by Susie Windle | Aug 14, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
Preschool is one way to gently introduce children to a school setting. When school is viewed as inviting and tempting, a love of learning is more likely to develop. Preschool is appropriately a time for children to explore, feed their curiosity, take initiative, and...
by Susie Windle | Jul 3, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
Fear is a basic human emotion. We have all felt fearful at some time. Fear is even necessary for survival. So, when we are helping our children deal with their feelings of fear, we want them to develop courage. How can parents help young children look at and release...
by Susie Windle | May 8, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Sensory Information, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
According to many research studies, moving our bodies directly affects our brain chemistry. When we change our physical state, we change our emotional state. This means that moving can help kids reset emotionally, and resetting emotionally will allow them to feel...
by Susie Windle | Jan 23, 2013 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
“Floor time” does not have to occur on the floor. Floor time simply refers to time spent interacting with your child on his or her own turf, where your child’s interests, resourcefulness, and thoughts are considered. When you play on a level that is eye to eye, which...
by Susie Windle | Nov 14, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play
When we think about nurturing resiliency in children, we need to include thoughts about supporting development of their own true and unique selves. Helping our children be who they are means that we allow them freedom to sometimes be solitary, give them a chance to...
by Susie Windle | Aug 29, 2012 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
When all is going smoothly—meaning the children are happy and the parents are too—it seems easy to be respectful. When kids are doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing, such as pulling on the dog’s tail, knocking over a sibling’s tower of blocks, or avoiding...
by Susie Windle | Jun 27, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play
When you interact with and admire your toddler, you encourage your child to organize behaviors, communicate ideas and feelings, and solve problems. Your toddler needs your high regard along with the care and comfort you provide. Let’s say your child is coloring a...
by Susie Windle | Jun 13, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
Around 3 to 10 months of age, your baby will be able to communicate what he wants, and he might become a little bossy in the process. Even babies like to be in charge now and then. This means that sometimes your love bug might get angry when you want to be in control....
by Susie Windle | Apr 18, 2012 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play
One of our basic human needs is to feel a sense of belonging. Children and adults often behave in ways to have this need met. For children, receiving attention is an indication that they belong. This situation means that children need to know that they can ask for the...
by Susie Windle | Mar 28, 2012 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
The appearance of aggressive themes in the pretend play and conversation of three- and four-year-olds can be a sign of developmental progress. As parents, we want our children to be appropriately assertive and independent, so we do want to foster the feelings that can...
