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Book Review: Retro Toddler
Retro Toddler: More Than 100 Old-School Activities to Boost Development By Anne H. Zachry, PhD, OTR/L Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Anne Zachry, an esteemed occupational therapist and renowned specialist in child development, has crafted an indispensable resource for parents navigating the crucial period of toddlerhood, specifically targeting children aged 12-36 months. … Continued
Pool Safety for Kids
What could be better than spending a long summer day splashing around in the pool with the kiddos?! Not much! However, safety comes first and swimming pools can be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. To make sure you’re having tons of fun in the sun, use these tips to help ensure pool … Continued
Sippy Cups: What You Should Know
Have you ever wondered… When should kids start using sippy cups? When should they stop? Should they even use sippy cups at all? There’s a lot of information and opinions floating around! Many professionals recommend using sippy cups in moderation, if at all, because of the way they can affect children’s teeth, swallowing patterns, and … Continued
What to Know About Toe Walking
Toe walking can be a commonly observed movement pattern that many young children display during their development, however many children will give up idiopathic toe walking (ITW) without specific intervention. Research within the scientific community suggests that ITW is sometimes a causal symptom related to other conditions. Toe walking may be a symptom of a … Continued
Develop Your Child’s Senses by Playing with Food
Who ever thought it would be good to tell your child to actually play with food? But kids are curious, and a fun way to let them explore is through play with food! But this isn’t just for fun. Playing with food can actually help your child develop their senses. Try these ideas to explore … Continued
Teething Tips For You and Your Child
You may have heard about the “Terrible Twos”, but what about Terrible Teething? Your little baby may be a little thrown off by those chompers coming in, but teething doesn’t have to be terrible. Once you know what to expect, there are a few ways you can comfort baby. Babies typically get their first tooth … Continued
How to Comfort a Crying Baby
Baby won’t stop crying? Wondering how to comfort a crying baby? During the first year of life, babies are communicating their needs through crying but it isn’t always the easiest to figure out what their different types of cries mean. Within the first month, you will begin to pick up cues from your baby’s cry. … Continued
Make a Snow Globe to Promote Fine Motor Skills
Make a Snow Globe, Make a Memory, The Perfect Winter Project to Promote Fine Motor Skills DIY Crafts for kids are a great activity to help your little one show off their creativity and help develop their senses. Snow globes are great winter decorations and bonus: they’re fun to create! Making them even helps kids … Continued
5 Ways to Make Going to the Dentist Fun!
We know going to the dentist is important, but even adults can be uncomfortable during their annual dental checkup. If you’re uneasy, imagine how worried your little one might feel. Luckily, caregivers can help make their little one’s first few trips to the dentist positive! Get kids excited about the dentist early, and who knows? … Continued
Play in the Snow for Gross Motor Development
Use the snow for a fun, new way to practice gross motor skills. Winter months do not mean you are always stuck inside. Get moving with these activities to improve gross motor skills this winter! Make A Hopscotch Path You and your little ones may be used to drawing your hopscotch pattern with chalk, but … Continued
Help Baby Brave the Cold with 3 Easy Tips
Brrrrr! Many people are starting to feel the winter weather creeping up on them. We all do our best to avoid the cold, but sometimes going outdoors in frigid temperatures is unavoidable. And going out into the cold, snow, and wind with a young child can add an extra layer of challenge. However, with the … Continued
Fun Winter Crafts For the Whole Family
The smell of hot chocolate is in the air, lights decorate the yards, and streets and you’re bundled up to go outside. This can only mean one thing: the holiday season is here! To get in the spirit, we’ve got some fun winter crafts ideas to help your little one get involved in the festivities … Continued
How Scaffolding Helps Build Executive Function Skills
Do you talk to parents about executive function? Many parents are not familiar with this term. Executive function skills set acts as a coordination center in the brain and depends on three main functions: working memory, mental flexibility, and inhibition control. 1These crucial skills are needed to perform daily tasks, such as prioritizing, controlling impulses, … Continued
