Making the most of open windows of developmental opportunity
It’s been a theory of mine for a long time that children run on rechargeable Love Batteries. When their Love Batteries are on Full Charge, it’s happy time! But you know their power supply is slowly dropping when the fussing starts, the whining, the griping, the endless questions, demanding your undivided attention. And you can tell when their Love Batteries are running dangerously low: they scream, throw a tantrum, or otherwise put on display that they are NOT HAPPY. I’ll […] Read more ...
How many days of lockdown-style “home schooling” does it take for you to run out of fun ideas to keep the kids busy and happy? To get your creative juices flowing, here is my list of fifty fun and creative things to do on a rainy day: IN THE KITCHEN: 1–bake something tasty 2–have an indoor picnic or tea party with the tasty thing you baked 3–snack time art: on a paper plate, use chunks of fruits or veggies, and […] Read more ...
Some moms, I have heard, are neat freaks. Their homes and their children, it is rumored, are kept sparkling clean, orderly, on time, with bows tied and shoes on the correct feet. I admit I have never quite been that kind of mom. Maybe that’s because I like to get messy. When you get messy on purpose, you’re exploring. You’re learning and creating. And it’s so much fun! Has there ever been an art project without at least a […] Read more ...
This is Part 3 of my series called “Your Child’s Musical Life”, sharing about the when / why / what / etc. of educating your child about music. Go here for Part 1 about Getting an Early Start, and Part 2 about Tween Years and Onward. Why is music such a great activity for my child? These are just some of the reasons to get your child acquainted with music: Language mastery: Music is a universal language, shared by people […] Read more ...
This is the second article in my series “Your Child’s Musical Life” that began with the topic of “Getting an Early Start” (pregnancy through age 9). – Ruth What are the best opportunities for my older child to pursue music? In Upper Elementary & Middle School: By around age 9 or 10, kids have a pretty good idea of what kind of music involvement interests them. Most middle schools (and some upper elementary schools) offer classes in band, orchestra […] Read more ...
When my firstborn was still a little guy, he earned the nickname “Jazz Baby” because he, like most kids, responded to music with bouncing to the beat, grinning ear to ear, and singing along. When he and our other sons were buckled into high chairs or car seats, they would kick their feet to the beat – so cute! All children seem to have an inborn love of music that, when it’s nurtured and encouraged, can become a lifelong source […] Read more ...
Gillian Lynne is a British dancer and choreographer with a long and impressive list of theatrical credits, including being the lead choreographer of the hugely successful musical “Cats”, and also of “Phantom of the Opera”, the longest running musical in Broadway history. When Gillian was in the second grade, however, her mother was concerned by her underperformance at school and took her to a doctor for evaluation. The wise doctor realized that Gillian’s fidgeting and inability to concentrate was due, […] Read more ...
For most of human history, the child in the womb led a mysterious life, growing unseen and untouched until birth. Amazing advances in technology have now made it possible to see how that tiny unborn person grows, from the moment of conception through birth nine months later. It’s in every baby book these days: the series of photos taken by ultrasound at the obstetrician’s office. But even as the nine months of pregnancy have begun to yield their secrets […] Read more ...
If you have a preschooler, kindergartener, or first grader in your home, here is a great way to spend 99 cents. Jenae Jacobson is the mother of two boys. She also has degrees in education, and taught first grade for three years before deciding to stay home to teach her own children. She blogs about her experiences at ICanTeachMyChild.com, and has recently written an e-book about how to teach reading, full of fun ideas and practical concepts, called “I […] Read more ...
It was hard to imagine, when my sons were all single-digit ages, that the time would ever come when they were all grown up and on their own. But the years do go by, and now my sons are all young adults, busy with establishing themselves in career and home. And pretty soon, all of them will be old enough for that ultimate achievement of adulthood: they will turn 25 and be old enough to rent a car at […] Read more ...