Kindergarten (5-7)
- A Gem of an Idea! Playing Creatively with Toys
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When our puppy developed a sweet tooth for plastic and destroyed several of the play foods that came with my kids’ Step2 play kitchen, my kids were disappointed. How were they going to play in their kitchen without any food
- The Ins and Outs of “Time-Out”
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Dealing with challenging behavior is one of the most stressful aspects of parenting. Decades ago “hitting” children was an acceptable response to their negative behavior. As parents learned that physical punishment fails to prevent misbehavior, “hitting” became taboo and putting …
- “Real” Jobs for Children Increase Independence
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Parents have several important responsibilities among them; to protect children and keep them safe and to help children grow and become independent. As Hodding Carter noted, “There are two lasting bequests we can give our children, one is roots, and …
- Be Playful!
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Undoubtedly an important aspect of child development is a child’s ability to be playful. No one knew this better than Dr. Seuss who said: “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, …
- Creative Play Number Match Game
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Most parents will agree that mathematical skills are big deal. So what do you do when your child doesn’t seem interested in numbers? Try this clever number match game from mommy blogger Allison at No Time For Flash Cards. What …
- Benefits of Recess
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The social and cognitive benefits of recess and free play are too important to be ignored. During recess children learn valuable social skills like learning to negotiate with peers in order to keep playing with them. “I want to play …
- No Time for Recess
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Dr. Anthony Pelligrini is a notable scholar of recess and the education system. According to him, recess is disappearing because school administrators are more concerned with increasing instructional time and claim that recess promotes bullying and aggressive behaviors. The argument …
- Developmental Santa: Best Gifts for School Aged Kids
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School age kids are all about getting things done. The famous psychologist, Erik Erikson, wrote (famously) that the core of development at this age is the crisis of “industry versus inferiority.” In other words, children need to feel capable and competent. They need to make things, know things, and master skills. You can plug into this powerful drive when picking out the perfect presents for the kids on your list.
- Giving Children Space to Grow
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My friend is a pediatrician and mother of three children. As it turns out, they are all star students. The oldest two are attending famous universities, and the youngest has been accepted to a top school as well. Not that getting into a great college is the only index of success, or even the best one. But it is notable that all three children have chosen to play the academic game, and all are finding success.
- Books that Teach Through Experiences
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Many parents come in to Dr. Kessler’s book store wanting to find a book to help a child feel more comfortable with a novel situation, like what happens on the first day or school or when parents divorce. Also, parents …