Help your child give someone the moon and the stars.  • translucent plastic (container lids, report covers) • different color construction paper • art materials: colored markers, tempera paint, tissue paper, glitter, glue • child safety scissors • hole punch and string or yarn Go outside with your child and point out what’s in the sky stars, clouds, the […]
Your toddler is making his first steps toward separation, leaving you to explore the world around him. Â Starting around 18 months, your toddler begins a new dance between his uncharted independence, and the familiar, secure base of his loving relationship with you. This is what gives this stage the name of the not-so-terrible, but […]
 As 4-year-old Darla takes the last sip from her favorite clear blue cup, she suddenly discovers that she can see through the bottom. “Mom, everything looks different!” she exclaims, as she watches the yellow cheese on her plate turn green and the red tomato turn purple through the cup. After eating, she runs off, […]
 How your child’s early experiences shape his learning success  Many studies over the past decade have shown that the early years, from birth to age 5, form an indelible blueprint for your child’s long-term learning success. Early behaviors and skills associated with successful reading development used to be described as readiness skills, but […]
A trusting relationship and plenty of playtime lay the foundation for successful readers. Â All parents want their children to be successful in school and throughout life. While literacy, which begins with oral-language skills, is the foundation of that success, it’s equally important to remember that both language and literacy development grow out of the […]
 How to tell if your child is developing on schedule or if there might be a problem.  There is a wide range of speech and language development that is considered normal. Early or later speech within that range is not linked to intelligence or reading ability. However, you should expect to see the […]
 Around the time your toddler reaches 18 months of age, you’re in for a treat he’ll begin learning words at an astonishing rate.  Development rates vary, of course, but generally a language explosion occurs around 18 months. At that time, most children start adding new words at an incredible rate, giving them a […]
 Your child can mark spring’s arrival with this colorful egg-shaped chalk.  Plastic eggs Petroleum jelly Plastic spoon Plaster of Paris Powdered tempera paint  To make a piece, first separate the halves of a plastic egg. Liberally coat the insides with petroleum jelly, adding extra near the seam, and then set both halves […]
