Through physical play outdoors, your child develops confidence in herself as she sees her physical skills grow. This self-confidence can translate into social confidence: Children who feel good about their physical abilities tend to view themselves more positively in general. Â Your baby probably invites you to play by making sounds, looking intently at you […]
Through physical play outdoors, your child develops confidence in herself as she sees her skills grow: “Watch me climb the monkey bars, look how high I can swing. Watch me, watch me!” A child who is initially reluctant to go down the tall slide feels a great deal of personal pride when he finally musters […]
 Help your child build a rich vocabulary, and in turn, strong reading and writing skills.  We use language to express our intentions, describe our feelings, and understand the ideas of others. It’s a skill that can easily be taken for granted, yet as a parent, you have the privilege of watching the stunning […]
Literacy begins at birth. The early reading and writing experiences children have help prepare them for later success in school. That’s why rich and varied language and literacy experiences at home and at preschool are so important. Children who have been read to, who know nursery rhymes and chants, who hear a great deal of […]
 Encourage exploration of many cultures by providing pretend-play props that span the globe. Stock your child’s play area with: 1.        Wooden or plastic figures of diverse people and animals. Look for a range of skin tones in the dolls, puppets, crayons, and other materials you choose for your child’s play. 2.        Food boxes from […]
How to raise a child who appreciates, respects, and enjoys the diversity of life “Our neighborhood has all different kinds of people,” says Gabriella, age 10, who has lived in Sacramento, California, almost all her life. “We’re Latino. Next door, there is a Filipino family. Across the street, we have an Indian family. We also […]
As your child grows, she becomes more sophisticated in noticing and classifying the people she encounters every day. Â At 2 to 3 years old, she may: Â notice and ask about other people’s physical characteristics, although she is still more interested in her own notice other children’s specific cultural acts: Elena speaks differently from me; Mei […]
What a breakthrough: Your toddler learns that things can stand for other things. Imagination surfaces when your toddler takes what she has learned through play about how her past experiences can be symbolized, and manipulates these very symbols in new, not-yet-experienced ways. This is a fabulous moment, because it is a first ray in the […]
