Mother Nature is a wondrous thing. Mother Nature, mothers and their children are nothing short of miraculous. I’ve been reminded of it recently with the birth of my first grandbaby just 3 months ago and now awaiting the birth of my second grandbaby in about 1 ½ months! I recently read a Scientific American article on changes that happen in a woman’s brain when she’s pregnant. It’s plain to see a woman’s body undergoes massive changes as it hosts her growing baby…some women’s bodies get a … [Read more...]
PlayAbility: The Word for 2017
For me PlayAbility™ has four components: Children, adults, toys and the play environment. Young children inherently 'know' how to play when given the time, materials, space and freedom to play. Dr Lawrence J Cohen said: "The single most important skill that parents can acquire is playing." To facilitate that this year, along with PlayAbility™, I’ll be adding more PLAY-based learning activities parents, grandparents and/or caregivers can use with the kidlets. To help them become more confident … [Read more...]
Growing Up Made Easier with PLAY
I was driving around my neighborhood recently. As it happened, it was while school was letting out. Stopping at a crosswalk for kids to go across, I thought: WHEN did it happen that adults had to be in charge of school crossings? I remember how proud I was being part of the school patrol—entrusted with the responsibility for the safety of fellow students. We didn’t have sidewalks; we weren’t always within viewing of the school; and some of the streets we covered were main arterials. And yet, … [Read more...]
Sticks and Stones: Play for Resilience
Remember the nursery rhyme: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” WHAT has happened to that sentiment? Before going on, I want to emphatically state that YES, words can hurt, and hurt deeply, especially when it’s within the context of demeaning, belittling, or hateful words spewing from a loved one. So let me emphasize, I expect parents to talk to their children with kindness, compassion and/or respect. They should speak that way even if they are disappointed, … [Read more...]
PLAY: Making the Men We NEED
Play is an essential component of childhood. It could even be considered a basic survival need much like shelter, food and touch. Of the many, many benefits play imparts, one of the most far-reaching and long-lasting effects could be in the preparation of future fathers. Children learn by doing; and often, what they do, is what they see. A lot of what they see is a parent or caregiver tending to a younger sibling or baby. Children incorporate this into their pretend play. Pretend play offers … [Read more...]
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