Behind every challenging behavior is an unsolved problem and a lagging skill. Every child demonstrates frustrating behaviors at times. As they grow and develop, children challenge the world around them, sorting through their own feelings to find an individual voice. Some children demonstrate mental overload by whining, crying, or withdrawing into themselves. Others reveal behavior … Continue reading »
Costume Time!
Why a dress-up box is so important Facilitating Pretend Play in Young Children It starts around the age of one. I see it with my own daughter as she puts “baby” in the cradle, covers baby with “blankie”, looks up, and, placing a finger to her lips, tells the room “shh”. She then repeats … Continue reading »
Why I run those mommy miles…
I enjoy my alone time, all the more so since becoming a parent. I am a firm believer that we need space to separate ourselves from family life to pause, reflect, and reenergize. Parenting can be draining and depleting, even as it fills our souls. I like being with my thoughts, in calmness and … Continue reading »
Wait, did you say I can still use Facebook??
I mentioned that I would follow-up my post on SCREEN TIME for younger kids with some ideas and suggestions for healthy screen time for older students. To sum up my previous post, I encouraged you to keep children under 2 away from all screens, to look at decreasing or eliminating screen time for preschool and … Continue reading »
Simple Living at Home
I’ve been working on simplifying clutter, toys, and distractions in my own house lately. I’ve blogged before about Kim Payne’s book “Simplicity Parenting” and the view that so many if our kids, especially those with attention, processing, or regulation difficulties, need a simpler environment. My munchkins seem to benefit from a calm environment, and sink … Continue reading »
Swindells Resource Center: ADHD – What Families Need to Know
Check out this local opportunity on April 18th for information on ADHD: Swindells Resource Center Serving families of children with special needs 2013 Community Education ADHD – What Families Need To Know Aaron Tabacco, RN, BSN, is a neurodevelopmental nurse specialist and researcher with expertise in family management of childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder … Continue reading »
Where Was I…?
Do any other parents do this?? I have to leave my reading material open to the page I’m on (bookmarking doesn’t seem as effective) since I am “called away” so frequently when reading. The life of a mom, I s’pose! It can take me several days to finish one magazine article! I also have … Continue reading »
Reading Ahead in Summer
The transition from third to fourth grade is probably the most important transition a student will make during their school career, especially as it relates to reading. If your child is struggling with reading fluency during the early elementary years, summertime can be a critical season for intensive literacy intervention. Deciphering exactly where your … Continue reading »
Portrait
… Courtesy of my 3.5-yr-old Walkie Talkie. This is what I look like:
Anger… and Maintaining R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I’ve been working with several students on their anger outbursts and how to regulate their intense feelings. Then I happened on THIS from Ahaparenting.com about how parents fight in front of their kids has a neurological effect on their children. The strength and ferocity of the argument can cause a child’s stress hormone levels to … Continue reading »
