Tips to Get Tots Talking + Signs Speech is Imminent
When our oldest son, Sean, was learning to talk, I worried constantly that something was wrong because he was slow to speak. Fearful that he’d never be able to form words, a gripping panic filled me. I dreaded every checkup because he wasn’t hitting the expected milestones. Then his pediatrician warned that if he didn’t […]
Children’s Downtime: Opportunities for Creativity, Engagement, and Self-Discovery
Some parents are dismayed by the thought of children’s unstructured downtime, envisioning their kids staring at screens or complaining of boredom. Other parents prepare by scheduling or having at the ready a non-stop and full slate of activities designed to keep children’s bodies moving and brains engaged. Still, other parents try to find a middle […]
How to Help Your Child Learn
Recently, I received a call from a friend’s daughter and son-in-law. I hadn’t seen them in quite some time. They’re both professionals who live in another city with their little girl, who is eighteen months old. I met her only once, when she was an infant. Larissa (not her real name) knows all the letters […]
Twice-Exceptional (2E) Learners
“I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers.” ~ Helen Keller The term twice-exceptional learner (sometimes called 2E learner) is one that is often heard and far too often misunderstood. What […]
Kids Can Overcome Complexity
How to children handle complexity? I recently read a cartoon wherein a child approaches her teacher and says, “I’ve paraphrased, summarized, outlined, compared, contrasted, and inferred. Can I just read now?” (Andertoons) Complexity can derail or exasperate young children. When things are complicated, lengthy, unruly, unnecessarily demanding, or time-consuming for kids to slog through a […]
All About Teething
Oh no! My Baby Is Teething! Now What? When does teething start? Between the age of 4 and 7 months, and as early as 3 months, your baby begins to teeth. These time frames are average, and much of this timing is based upon heredity. The first teeth to peek through are often […]