Long before children can say words or join them into sentences, they are active language learners. Within a few short years, young children go from newborns without language to excellent communicators and lively inventers and tellers of stories.   From birth to 3 months, infants pay close attention to language. In the first […]
  The first years are a wondrous time. As the months pass, parents are able to form deep, affectionate bonds with their babies and marvel at their rapid growth. Infants need a small, consistent group of people whom they can learn to know and trust. When babies are in childcare settings, it is important […]
 Young children have many ways to communicate, including sounds, gestures, facial expressions, and body language, but once they begin to master language, they can more easily let parents and other caregivers know what they want or need, what they feel, and what matters to them. A good command of language appears to go hand-in-hand […]
An environment that encourages exploration and physical development is important for children of all ages. Be sure to allow your baby plenty of space for rolling, scooting and, eventually, crawling. Babies like to grasp and manipulate objects, so be sure you have rattles and other safe toys within easy reach. Make it a habit to […]
 It takes a lot of patience combined with good judgment and warm, nurturing relationships to raise emotionally healthy, comfortable and cheerful children. But no matter what you do, your children are still going to feel sad, afraid, anxious, and angry from time to time. Your challenge, as a parent, is to learn how to […]
Every parent hopes that their children are developing a positive sense of self-worth. How your children feel about themselves is one of your greatest responsibilities and biggest challenges. People who have a positive sense of self feel like they have something worthwhile to contribute and a sense of internal worth. They are able to venture […]
 What exactly is a “literate home?” It is an environment that encourages children to learn to read and write and become lifelong readers and writers. Transforming your home into a literate home is simple and inexpensive. You need to consider what kinds of materials to have on hand and how to arrange materials so […]
 Ages: 9 months and up Forget “Lather. Rinse. Repeat.” As every parent of a shampoo-phobe knows, it’s hard enough just to get a few suds into — and then back out of — that little tangle of hair. Make washing more fun and ease your child’s fears with one or more of these tried-and-true […]
