Forming a strong foundation for developing children; emotionally, socially, cognitively, and physically.
A preschool teacher once told me the best parenting advice she’d ever received was this: be consistent and be boring. By boring, she didn’t mean disengaged or cold. She meant familiar. Steady. Predictable. That advice stuck with me, especially in a world that constantly tells moms to be creative, energetic, playful, and endlessly engaging. We’re…
My oldest is about to start kindergarten! It feels like such a big step, so I’m diving into some kindergarten readiness tips for parents. Since my son tends to be a little on the anxious side, I want to make the transition as smooth and confidence-boosting as possible. Here are some of the practical kindergarten…
Here are the things I am doing as a mom to help my son make friends (I will break down each of these items in detail in the next section). When a Child Struggles to Make Friends Making friends is not always easy. Especially for young children with shy or slow-to-warm temperaments. Or, kids who…
I’m so excited to share this open-ended art activity for young children; toilet paper roll people and creatures! This project is amazing for a few different reasons; Art Materials for Toilet Paper Roll Figures Another wonderful thing about this craft project is that the art supplies list is adaptable. As long as you have some…
How many toys do kids need? While it’s nice to have a number to shoot for, it’s more important to assess how many toys are right for your particular child and circumstances. For example, as a stay-at-home mom, my kids are home a lot. We live in a 2000 square foot home and can fit…
The 1-year-old stage is an exciting time. Most little ones start to take their first steps shortly after turning 1 (some earlier, some later) and they are ready for their first pair of shoes! Making sure those first pair of walking shoes are the right fit and the correct size is important for healthy foot…
Summary of Findings on The Best Non-Dairy Milk for Toddlers Please note that I am not a medical professional. The information I share here has been gathered from peer-reviewed research articles, scientific agencies, and professional associations. Any questions regarding the information shared here should be directed to a doctor. Thank you! Reasons Parents Choose Plant-Based…
Before we can read, write, or talk, we can make our first rudimentary marks on paper; we scribble. And while an erratic scribble does not appear to be anything extraordinary, it is the first step on the amazing journey of human graphic development. Just as there are general developmental milestones when it comes to learning,…
There are a lot of big developments for kids in the preschool years, but not all kids at this age are necessarily ready for a big birthday bash. Or, parents may be on a tight budget or simply not have the bandwidth to throw a wild birthday party with screaming children. So, how to celebrate…
For the first month or so after bringing home our new baby, I was surprised that my 3-year-old had no apparent shifts in behavior. He seemed curious about and delighted by the new baby. Fast forward a month and this is when the ear-piercing toddler screams started. Yikes. In addition to this outrageous screaming, other…
With sunshine and fun-filled days ahead, finding the best baby wrap carrier for summer is a must! A cozy wrap is great to use while out and about or at home getting things done. Features of a Great Summer Baby Carrier Wrap A great baby carrier wrap promotes bonding, provides comfort, and offers convenience. When…
Considerations – When Should Family Visit Newborn Baby? 1. Know Thyself 2. Protecting Immature Newborn Immune System 3. Establishing Breastfeeding 4. Processing Postpartum Emotions Establishing Boundaries with Newborn Visitors 1. Give Yourself Permission to Have Boundaries 2. Practice Clear and Kind Communication Around Boundaries There are a lot of…
The question of whether or not it is good for kids to get sick seems like a silly one. Why on earth would it be good for kids to get sick? I started to ask myself this question though, as I have been figuring out how to navigate toddler outings to germ-ridden play places and…
Meet Bobby (my child’s imaginary friend): He is approximately 2 inches tall, has grey hair, and blue eyes, and wears train pajama pants. Bobby likes to run fast and he also likes to hide in things – like pillows, snack cups, and avocados. He can even go into other people’s bodies and become them! Bobby…
Babies who were born shortly before or after the COVID-19 pandemic are sometimes referred to as COVID babies. Now in post-pandemic life, these babies are turning into wild toddlers, and some are working through some social apprehensiveness. My son was born shortly before the pandemic started, so he only knew pandemic life for the first…
As a mother of a 2-year-old boy, Andrew Yang’s recent episode on his podcast ‘Forward’ piqued my interest; “Why Boys and Men are Failing”. You can also watch the conversation between Yang and Zach Graumann on YouTube. I found this an odd and intriguing topic given our culture’s current conversations around male privilege and patriarchy. What could…
Table of Contents I was going to write this week’s post on pumpkin muffins for toddlers… but I can’t write about pumpkin muffins this week. Recently, there is something far more important to address that concerns me as a mother and as a human; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since that initial…
Around the time my toddler turned 2 years old, his nap schedule went a little haywire. Just before turning 2, he had a nap regression that lasted a couple of weeks. And now at 25 months old, he is again having trouble settling down for naps. So I started wondering, do 2-year-olds need naps? How…
Contents When I started noticing that all of the baby cereals sold in stores had “iron-fortified” written all over them, I started to wonder what was so important about iron. And whether or not my child was getting enough. And especially since my son was exclusively breastfed (breast milk is low in iron vs iron-fortified…
Parenting young children is a journey filled with love, laughter, and of course, temper tantrums. The toddler years through the preschool years are especially a wild ride. While no parent likes dealing with toddler tantrums, the good news is that there are ways to effectively navigate them and help kids develop healthy emotional regulation skills….
Toddler-friendly homes are curated to give toddlers access to furniture, tools, and resources that support their growth and development. Creating a kid-friendly home gives toddlers opportunities to do things for themselves. They learn that they are capable. And they become confident in their ability to try new things, make choices, and master new skills. They…
My son loves playing… with people, namely mom and dad. He is constantly begging to play cars, hide and seek, tag, and the myriad of other games he comes up with. While I love that he is so enthusiastic about playing, I do not always want to play games with him. I love him dearly,…
As a mom with a shy toddler, I was prompted to write this post on how to support shy toddlers. Generally speaking, it can be quite normal for toddlers to be shy. What to Expect explains that toddlers have immature social skills and lack social experience. For some toddlers, they are additionally genetically predisposed to shyness. Nemours explains that about…
As a first-time parent, the thought of potty training was always a source of confusion and dread. I had no idea when or how to start. Because I think many parents can relate, I was inspired to write this blog post about our potty training journey. I’ll be sharing helpful tips and the most important…
Pacifiers are wonderful tools to help soothe babies and young toddlers. Some children never take to them, but for those that do, pacifiers become their prized little possessions! At some point though, the question arises, when to stop pacifier use? Sucking is a natural reflex for babies, and the ADA (American Dental Association) explains that pacifiers help provide a…
Contents My baby began a gradual process of self-weaning from breastfeeding shortly after 12 months of age. This took me by surprise because I always figured I would be the one to decide when our nursing relationship ended. After all, I had heard stories of nursing mothers who had 4-year-olds still breastfeeding. I wasn’t planning…
Oral Hygiene for Babies and Tots: When to Start Brushing Baby Teeth, With What, and How?!
After our pediatrician recommended Miralax to treat my 1 year old’s ongoing constipation, I found myself wondering, is Miralax safe for toddlers?
