Supporting Independence... The American with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was signed into law in 1990. One provision of the law guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities: 1. In public accommodations 2. Transportation 3. State and local government services IMHO, these guarantees insures some measure of independence. The ADA stood out in stark contrast to what I experienced on a recent trip overseas. Learn more about the American with Disabilities Act here. A title I gladly … [Read more...]
Independence & Freedom—It’s In the DNA
Freedom to choose what to do and when to do it. Kind of reminds you of the goal of any toddler huh? Absolutely! Toddlers MUST try things for themselves. They HAVE to do things by themselves! Toddlers CAN, they WILL or there’s the potential for lot of fireworks. Speaking of fireworks. We celebrate 4th of July in recognition of our Independence. Americans are fiercely independent and cherish our freedoms, so it should be easy for parents to empathize with their kiddos’ need to flex their … [Read more...]
Getting Your Toddler from NO to YES
Think of your typical toddler. If you were listening in to their conversations you’d hear a lot of NO to this, and NO to that, and how-could-you-even-suggest-that NO! Sure the NOs are their way of testing out and flexing their own autonomy, but it can be taxing tiring, and tedious for parents. Parents want to support and nurture their child on their journey of growing up, moving out and supporting themselves, but those NOs seem to know no boundaries…so, yes The struggle is … [Read more...]
Parent Preparedness & LOOSE PARTS
You may feel at loose ends but I want you to have LOOSE PARTS as part of your Parent Preparedness Arsenal. It's all about being prepared—and that’s not just a motto for the Scouts it’s a GOOD day-to-day LIFE motto for parents…especially when you’re trying to get any work done! ---------------------------------------------------------So what can you do? Create PLAY packs or PLAY scenarios that’ll keep your kidlets engaged. After all, PLAY is the WORK of young children. This comes with a … [Read more...]
Supporting Their Development Through Play: Your Toddler
As your child transitions from a baby to a toddler, the number one characteristic you’ll notice is their growing need for autonomy... Independence and self-determination comes through loud and clear: “I do it!” or “MINE!” Asserting herself and expressing himself verbally is completely normal for children this age and something parents need to encourage. The more you can support their desire to make decisions and to figure things out the better! In fact, studies indicate this strategy of … [Read more...]