“Once Upon a Time…” There’s just something magical about those words, whether they’re read from a book or coming from the imagination. Reading and storytelling play an important role in children’s language development. All children, from infants to elementary age students benefit from being read to and being told stories.…
Spoiler alert! If you’re the mother of a child enrolled in my child care program you may want to close the window now and come back after you open your Mother’s Day gift. I’m just sayin’… Everyone else keep reading to see the fantastic flower pots we painted for Mother’s…
Children of all ages love to play in sand – take this crash course in sandbox basics and get ready for a summer full of fun! Sandbox Safety Set up some ground beforehand so children know what behavior is expected in the sandbox. Rules may include: Sand should never…
“Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say It’s all right…” ~George Harrison, the Beatles Spring is here and along with it comes the sun! It’s hard to believe that something that makes us feel so good can be harmful, but we know that without protection the…
As you may or may not know, back in January I applied to participate in the USDA’s Wellness Grant to improve the health of children in child care programs through better nutrition and increased physical activity. Grant recipients were able to choose one of three kits to support their quality…
Children are naturally active learners. They’re curious, and like to investigate and experiment. Parents and caregivers have opportunities every day to enrich children’s learning in simple ways. The most important thing we can do to encourage learning is to remember that everything a child does contributes to his or her…
Children love being outside, playing in the dirt, watching things grow, and learning about the world around them, so it’s only natural that they also love gardening. Just spending a couple of minutes gardening with your child will forge a connection to nature that they’ll always remember. Children are natural…
Many parents are worried about their children’s success in school, even when their children are still infants and toddlers. Stores are packed with toys and materials advertised to help your baby learn, but they’re not necessary. Neither are the elaborate games, worksheets, flash cards, and other “learning activities” some parents…
Have you ever noticed that children become more engrossed and spend longer periods of time with messy activities than clean ones? Messy play is vitally important to children’s development because it involves all of their senses, but you don’t have to turn your backyard into a mud pit to provide…
Children express their feelings in many ways – most of them loud. Infants cry, toddlers throw tantrums, preschoolers yell, and school-agers slam doors. These actions are developmentally appropriate and can be expected at each stage of your child’s life. Because they can’t talk, infants cry to communicate needs and feelings.…
