language, learning & connecting with your young family
As a kindergartener, Little G is taking steps towards greater independence by doing homework, getting herself dressed, and completing a few simple chores. Some days she enjoys these new responsibilities and her growing maturity, but on other days she wants us to remember that she is still little. I find Lori Haskins Houran's loving and…
Most nights, after Little G and I read books we take turns expressing something we are grateful for. I often use the practice to highlight something special relating to her: coloring together, something funny she did that made me laugh, or recognizing a positive risk she took. Recently though, I've been expanding the conversation to…
If you are the parent of a baby or young toddler and looking to teach essential basic concepts in a meaningful way then BUY THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY! Lori Ann Grover's book, I Love All Of Me, is a beautifully illustrated and playful way to teach body parts and corresponding action words to littles aged six to eighteen months. To…
When Little G exclaimed, "This is what's so special about my family—that we go on tape walks!", I knew we hit the sweet spot of connecting, discovering, and being present. Such a simple concept: wrap your and your child's wrist with tape, and walk around your neighborhood observing and collecting found objects. Little G and…
Board books that "tell" familiar childhood songs are fantastic additions to your infant and toddler's reading routine because they provide opportunities for early language use within a fun and predictable routine. One especially good song board book is Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale. In this sweet tale, a child tosses his stuffed animals…
Over the last few months, I’ve slowly introduced Little G to chapter books, beginning with Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo, part of the Mercy Watson book series about the adventures of an always-hungry pet pig. With memorable characters and vivid illustrations that support comprehension of higher-level language concepts, this series is particularly great…
I frequently use the adorable Maisy book series by Lucy Cousins to introduce early story telling to toddlers. Doctor Maisy tells a simple, but engaging sequence of events about two animal friends playing doctor, including: listening to a heart beat, taking a temperature, and putting someone sick to bed. One concern I hear from parents…
Krack! Our family delights in anything written by Mo Willems, and Little G and I were thrilled to discover a title we had not read yet, Nanette's Baguette. Willems' expansive rhyming skills are on full display, and your older preschool and early elementary school Littles will benefit from the discussion that one, two, and three…
For me, one of the hardest aspects of parenting is "being present." I'm great at being physically present, but I struggle to settle my impulse to constantly multitask, even when I don't have to. The upside is that meal planning and cooking happens, laundry gets done, social events get calendared, speech therapy clients get scheduled,…
