Sign up for emails from Pathways.org
355 E Erie St. • Chicago, IL 60611 • (800) 955-2445
How Sand Play Can Help Your Child’s Development
Playing in the sand can be a great opportunity for children to have unstructured play time. Whether shaped into castles, dug, dripped, sifted, or buried, sand can take many different...
Activities for Baby Using Everyday Household Items
A huge part of baby's development is learning through play. Helping baby’s development does not require playing with expensive or complex toys. Everyday objects can be used to entertain baby...
Act Like An Animal, 13 Moves to Help Your Child’s Gross Motor Development
Bring the zoo to you! No, we don’t mean you should adopt dozens of wild animals. Instead you can use animals to practice gross motor skills at home. This is...
What Are Hypertonia and Hypotonia?
Hypertonia and Hypotonia are two technical terms to describe issues with muscle tone. Muscles are meant to stretch with our bodies to accomplish everyday tasks. Imagine your muscles are like...
6 Ways to Help Ease Your Child’s Preschool Separation Anxiety
Starting preschool is a big milestone for your little one. It marks the beginning of their formal education, a process that’s likely to span multiple decades. When your child enters...
What Chores Are Right For My Child?
Chores. Kids don’t like them, and parents use them to get some extra help around the house. But don’t worry parents; you’re actually helping with your child’s development. Kids can...
Baby on the Move – 5 Ways to Encourage Crawling
Babies become mobile pretty fast! Between 7-9 months old, babies will typically begin crawling, with many starting to walk around their first birthday. It’s important to stay close to baby...
Tips for Comforting a Fearful or Nervous Child
No parent wants to see their child upset, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to react when your child is nervous or afraid. Do you hug them? Do you...
How Can New Dads Bond with Baby?
In honor of Father’s Day, this year we wanted to share some information about a topic that isn’t always talked about: dads bonding with their newborn babies. Some moms start...
How Can I Practice Baby Sign Language?
What is baby sign language? Baby sign language is the use of hand and body gestures to help babies communicate before they learn to speak. Is baby sign language the...
Getting Preschoolers to Share…How Do You Do It?
Taking turns can be difficult at first. Do you remember that cool red fire truck you never wanted to give up? Or the doll that was too special to part...
Fun Activities for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is all about mom, and your child is excited to spend the day with you. There are lots of activities to do with your little one that will...
Why Are Mirrors Good for Baby?
Want a toy that will keep your baby entertained and that is also good for their development? Put your wallet away, because you probably already have this in your home:...
Choosing an Eye Doctor for Your Child
Are you wondering when you should take your child to an eye doctor for their first visit? It’s recommended your child receive their first eye check up at six months,...
Importance of Eye Contact
Baby’s vision development is very important and even affects their other senses. Throughout the first year, baby will be looking at you a ton, so be sure to look at...
What Is a “Lovey?”
Whether it’s a stuffed animal, doll, or blanket, many children will become attached to certain objects. Sometimes these objects are called “loveys”, transitional objects, or comfort objects. Loveys can serve...
How Kids Learn to Play: 6 Stages of Play Development
Play is all about having fun! Any activity, organized or unstructured, your child finds fun and enjoyable is considered play. But play is much more than just a fun activity...
When Will My Baby Smile?
Is there a better sight than a happy, smiling baby? We think not! Typically, babies start smiling between 6 and 12 weeks, but you may notice a smile or smirk...
What is W-Sitting?
Does your child W-Sit? W-sitting is when a child sits on their bottom with their knees bent and feet positioned outside of their hips. If you’re standing above your child,...
Why is Play Important
When your child plays, they learn about them self and their surroundings. This includes how to coordinate their body movements, talk with friends, apply rules, and more. But the learning...