The #StayAtHome order we've been under for 2, 3, 4 well many weeks now has spurred a lot of creativity in how families are spending their time. I read a newspaper article that caught my eye. It noted that bird-watching was taking flight! I love watching birds! Whether they bathe in my water fountain or dine via the bird feeders or build nests in and amongst the plants in my yard, I am fascinated by birds. I think it's awesome people are helping to track different bird species. Hopefully the … [Read more...]
Why Playing Hide-And-Seek is Important
No doubt you played peek-a-boo with your child when they were a baby. Peek-a-boo, a time-honored game played by generations of parents and babies, has real developmental benefits to it. Playing peek-a-boo helps with separation anxiety and object permanence. Hide-and-seek takes peek-a-boo to the next level and beyond. ALL Learning Requires Some Risk I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it. To grow and learn, everyone—young and old—must be willing to risk something. Hide-and-seek offers … [Read more...]
There’s No App Better than Your Lap
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. This quote by Emilie Buchwald says it all. Children learn language from direct interaction with meaningful people in their lives. Learning is facilitated when children have trusting relationships. So just imagine the amount of learning potential when parents read to their children! During February, the month of LOVE, help your child develop a LOVE for reading! Commit to reading at least 1 story/day for the rest of the month. That’s … [Read more...]
Rise and Shine It’s Time to…
"Rise and shine sweetie, it's time to ____" Insert any number of things that must be done before you able to get out the door and to work, daycare and/or school. If you're a working parent, mornings can be challenging when you have young kiddos—just trying to get yourself dressed and ready can seem impossible at times let alone getting their needs met! If you build in a little extra time to interact, engage your kidlet with some play-based activities, you just may be able to get a meal … [Read more...]
Play-Based Activities for Play-Based Learning!
If you’ve been following PLAY & GROW for very long, you know one thing for sure about me. I’m more than passionate, closer to obsessed about, providing play-based activities so children PLAY! And why? The reason is twofold. First, PLAY is instrumental for children to gain the knowledge, skills, concepts and capabilities that they need now. Second PLAY lays this important knowledge/skills foundation from which children build upon for use in the future. The basic developmental domains in … [Read more...]