Most people picture a child starting to write when they begin to actually make shapes of letters with a pencil. But actually, writing tends to flow more easily when lots of other abilities are getting better. People who’ve studied young children say writing isn’t one thing, it’s lots of things built on top of each…
Lots of families feel like tomorrow’s troubles are beginning by the time today is over. Lunch hasn’t been made, important papers are lost, what everyone will wear is still a question, and the morning is already looking hard before it’s even happened. What’s behind this for a lot of families isn’t a lack of trying,…
It’s usually not that kids won’t talk with their families, but that adults and kids operate on different timelines that make talks stressful. Moms and dads (or other adults) will ask a question and want an answer immediately, particularly when things are hectic or if everyone is feeling a lot of something. Younger kids, though,…
Adults are keen for their kids to get better at dealing with annoyance, particularly when they are toddlers or in preschool. But experts in how children grow tend to say that learning this is a gradual process. A small child being tearful about a broken toy, getting upset at having to wait their turn, or…
Lots of family talks about screens get tangled up because people act like if something is “educational” it automatically solves all the problems with kids and devices. But even with learning-based apps or shows, you still have to think about how much focus they require, when kids are using them, sleep, physical activity, and everyone’s…
Kids can really get something from family traditions that happen with the seasons, and they become important to how families are. These traditions are a way for children to really see how time passes, how things change, and where they fit into the family. A picnic in the spring, a stroll in the summer as…
After school is often the most chaotic time for families. Kids get home from school feeling exhausted, needing food, overly excited, or full of energy, and at the same time parents are dealing with their jobs, dinner, getting everyone to their other things, and homework. If you don’t have some sort of plan, these hours…
Lots of parents who are thinking about their child starting school naturally think about things like learning the alphabet, counting, and starting to read. These skills are important of course, but people who study how children grow and learn say a different ability is equally important for how a child does in class: listening. Before…
It’s totally typical for families to argue, but loads of parents are anxious that one bad fight will ruin things with their kids. Experts in how families talk to each other see conflict in a different way. It’s not so much that disagreements occur, but what happens for adults and kids to get back to…
Adults frequently assume very young children get the idea of taking turns fairly quickly, but it’s a skill that comes along slowly; many families don’t understand that. When kids are little, being able to wait, share, or allow another child to be in charge of something isn’t just about them wanting to be nice. They…