new things. This creates the grounds for superior school…
It’s a fact. Caring for an autistic child is difficult. Sometimes it seems like you are walking through a minefield. Every day, parents fear they may trigger a major meltdown. From ignoring unwritten social rules to exhibiting repetitive behavior and communication impairments, the mind of a child with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a mystery to us, parents…