Lots of families create rules about using phones, tablets and things like that with the aim of doing good, but after only a little while, these rules are hard to actually get everyone to follow. Screens are now used for school, to talk to people, for fun and just how things happen each day, so…
People usually think of family traditions as being for holidays or big events, but experts in how children grow say they’re really much wider in scope. Little things that you do over and over, for example, pizza on Friday, a walk during the weekend, a special breakfast for birthdays, or a story at bedtime, are…
Lots of people think doing reading as a habit at home helps kids do well in school, but it’s about a lot more than just learning to read and write. Reading with your child boosts their word knowledge, their ability to listen, how long they can focus, a closer emotional bond, and a feeling for…
It’s something all families know well: kids fighting with each other. But it frequently leaves parents unsure about if or when they should get involved. Most professionals say arguing between brothers and sisters is a typical stage of development. They’ll bicker about getting their parents’ attention, what to play with, being treated equally, having enough…
When toddlers and preschoolers are at home, a very typical worry for their families is separation anxiety. You’ll likely see this as tears when you leave them, them holding on tight to whoever is looking after them, or being upset by any break in their usual schedule. These things are hard to deal with as…
Kids don’t usually stop sharing with their parents because they have no thoughts to share. Instead, a lot of the time, families are so busy with the usual things they do each day that nobody really listens carefully. Small kids express themselves with what they say, how they say it, their posture, what they do,…
People often talk about emotional development in the first few years of life in a general way, yet families typically want to know precisely what that means in their daily lives. As kids move from two to five years old they are figuring out what their feelings are called, how to deal with being bothered…
How you do things at bedtime has a way of affecting quite a lot, not just what happens right before a child falls asleep. Doctors who specialize in children have repeatedly found that having the same things happen every evening helps kids sleep better, manage their feelings, and have an easier time with the next…
People often talk about family meals as something we do because it’s a tradition, but doctors who specialize in kids are starting to see them as a really useful way for families to talk to each other, have a rhythm to their day, and help their kids grow. Most families aren’t wondering if meals are…
Many people think of playing outside as just a nice thing to do, but those who study children’s health see it as a really important part of growing up well. Being outdoors allows for running, investigating, and the sort of free play that’s crucial for children to develop in their relationships with others, manage their…