Does this describe your child? 2.5-3.5yrs old probably male, probably firstborn delayed language; doesn’t put words together yet doesn’t use Yes/No correctly– can cry/temper tantrum easily doesn’t call for help doesn’t use Mommy/Daddy/own name well very detail-oriented walks on tiptoes walks in circles, sometimes jabbering to self or no-one spins car wheels, pokes blocks off, [...]
After hundreds of comments from moms dealing with their speech-delayed boys who walk on tiptoes or have other such idiosyncrasies, it occurred to me to write another post on the boy/autism thing. This time, with a focus on the developmental timetable. I have another post on how boys develop differently than girls, but to recap [...]
There is probably no other complaint that can get a mom so upset. Especially during summertime. When it seems like everything is already down and dumpy, this comment can be the one that shoots Mom through the roof. Even if it isn’t actually SAID, the one year old toddler has a way of making this [...]
Do you have a bedwetter? I have a little four year old who has had trouble mastering the fineries of toilet training. Not a lot of trouble, but just enough that when I drop him off in a kids class, I am wondering whether he’ll be embarrassed that no other kids in there need spare [...]
Recently I had a relative drill me on what kinds of educational toys we give our kids. She has been trying to get her four year old to play independently and to read. So I went through a lot of what we had, and I thought I’d post some lists out here just for fun. [...]
If you didn’t catch the sarcasm in this title, this post is for you! I don’t mean this to be rude—it’s just that with the advent of Baby Reading videos and the cutthroat path of getting your kid accepted to kindergarten, parents start worrying that Johnny and Jane aren’t reading WAY too early these days. [...]
It is very normal for kids 2-4yrs to have fears at nighttime…the dark, the shadows, the boogeyman, etc. And little kids can be very creative in their fears! My younger brother used to be afraid of trains coming in through his window! I remember being afraid that my raincoat hanging on a hook in my [...]
With all the hubbub out there about little kids reading, it’s hard to make sense of how/when you should start. Should you work hard to get them reading in preschool, or should you wait until they are ready? Should you use a workbook, a DVD series, or just keep sounding out their favorite story? All [...]
A close friend who has a three year old and two babies recently asked me what she could do with her oldest. She is a fabulous mother and has years experience in daycare, so she is probably the picture of Mommyhood when it comes to care-taking. But perhaps she felt a little intimidated by her [...]
toddler schedules? Wasn’t having one for a baby enough? Well yes and no. All little children resist your getting things done! You usually need a battle plan. But a babies’ needs are primarily physical and are dictated internally by routine. You need a schedule mainly to make sure they are eating and sleeping enough, and [...]
So I have been exploring different preschool options for my sensory disordered son =) Here’s the related information: He’s smart, saavy, creative, verbal, emotionally intelligent and aware of his own needs. He’s charming and silly, imaginative and obedient (when things are going well). BUT… he is sensory sensitive, moody, motor delayed, shy, and shuts down [...]
Ok, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel here because I know there are A THOUSAND places you can go to get good kids’ books lists. But I’m going to put some here just for posterity. These are books that are worth adding to edify your little children’s library for all-time. It doesn’t include some [...]
As a potential homeschooler, I have looked into several Christian curricula for preschoolers/kindergarten. It seems like there is so little emphasis on the early years! Mostly because people are afraid you’ll get kids into a stodgy, authoritarian regime if you want a curriculum for your three year old =) They are afraid you’ll start worrying [...]
My oldest son is in a kindergarten class for four-year olds. Here are a list of topics he’s been doing so far… September-October Firemen Policemen, Mailmen, Statesman Doctors/Dentist (brushing) Builders, Construction, blueprints and floorplans Autumn Food, baking Kings, queens, castles and dragons Baseball and Football November Thanksgiving
After my son started going to preschool, I looked for some good workbooks to do at home over the summer with him. Unfortunately, there weren’t any. There were lots of books about shapes, colors, counting, reading… but none about “stuff.” I realized why my home efforts to teach him had been stalled. He had learned [...]
Thinking about preschooling at home? Good for you! When my son’s auditory processing problems made sending him to the public preschool the most promising option, I was heartbroken. I so wanted to homeschool him and never put him in the public schools because those were my personal convictions. However, I had one other little toddler [...]
The second year in preschool, my son had the following topics: Fall: apples Fall: nuts and squirrels Fall: autumn and leaves Fall: pumpkins Fall: farms and animals Winter: snow and snowmen Winter: gloves and mittens Winter: gingerbread Winter: Patriots (football) Spring: Red Sox (baseball) Spring: sports I am missing some others, but you get the [...]
For the first semester in preschool, my son had the following units: Winter: Penguins Winter: Clothing Winter: Snowmen and Snowflakes Shapes Shapes: Letters Shapes: Transportation Vehicles All about Me: My Body All about Me: My family All about Me: Emotions Spring: Flowers and Planting Spring: Bugs and Flowers Summer: Beach and the Ocean Summer: Picnics [...]
