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My little one likes to have “combersations” at mealtimes. But she really has no choice – we’re a family of talkers. Her older sister and brothers yak over their school time triumphs and tragedies, and Dad and I elbow our way in to ask questions, offer occasional advice, and ensure everyone gets a turn. But […]

Regular family mealtimes have proven benefits such as better manners for the kids and healthier meals for the whole family. But did you know family mealtime can also help your child gain communication skills, improved learning, and problem-solving abilities? Regular family meals also build closer relationships among family members, setting a trusting foundation for when […]

Hosting a playdate at home is one thing, but going to someone else’s house – where the rules, snacks, and potty are different – is a whole new experience. Here’s how to prepare your child to have a great time – and be invited back! The Invite – Say “yes” when you know (and trust) […]

Great playdates make for happier, healthier children. In our first article in the series, we discussed WHY. Today, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of HOW to host a simple, fun, and smooth-running playdate. A little planning goes a long way when it comes to hosting a great playdate. My tips: Parent Planning – Talk […]

Everyone knows playdates are fun. But did you know they actually boost your child’s brain power, too? In my next three articles, I’ll explain why. I’ll also give you tips on how to host a successful playdate, how your child can be a gracious playdate guest, and explain how even babies can benefit from playdates. […]

Your little ones’ senses—vision, hearing, balance, hearing, smell and touch—all help your children to learn better.  When their senses are stimulated, it increases the information brought to their growing minds and fine-tunes their nervous systems in the process. Fall’s new sights, sounds, and activities are great opportunities to sharpen those senses – and have fun […]

Back-to-school is around the corner, but don’t be daunted by the transition from summer fun to school schedule. Children take their cues from their parents, so it’s key for US to get into the back-to-school mind-set first. Here are my pain-free prep tips for parents – our stressless adjustment will filter down to the kids, […]

It was pickup time shortly after the start of a new preschool year. My son had a great day, but suddenly was sucking his thumb, wailing and pulling at me— in full meltdown mode. He hadn’t acted like that since he was much younger. What happened to my Big Boy? What Happened to My Happy […]

In our final post in the series, our experts – Dr. Susan Canizares and Dr. Heather Wittenberg – reveal how to make kindergarten a great experience by preparing in these simple (and fun) ways. Dr. Heather: Starting kindergarten is exciting, but it can also be daunting for parents. Even with my fourth child, I worry […]

In this second of our three-part series, our experts – Dr. Susan Canizares and Dr. Heather Wittenberg —give tips for making a smooth transition from preschool to Kindergarten. Dr. Heather: Back in the “bad old days,” we didn’t have much understanding of early childhood development. Young children were seen as too little to learn very […]

When should YOUR child start Kindergarten? Our experts are here to help you decide! Dr. Susan Canizares, our Chief Academic Officer, not only has a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Development, she’s a nationally recognized authority on early childhood education. Dr. Heather Wittenberg is a mom of four and a child psychologist who blogs at […]

Being a Mom is challenging. Up-all-night-on-barf-patrol, breaking-up-sibling-squabbles, finding-a-bathroom-for-a-potty-training-toddler – challenging. Being a Mom is also miraculous – baby’s-sweet smile, first-steps, watching-them-sleep miraculous. But the Mom moments that keep me going during long, challenging days are the silly ones. I was having one of those challenging days. It started out with an important meeting around a […]