Whether it be their first day of daycare or Kindy or back to school for our little ones saying goodbye to their adults can be hard (for them & us!) Some tips to supporting your separations include: Prepare, Practice, Project Confidence, Expect Emotions, Emit Empathy & Empower. Read along as I unpack these thoughts. 1. …
Children and toys go hand-in-hand, and there’s much to be gained when babies, toddlers and preschoolers play the day away. Toys are a fun way to develop youngsters’ motor skills, enliven their imagination, encourage social skills, practice problem-solving and foster independence. Still, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Overflowing toy …
Gosh, if you have a toddler who IMPULSIVELY hits, whether it be during excited playfulness, when you set a boundary or at playdates, it can be so tough…you are NOT alone. Toddler hitting is so common. I’m sure you are asking…Why do they keep doing it? AND How do I make them stop? Of course, …
Supporting your strong-willed toddler! Firstly! I write this post from real-life experience. These ideas will support you for sure, BUT it is one of the toughest gigs I have ever experienced. It takes energy, effort, humility and grace…sometimes, you feel like each of these tanks is depleted! Hang in there. You are not alone! 1. …
It seems to be a universal toddler rule to resist tasks such as getting dressed! It can cause a lot of stress for parents, so let’s look at why this is so common and what we can do about it. I always like to start with trying to see life from our toddlers perspective. It …
You may already be an advocate for nature play. Perhaps you have seen the joy it brings to your children or observed them engage in deeper, more imaginative play while outdoors. In a society still learning to accept and promote open-ended learning and move away from worksheet lessons and ever-increasing screen time, nature play and …
FEEDING, DRESSING, BATHING, HAIR BRUSHING, HANDWASHING, NOSE-WIPING, FACE WASHING…In the early years, these times are often referred to as caregiving times as the parent (carer) usually provides physical care to the child’s needs. How many times a day do you find yourself doing any one of these? Sometimes in the whirlwind of life, these can …
We have all experienced the often tense situation of two toddlers in a tussle over a toy! In actual reality, how we perceive conflicts in social interactions between toddlers can often be more distressing for us than what they actually are for the children themselves! If you have ever observed infants interacting with one another, …
There is debate amongst experts in parenting methods about whether the independent play is positive or even possible in the early years. It is, however, a great gift to both the child and the adult! For the child, it provides the opportunity for the development of concentration and skill mastery driven by their innate desire …
Many parents wonder whether they should store all the toys in their child’s room or create a playroom. My personal preference is to create a play space, separate from their sleeping space if possible. It certainly doesn’t have to be an entire room, but ideally, it is a designated area where they can see and …
5 Steps to setting up meaningful play environments! Read More »
