In the season of beaches, parks, picnics and outdoor activities, having a safe spot for your children to play is essential. The Sun Smarties Play Anywhere Play Tent is one of my favorites. First and foremost, the tent has UPF 30+ which is so important when playing outside. The tent is incredibly easy to open Read More
My Favorite Things: Finger Crayons for Toddlers
When introducing crayons to toddlers, finger crayons are my first choice. These crayons are perfectly sized for small hands and can fit in a child’s palm or on their finger. From a developmental standpoint, finger crayons are great for working on finger isolation, whole hand grip and general fine motor skills. They can also be stacked Read More
Princesses: Perfectly Pleasant or Potentially Perilous?
Recently, many articles have surfaced on the web concerning the visuals and message the Disney princesses and their stories present. (I’ve included links to a few below.) Peggy Orenstein has written 4 books and numerous articles about women and girls coming of age. Her most recent, Cinderella At My Daughter, considers what “girlie-girl” culture may Read More
My Favorite Things: Gyrowheel
Every now and again I come across a product that I believe is revolutionary. Gyrowheel is that product. As a “failed” bike rider myself (I can go a couple of feet now, but it’s not good), I have always wondered how to make this an easier process for children. That’s exactly what Gyrowheel does. Gyrowheel Read More
Tips and Recording from Babybites Separation Teleclass
On June 1st, I joined Heather Ouida of Babybites and Kiddybites to discuss “Separation at Camp and Beyond.” Take a look at the tips from our conversation and listen to the recording: http://www.babybites.com/06/02/tips-for-separation/
Social Skills for Mainstream Kindergarten
I recently came across an incredibly supportive group for parents of children with sensory processing disorder. On the website, The SPD Blogger Network explains its purpose: “This group blog is designed for those writting – or those who want to write – about raising a child with Sensory Processing Disorder or sensory issues (that Read More
Sippy or Straw Cup? And the Speech Therapist Says…
…Straw Cup! According to speech therapists, straw cups promote more mature oral motor development. Sippy cups encourage children to rest their tongues on the under side of the spout, which can cause what is called “tongue thrust.” Tongue thrust can lead to articulation issues. Straw cups on the other hand promote lip closure, tongue and Read More
NYC Imagination Library
Whenever I hear about a terrific opportunity for young children, I like to pass along the information. There’s a wonderful new program in NYC that encourages a love of learning and books. The NYC Imagination Library is an initiative of the NYC Dept. of Education. The goal is to promote the development of emergent literacy Read More
Drill and Kill for Toddlers
Where to start? Where to start? One needn’t looking any further than the first photograph in Kate Zernike’s recent New York Times article, “Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten.” The poor munchkin in that picture looks so overwhelmed. And why shouldn’t she be? Developmentally, her mind and body are not ready for this work. I’m all for enrichment Read More
Showing Emotions to Children
I recently wrote about how aware children are of what their parents are communicating through language and behavior. This is true both after extreme events and during the typical day. When a parent is anxious during separation at school, the child knows. When a grownup holds the child’s hand just a little bit tighter while Read More