Many experts believe that children are innately creative. As adults, our role can be to support and encourage the expression of that innate creativity. Just like with any other area of child development, there are many ways to do this. Expressing creativity is a combination of formal “training” as well as innovation and free Read More
Category: Child Development
Balance
Balance is a motor skill that uses large muscle groups in the body. It is related to locomotion skills (getting from one place to another) like crawling and walking. Balance is also its own developmental milestone. The head is the fastest growing part of the body at birth, which is why infants and toddlers have Read More
Sing to Your Fussy Baby
Singing a song that your baby recognizes may be the best way to calm them down when they are distressed. A small study (2020) looked at three different ways to calm babies (8 and 10 month old) when holding them was not possible. The study found that talking produced the most negative effect (increased distress), Read More
Napping and Brain Development
Why do some children stop napping before others? New research suggests that transition out of napping may have to do with brain development, not age. The research focused on the hippocampus, which is the memory area of the brain. When little children nap, they “consolidate emotional and declarative [conscious recollection of facts and events] memories…” Read More
Container Play
Young children love putting things in and dumping them out of containers! This type of play can help your baby develop fine motor skills like picking up and letting go, as well as hand– eye coordination and basic, early math skills related to size and space. The skills your child needs for container play emerge Read More
Period of Purple Crying
One of the most challenging components of newborn parenting is the amount of time your new baby may spend crying. It is entirely normal for newborns to cry anywhere from 2-5 hours in a 24 hour period. That combined crying time can include small crying sessions that add up throughout the day plus longer bouts Read More