by Susie Windle | Sep 21, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
As scientists learn more about how the brain works, they find extensive links between movement and learning. No wonder kids move so much! For example, some research has revealed that gesturing and pantomiming speed up the process of learning to talk. They also...
by Susie Windle | Sep 7, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
Children develop their ability to reason at different chronological ages. Some children arrive at the age of reason when they turn four while others are seven or eight years old before they have reasoning powers. It makes sense then to instruct children accordingly....
by Susie Windle | Jul 27, 2016 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Your Child's Brain
Inhibition is that little voice that reminds us we might need to forego what we want right now in the interest of our long-range or larger goals. The brains of babies and young children have yet to develop this little voice of inhibition, which means they can and do...
by Susie Windle | Jun 22, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Sensory Information, The Power of Play, Your Child's Brain
Your preschooler is learning like a sponge soaking up water. She is learning to use her senses, move her body, regulate her behavior, and engage you in conversations. When she learns while combining more than one of these activities, her nervous system gets a better...
by Susie Windle | Jun 8, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parents: Practice Self Care
Eating a nutritious diet is important for parents because certain foods produce key chemicals that influence emotions. Developing a habit of eating regularly and healthfully will help you control your mood and your sense of well-being, making it easier to do the hard...
by Susie Windle | May 25, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, The Power of Play
Play provides more than pleasure. Play energizes and enlivens us, opens us to new possibilities, and nudges our sense of optimism. Play is also a profound biological process that promotes survival, shapes the brain, makes us smarter, encourages adaptability, fosters...
by Susie Windle | May 4, 2016 | Discipline and Trying Times, Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Most families have some rules. And that’s a good thing. Family rules, if based on fairness, create a sense of safety for everyone in the family. In addition, a few family rules help kids engage and wire up the thinking part of their brains, which will help them...
by Susie Windle | Apr 21, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions, The Power of Play
Every child experiences stress in a variety of forms. As your child grows and develops, predictable types of stress might include being afraid of the dark, transitions inherent in going to school, peer pressure, and struggling with how to fit in. When ordinary stress...
by Susie Windle | Mar 30, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, The Importance of Emotions
How can we help our children develop a sense of responsibility? Let’s consider some of the possibilities. First, children need to experience their own feelings. We want to protect our children, yet we cannot shield them from all of life’s experiences and the emotions...
by Susie Windle | Feb 24, 2016 | Parenting Playbook, Parenting Skills, Your Child's Brain
Talking to your baby is one of the keys to enhancing your child’s brain development. How nice that it is so easy to do and costs nothing! Even the youngest babies are learning language, and when you talk to them, you are teaching them communication skills. Whether you...