Latest Articles

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  What Pre-Literacy Skills Can I Start Practicing with My 2-Year-Old?

  Pre-literacy skills are the abilities that children need to develop before they learn to read and write. Although they'll be learning all about reading in school, having plenty of exposure to books and words will create a base from which they can build on when they start kindergarten. By practicing these skills with your 2-year-old, you can lay a strong foundation for their future literacy success.

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  Create a Serene & Organized Environment That Will Foster Independence

  Creating a serene and organized environment for your child is one of the most effective ways to foster independence in them. When a child has a clean, structured, and orderly environment, they are more likely to develop good habits, become more responsible, and feel more in control of their surroundings.

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  How to Encourage Language Development in Your 2 Year Old

  It's an exciting time for your child and their language development! At 2-years-old, your child will have a vocabulary of around 50 words and will be able to string together sentences of a couple of words. Furthermore, they'll be able to understand much of what is being said around then and can follow simple, two-part commands. Their language abilities are developing rapidly and now is an important time to take steps that will encourage healthy growth in this area.

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  Instill Turn Taking with a Few Simple Practices

  At two-years-old, your child will naturally be very self-centered. Their ability to comprehend the needs of others is just starting to develop, so things like taking turns and sharing can be difficult at the start. And this is to be expected! They're inundated by new information and feelings each day and so they're still learning to navigate the big world as a little person. Add the feelings and needs of others to the mix? Well… it's going to take some time and practice.

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  Tips & Tricks for Teaching Your Toddler to Count

  As early as the age of 2, your child may start recognizing numbers and attempting to count (even if they're saying the numbers out of order). It's a wonderful time to start engaging with numbers and other math skills that they will solidify in the future. With some simple and fun activities and a few tips, parents can teach their toddlers to count and foster a love of numbers that will last a lifetime.

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  How to Read Interactively with Your Toddler

  Reading to your toddler is not only an enjoyable activity, but it is also an excellent way to help them develop language and literacy skills. Interactive reading is a way of engaging your child during the reading process by asking questions, pointing out pictures, and encouraging them to participate in the story. Moreover, it's a surefire way to foster a love of reading in your child. When they see reading time as something to look forward to because they get to have a bit of fun, quality time with Mommy or Daddy, they'll forever associate books with positive feelings.

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  Guided Reading Activities Perfect for Your Toddler

  Guided reading is an approach to story time that promotes engagement and comprehension. It encourages thinking while listening and helps kids make stories more meaningful by making connections. While your child will be doing plenty of this when they start school,  it’s great to set a foundation for comprehension early with some simple methods.

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  Matching & Sorting - Why Strengthen These Cognitive Skills?

  Matching and sorting are two important cognitive skills that are essential for children's learning that develops at around 19-24 months. These skills help children understand and organize information, solve problems, and make decisions.

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  The Terrific Twos! A Year of Excitement Awaits

  Despite their reputation for being headstrong and determined, there’s no reason to dread the 2-year-old stage as this is a period of tremendous intellectual and social emotional change. From an increase in vocabulary to the emergence of empathy, there’s plenty to look forward to with your terrific 2-year-old this year!

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  3 Types of Toys You'll Want to Avoid Gifting to Young Children

  There’s no doubt that watching little faces light up as they open their gifts is one of the greatest joys for adults during birthdays and holidays. While you want to give them something fun and exciting, keep a few things in mind while shopping for the child in your life to ensure that you’re picking toys that are beneficial, safe, and easily accessible.

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  The Importance of Providing Your Child with Rich Sensory Experiences

  In the early stages of life, the five senses are the most important tools that our little ones have to gather information about the world around them. As your child feels textures, absorbs shapes, and takes in new sounds, they are engaging in discovery, exercising their memories, and making connections.

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  Creating the Perfect Bedtime Routine in 5 Easy Steps

  There’s no doubt that parents of children of all ages understand the importance of sleep. Aside from preserving parental sanity, a child’s sleep is critical for their development. According to the CDC and the Sleep Foundation, adequate sleep is crucial for preventing poor mental health, obesity, type 2 diabetes, a weakened immune system, and both attention and behavior problems. Yet somehow, about 30% of children in the U.S. don’t get enough sleep.

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