Training parents about all things preschool and kids aged 18 months–5 years
I remember the Christmas tree standing proudly in front of the living room window for all the world to see. I don’t remember if it was real or artificial, flocked or natural, but to my five-year-old eyes it was beautiful. Shining silver tinsel hung from the branches, and colored lights adorned the tree. Today’s standards…
The holiday break from school is long. Like, really long. Eventually, you’re going to get tired of baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, and building forts with your kids. I’m tired of all those things already and have yet to do any of them. Luckily for us, there are many, many, many Christmas specials on Netflix…
Young children can be especially challenging when taking the family portrait. Snapping that perfect photo is not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. Believe me, I can truly relate, because my kid was that one kid who absolutely refused to have his picture taken. There were times we almost came to blows. Learn…
The fall/winter holiday season is the craziest time of year. And the chaos is magnified in families of divorce. With all the factors of schedules, preferences and work between two families, deciding who gets the kids for the holidays can be difficult. Kids can’t be split in half, so follow some simple rules to keep everyone happy…
Marshmallow Pops These sweet treats could not be easier. And they’re so versatile and cute. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler and let cool slightly. Stick one end of a lollipop stick into a jumbo marshmallow, and use the stick as a handle to dip half or all of the…
When it comes to holidays, the mystery and fun of a chilly Groundhog Day is a bright spot in slushy, wet February. Will the furry little groundhog see his shadow, spelling six more weeks of wintery weather, or will he emerge to cloudy skies and imminent warmer temperatures? Groundhog Day is a quick holiday, without…
Every good preschool curriculum includes a social studies component. Children get the chance to learn about community helpers, important figures in history, and holidays from various cultural traditions. At the preschool I ran, Thanksgiving and Chinese New Year were always the big favorites – especially the feasts and colorful decorations. One year during election season we…
There’s something about New Year’s Eve that makes us want to create resolutions (that something may be alcohol), and sometimes we hit on goals that sound good even in the clear light of day. However, your kids aren’t likely to spontaneously decide to make any New Year’s Resolutions, no matter how much sparkling grape juice…
Remember how we talked last week about weird relatives? Bad news – your kids are weird around the holidays, too. Mostly because they just cannot calm the flip down but also because they get a little greedy this time of year. In fact, the title of this article is a direct quote from a child…
It’s almost Christmas – the time of year when we check our lists for the second time and notice a few problems: Too much stuff for Kids #1 and #3 – not enough for Kid #2; Remembered all of the cousins – except that one; Thought you weren’t seeing your mom’s best friend’s family for…