Make Your Next Grocery Store Trip a Learning Experience
The grocery store is the perfect place to help kids develop important skills like planning, time management, communication, and completing tasks. Every aspect of grocery shopping – from making a list to cooking a meal with your purchases – touches on important skills your child needs to develop. Follow the Rules Grocery shopping teaches kids … Continued
Pumpkin Sensory Bag
Fall is here and Halloween is fast approaching, which can only mean one thing. Pumpkins are popping up everywhere! You may have even gone to a pumpkin patch to pick out that perfectly shaped pumpkin to carve. You’ll come home, set it down on some newspaper and scoop out the goop. But then what? Most … Continued
Talking to Your Child About Winning and Losing
Life with all its ups and downs and everything in-between can sometimes feel like a roller coaster. Being able to deal with the ride is a skill that takes time to learn. So how do you help young children understand that it’s okay if things don’t always go as planned? Teaching them ways to accept … Continued
Does Your Child Chew on Everything? 3 Common Questions Parents Ask
Why do kids chew? For babies, chewing is a typical sign they’re teething and young children (until around age 2) use their mouths to explore the world. But even some older kids develop a habit of chewing. This isn’t chewing a favorite food or little snack, but rather inedible objects (clothing, pens, toys) that comfort … Continued
4 Exercise Benefits Other Than Fitness
The physical benefits of exercise go without saying, but did you know that physical activity provides kids with social and emotional benefits too? Through exercise, kids can build social skills, increase confidence, and help reduce anxiety. The American Academy of Pediatrics even recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity (e.g. biking, hiking, dancing, rollerblading) … Continued
Real Ways Moms Get Kids to Eat Their Veggies
Ever wondered how moms really get their kids to eat their veggies? We asked several moms what they do to make sure kids eat their veggies are a part of their kids’ diets every day. We hope you’ll try some of these real life solutions during your next meal or snack time! This mom of … Continued
5 Tips for Running Errands with Kids
Running errands is very different when kids are involved! Taking your child with to you to run errands can be a bit challenging. From taking extra time getting them ready to leave the house to managing distractions in the store, shopping with little ones can add more stress to your trip. Next time you’re running … Continued
Baby Milestone Videos
Want to See Examples of Baby’s Developmental Milestones? Welcoming a baby into the world brings a mix of excitement and challenges for parents. Watching your little one achieve developmental milestones is a special part of this journey. Instead of just reading about these milestones, watch these baby milestone videos featuring real babies in their own … Continued
Research: Benefit of Early Detection and Early Intervention
Bailey DB Jr, Hebbeler K, Spiker D, Scarborough A, Mallik S, Nelson L. Thirty-six-month outcomes for families of children who have disabilities and participated in early intervention. Pediatrics. 2005; 116(6): 1346-52. This study assessed family outcomes at the end of early intervention (near the child’s third birthday). Results suggest that early intervention provides important supports for families … Continued
How to Make Ice Cream at Home
Is anything better than ice cream on a warm summer day? We don’t think so.. And good news, it’s actually pretty easy to make your own ice cream. Try this recipe out and help your kids learn too! Follow this simple recipe to make homemade ice cream in a bag! This activity is as tasty … Continued
7 Tips for a Sensory Friendly 4th of July
Spending time outside, parades, barbeques, fireworks. Doesn’t that remind you of a perfect 4th of July? Well for some kids, the 4th of July means being overly hot, crowds of people, feeling overwhelmed, and loud noises… That’s a lot for your senses to take in. Use these tips to make the holiday a little less … Continued
How to Encourage Kids to be Physically Active
Did you know that the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that children be active for sixty minutes every day? Kids need at least that much time to let loose and unwind from school or planned activities. Encourage kids to be physically active can help to stimulate their senses, and build muscle strength and endurance. … Continued