Making the most of open windows of developmental opportunity
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 ...
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 ...
Here’s a great Valentine’s Day activity to do with your preschool or elementary age children: Discover their “love language” with a nifty online quiz! The author of “The 5 Love Languages of Children”, Gary Chapman, believes that people speak and hear the language of love in five ways: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, and Receiving Gifts. I love reading books with you Read more ...
When my sons were very small, I remember one of the biggest challenges of those first few weeks was figuring out what that fussy little guy needed: feeding, diaper change, cuddles, nap, ??? I would work my way down a mental checklist I called “triage”, like emergency workers on the scene of a disaster figuring out who needed CPR. And there were times when, if I didn’t diagnose the issue pretty soon, the dear child’s condition would indeed deteriorate […] Read more ...