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An activity that is truly artistic and genuinely creative requires little adult assistance. As long as adults provide the freedom and the proper materials, children can create art on their own. This means that the children decide upon the idea and then find ways to create their idea using available materials. Can you imagine how […]

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence As parents, we want our children to become caring and responsible citizens, as well as resourceful and resilient adults. So how do we influence our children in […]

In the course of researching my book on modern motherhood, I interviewed hundreds of parents and pored over data reported by nearly a thousand American mothers. But one woman’s observation stopped me in my tracks. When I asked about how she made time for herself, she paused, scratched her head, and studied the floor. A […]

Fall is ordinarily my favorite season. With field trips to the farm, pumpkin spice lattes and a dress-up holiday that’s fair game for adults, what’s not to love? But last October, my seasonal spirits took a nosedive when my older son said: “Why do you love your computer more than me?” That zinger came after […]

“A NINK in da SINK? Too silly, mommy!” Sasha is our youngest. She’s nearly 2, and we’re discovering that she loves Dr. Seuss.  Her current fave is There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! For some reason, that kooky Nink makes her shriek with laughter.  She has the tiny, toddler-sized version of the book, so she […]

My little friend Olivia is 4. She used to be a happy, fun, sociable girl. But since school started, she’s been crabby, whiny, and prone to meltdowns.  At school, she can’t sit still during circle time. And today, she got sent home early for biting her friend Joshua. Is Olivia in the wrong classroom? Does […]

Literacy is an amazing thing. It helps us read the instructions on a shampoo bottle (wet, lather, rinse, repeat) and make sense of the latest e-mail “good luck” chain (send this to 10 people, or else). As I have discussed in previous posts, oral language, reading and writing all come together in this idea of […]

Be sure to always make time for you and your child. You may not remember the hour here and there spent together everyday, but he or she will fondly. And mentally stimulating activities are a great way to keep your child progressing developmentally — and making memories of the two of you. Infants — Scrunch […]

To Plug or Unplug? From our partners at Discovery Kids Puterbugs Thirty minutes? One hour? How much time should your child spend using technology each day? In a world where everything runs on technology, the answer is not just about counting minutes. The answer depends on how it’s being used. Any amount of time a […]

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. — Carl Sagan In some parts of the country, October ends with children (and some adults) donning elaborate costumes and entering an exciting world of make-believe. For many grown-ups, to pretend seems like child’s play. However, as we are […]

Create Time to Enjoy It With Your Child Many of you may have seen the movie The Bucket List. In this movie, two men realize that they have limited time left on this Earth and decide to make the most of it. They make a list of everything they have always wanted to do, and […]

By Nancy Eisenberg, Ph.D. There is a word we researchers use to refer to voluntary behavior that aims to help another, like sharing or providing comfort: “prosocial.” Although most parents and teachers would say they value prosocial behavior in children and want to encourage it, it is important to note that not all prosocial behaviors […]