Between my colleague’s excellent post and observing a Ready! for Kindergarten class last week I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I can do to get my 3 year old ready for Kindergarten in a couple of years. One idea I gathered from the class was to encourage my child to become an author/illustrator […]
Emotional Reactions Need Emotional Connection
Here’s a scenario that I’m sure every parent of a two or three year old has seen at least once: your child has just finished shouting your name for the 10th time in a row as loudly as they can while you are trying to finish your conversation with your spouse/friend/neighbor/whoever. Your anger has been […]
Building the Brain by Building Skills
Recently I brought out my toolbox to work on some projects around the house. I am not what most people would consider “handy”, but I know the right way to hold a hammer and can do a few things we need around the house from time to time. Each time I’ve done this, my son […]
Family Outdoor Activities: Seeing the World (In Your Backyard)
I know in our household the first signs of spring are always very welcome! With a very energetic toddler, getting outside more often to expend some of that energy is very valuable. Winters in the Pacific Northwest can leave everyone feeling a bit stir-crazy at times, especially with the amount of snow and rain I […]
Being Your Child’s First Teacher: Practice Your Best Storybook Voice
Sometimes the thought of being my children’s first and primary teacher is a bit overwhelming…that’s a lot of pressure! These little ones are looking at me all the time, watching my every move and absorbing each thing that I do and say…good or bad. That’s why when I think about what I need to do […]