Who doesn’t love summer? For school kids, it’s a much-anticipated vacation from study. For parents, it’s a break from supervising homework and packing lunches. Even if the children in the family are younger than school-age, almost everyone enjoys the slower pace and long, warm days of summer. Sooner or later, however, parents are bound to … Read more

Food is associated with home and love. That’s why you may go straight for the pantry or fridge when you go to your parents’ house, even if you’re middle-aged. Of course, food is also a daily concern and a necessity of life. That makes it a perfect medium for interacting with your children and educating … Read more

If you are looking for an easy way to entertain the kids, just add water! Most children love getting wet, but splashing about is just the beginning. Many activities have both wet and dry versions, and lots of sports and outdoor activities involve water. If you’re concerned about your children getting enough exercise, water activities … Read more

A toy inventor could work for a very long time without coming up with a play material as versatile and enjoyable as sand. Think about it! It can be poured when dry and molded when wet. It can be used in science experiments and art projects. Whether you are digging your toes into it or … Read more

Play is so important to child development that some pediatricians prescribe it. While play can take place indoors or out, when children are limited to indoor activities, they miss out on half the benefits. Outdoor play is more likely than indoor play to be physical and to promote fitness and reduce obesity. It provides exposure … Read more

Five-year-olds live exciting lives! Most children will begin kindergarten sometime after their fifth birthdays. Parents can help children succeed by teaching them to follow directions and by making sure they get enough sleep. And parents shouldn’t hand all the learning activities off to their kids’ teachers. Children can learn in lots of fun and informal … Read more

  When you are the parent of a four-year-old, every day is independence day! “I can do it myself” is a common refrain, and your child will play with toys for longer and longer times without needing you to participate. You are still very much needed, however, to keep your child safe, to provide lots … Read more

If you have a three-year-old, you’re three times lucky, because three-year-olds are terrific fun! They still love to play, but they will sometimes listen to reason, and they are learning empathy for others. At some time this year, they will probably complete potty training. Hooray! Developmentally, they are acquiring skills at a rapid rate. They … Read more

  Two-year-olds are occasionally terrible, but more often they are terrific! They love fiercely and live entirely in the moment. Developmentally, they are growing by leaps and bounds. Still, the very nature of their growth makes parenting them challenging. They have not learned to think logically, so often want things that are unreasonable. Toddler attention … Read more

Watch a one-year-old engaged in play. See the look of concentration on his or her face. This child is actually hard at work. Play is the major way that babies and toddlers learn. Up until about two years of age, children are in the sensorimotor stage of development, meaning that they learn from using their … Read more