As your child starts to develop a self-awareness and self-esteem, they are constantly looking at you for approval and reassurance. Through support of their successes and help with their challenges, you are shaping how they feel about themselves. Beyond having reasonable expectations about their development, celebrating their uniqueness, and tuning into your child’s feelings, there are some more specific ways that you can help your child to develop a positive sense of self and “feel great.”

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Fears and anxieties are often a typical part of early childhood. As children grow and learn more about their world, they can develop fears about things new or old. Whether your toddler develops a new fear of the bathtub or the vacuum cleaner, or is afraid to go to the pediatrician for a check-up, fears can develop as new things are learned and as imaginations grow.

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Minimizing Power Struggles Many parents share that power struggles are a challenging part of the toddler and early years.  Young children are working hard on being independent and mastering their world.  However, a child’s mission to make decisions and do things on their own can often conflict with parents attempts to gain cooperation.  Offering choices […]

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Parenting can be one of the most difficult jobs you will ever encounter. An understanding of your beliefs and values as a parent, combined with knowledge about your child’s temperament and stage of development will allow you to access positive parenting strategies. These strategies allow you to respond with empathy and respect, modeling important skills and helping you to diffuse challenging situations. Here are some essential pieces to positive parenting…

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Talking, Singing, Reading, Writing, and Playing are the building blocks for helping your child gain a love for language and literacy. Click below to learn more about the strategies that our Parenting Educators are suggesting for you to bring literacy to your family. They are easy to incorporate at home!

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Language and literacy are important concepts because together they play an important role in preparing your child for school. Beyond talking, singing, and reading, which are essential to language development, read more for a few interactive strategies to help you engage your child in language.

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There are so many programs, books, and articles telling you how to make your child “smarter,” but what they really need to grow healthy and happy is you! The way you love and respond to your child provides the best environment for her to begin exploring her environment, which is the best way she can learn during her first few years of life. Cuddling, loving on, singing, rocking, and talking are exactly what your baby needs for their brain development!

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When faced with the frustration of getting a little one to leave school, the playground, a party or a favorite friend’s house, many parents find themselves threatening, “I’m leaving!”

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Parents play a critical role in helping their child make the separation adjustment. Separation anxiety is a normal reaction for children, and it can begin anywhere from 6 to 12 months and even peak during the second year of life. (You might be surprised if around 18-24 months your toddler starts to protest separations, but remember that this is normal and matches up with changes in their emotional and cognitive development!)

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