Is she a kindergarten deviant, or is she revealing her learning…in different ways: What are the Hundred Languages of Children?
Yesterday was the first day of Kindergarten…
…and I was anxious!
Looking for ways to approach sensitive topics? How art activities can help you talk about racism with young children. Yes, even during a pandemic.
In less than one month it will be 12 months… …that the Wild One has been doing some-type-of-learning distance learning. And even though there were a couple of months when children were finally allowed to go out again, and the Wild One got to spend some time with her buddies, it still seemed as if we were stuck in a perpetual lockdown. But we have been one of the lucky ones throughout this pandemic. We never got sick. Nobody in…
How the book with no pictures led to a duel to the death (metaphorically speaking, of course)…
The Wild One received The Book With No Pictures from our friend, and literally judged the book by its cover.
I was mortified.
The Bedtime Battle
9 PM.
I sit on the couch and I mindlessly scroll on my phone. I have Slack, Trello and Toggl opened on my laptop. I should log in, but I wait. I check the time. I look behind me. I listen for the creak. I look across the couch at my husband. We both sigh. And then we both wait.
A broken toy, battles lost…and other not-so-fine parenting moments that occur in lockdown.
I walked into the room. Exasperated. I’m just so tired of this. I sigh loudly as I step over a pile of capes, books, dinosaurs, a magnet wand, and tulle. There is always tulle somewhere in this house.
Tired of being ignored by your small human? How a to-do list solved my quarantine parenting problems…100 days later.
In my previous life as a nursery owner and teacher of fabulous kids, I spent the majority of the past eight years creating activities and planning crafts for children. But even with that experience under my belt, I panicked when I learned about the school closure. Even though the Wild One is very independent, and often finds ways to keep herself busy…she also has the energy of ten Olympians and the curiosity of a mad scientist—any long stint at home…
Why there is still value, even when you fail to engage your child during an activity
We completed the Left Brain Craft Brain: Story Time LEGO Challenge. The Wild One chose Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.
Covid-19 & Other Sensitive Topics: How to start the “tough” conversations with your child
“Do we have to leave Peru?” The Wild One asked after I told her school was closed as a preventative measure for Covid-19 aka Coronavirus. She remembered our friends were not able to return to Beijing after their holiday and I could tell she was worried. It’s in our parental job description to answer questions. Often they are really easy. Sometimes they are really difficult, and most of the time they are just plain awkward. Like the time the Wild…
The Incredible Communication Learning Machine: A tale about a parenting obsession
Who remembers the PC game called The Incredible Machine? If you were raised in the 90’s, and had access to a PC, you mostly likely played this game. Most probably at school during “computer classes” when you were supposed to be doing typing exercises, but instead had a separate window opened with the game in the background. This game’s purpose was essentially to create a series of Rube Goldberg Machines. If you’re not familiar with a Rube Goldberg Machine it’s…
Encouraging young children to engage in non-traditional play encourages positive development
“Now you look like a boy.” “So, I look like a boy because I have short hair?” “Yep.” My heart sank a little. I’d been chatting with two young sisters about differences for my uni assignment. In my years of working with young children, I’ve learned that conversations need to be organic and that you just have to follow their lead. And thus, how we landed on the subject of the differences between boys and girls, specifically hairstyles. When I…
The Daria Morgendorffer method: Parenting advice from the 90s
I’m lying inside a giant box.
No, that’s not some weird metaphor. I am literally lying inside a giant box.
Why?
What do fairies have to do with children’s emotional development?
Every day I marvel at my Wild One. I watch in awe as she explores her surroundings completely, unapologetically curious yet so innocent. I watch nervously, yet excitedly, as she teeters over the edge of the slide unafraid of any consequences that may occur if she falls. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of fear and the desire to provide as many opportunities for exploration. And then there are days, you know the days… ….the days that just seem to go on…