Latest Articles

  • Comparing Kids' Audio Players: Toniebox, Yoto, Storypod, Timio, & Lunii

    Comparing Kids' Audio Players: Toniebox, Yoto, Storypod, Timio, & Lunii

    Toniebox, Yoto Player, Storypod, Timio, and Lunii compared – We examine important factors and benefits to consider in the exciting new world of audio speakers for kids.

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  • Happy 4-year-old boy in rainboots jumps for joy. Your child will reach another set of gross and fine motor skills milestones this year!

    What Can My 4-Year-Old Do Physically? Understanding Motor Skills Development and Milestones

    As children turn four, they undergo significant physical developments that fuel their sense of exploration and independence. At this age, their motor skills become more refined, allowing them to engage in a wide range of physical activities. Understanding the milestones and expectations for a 4-year-old's motor skills can help parents and caregivers support their child's growth and development during this crucial stage.

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  • A group of three 5-year-olds surround a globe to examine it with a magnifying glass. Teaching your child a growth mindset in important for them to have success in many areas, including academically.

    Raising Your Little One with a Growth Mindset

    Every parent wants their little ones to grow up to be confident, resilient, and capable of overcoming any obstacles that come their way. One powerful way to help them develop these skills is by fostering a growth mindset from an early age. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning. By instilling this mindset in our 5-year-olds, we can empower them to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and love the process of learning.

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  • A game of hopscotch is etched in chalk on the pavement. Hopscotch is an easy backyard game you can play to help promote your 4-year-old's motor skill development.

    Backyard Games to Help Your Child's Motor Skill Development

    Learning and exercising is always better when you're having fun! As parents, we are always looking for creative ways to foster our children's development and help them grow into confident and capable individuals. One of the essential aspects of a child's early development is motor skills, which include both gross motor skills (using large muscles for movement) and fine motor skills (using smaller muscles for precise actions). Backyard games provide a fantastic opportunity for children to engage in physical activities while having fun and developing their motor skills.

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  • 4-year-old boy wearing a tie stands outside with his bookbag on. As your child starts traveling to and from school, it's important for their safety that they memorize their phone number and address in case of emergency.

    Take Steps Toward Your Child's Safety by Teaching Them to Memorize Their Phone Number & Address

    Teaching a 4-year-old child to memorize their address and phone number before they start school is an important step in ensuring their safety and giving them a sense of security.

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  • Toddler enjoying a read-along audiobook with her Storypod

    Creating a Positive Learning Environment at Home

    Your home is your child’s first classroom and you are their first teacher. The environment that you provide will determine how ready they will be to receive learning and expectations once they start school. It will also provide the foundation to how they approach life. Will they be organized? Will they be problem solvers? Will they be curious and well rounded? Studies show that these traits are heavily influenced by a child’s environment. Fortunately,  creating a positive learning environment in which your child will thrive is simple with a few intentional practices at home.

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  • A pair of child's hands tinker on a piano keyboard. Music is a great educational tool and benefits child development in many ways.

    Using Music to Promote Your 4-Year-Old's Development

    Music is a powerful tool that can play a significant role in promoting the overall development of a 4-year-old child. It has the ability to engage young minds, enhance cognitive skills, stimulate creativity, and foster emotional well-being. By introducing educational music and incorporating it into their daily routine, parents can provide their child with a rich and stimulating environment that supports their growth and learning.

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  • Mother and son sit on couch while reading a book. You can strengthen your child's literacy skills by using their favorite books.

    How to Strengthen Your Child’s Literacy Skills Using Their Favorite Books

    Does your child ask for more books on a particular subject, in their favorite series, or by their favorite authors? That’s good news for many reasons! It means your child is developing background knowledge about characters, situations, events, and people that they read about.

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  • 4-year-old girl stacks colored blocks on a table. Block stacking is one simple activity that can help your child strengthen their pattern recognition skills.

    Strengthen Your Child's Pattern Recognition Skills with These Easy Activities

    Pattern recognition is an important cognitive skill that helps children to develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities. It enables them to make sense of the world around them and recognize the underlying structures and relationships between different objects and ideas. Simple activities can be done at home to help strengthen a child's pattern recognition skills.

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  • Two little girls wear pink dresses and flowers in their hair as they engage in narrative play in a field. Narrative play is an essential part of your 4-year-old's development as it helps them develop social skills, language skills, among other things.

    What is Narrative Play?

    Narrative play, also known as pretend play, is a type of play where children engage in make-believe scenarios and act out different roles and situations. Children tend to start engaging in this type of play at around four-years-old and it's an essential aspect of their development as it helps them develop their creativity, imagination, and social skills.

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  • 5-Year-Old boy lies on the ground with his eyes closed, a smile on his face, and his hands behind his head. Teaching your child to keep a "calm body" is a great way to set them of for success in the area of self-regulation.

    Help Your Child Keep a "Calm Body" with a Few, Simple Strategies

    Children often find it challenging to keep their energy levels in check and stay calm. With all the excitement and stimulation around them, it's no wonder they sometimes have trouble settling down.

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  • 4-year-old girl traces her letters in a workbook. Tracing can be educational for children at this age, especially when it comes to letter formation.

    Is Tracing Educational?

    Tracing is a simple yet effective activity that is both engaging and educational for young children. By using their hands to follow lines and shapes, 4-year-olds can develop essential skills while having fun. In fact, tracing is especially beneficial for tactile learners, who retain information best when they are physically touching something.

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