A wise man once said that children are closer to God as they enter the world free of any preconceived notions of how the world works. As they grow into toddlers their philosophy of life becomes apparent. I’ve taken careful note to write down some of the profound quotes my 2-and-half-year-old has provided over […]
Read More Toddler PhilosophyChildren make interesting connections as they learn to express their thoughts. This is a normal part of learning to communicate. Children learn vocabulary and linguistic rules and try to apply this information as best they can in novel situations. For example, your child may learn that the pet in the house with 4 legs, fur, and a tail is […]
Read More Family-Specific VocabularyI don’t know about you, but I eventually want well mannered children. Teaching manners to a 2 year old, however, is a difficult task. It’s a lot like teaching a triangle to roll. My wife and I have been working on “please” and “thank you” with our son since he learned to speak. We’ve used […]
Read More Teaching Manners To ChildrenOne of the most amazing things you get to experience as a parent is your baby’s first social smile. The social smile typically develops between 4 to 6 weeks of age and is markedly different from the “gassy” smile which is usually followed by a cry or an earthshaking eruption from your child’s diaper. The social smile makes […]
Read More Social SmileWatch your toddlers closely. The moment I am about to describe will come, then pass quickly. You don’t want to miss it. It’s a life-defining moment. A moment in which your child’s true nature is briefly revealed to you. Will they stay? Will they run? Will they laugh? Will they cry? Will they put up […]
Read More Discovering Your ShadowThere is growing data showing a difference in academic motivation and achievement between school-age boys and girls. Gender appears to matter. Dr. Leonard Sax in his book, Boys Adrift, hypothesizes that boys lack motivation for several reasons including a decline in experiential learning at school and a focus on learning from books. He also talks […]
Read More Motivating Boys to ReadToddlers go through a stage of repeating what they hear others say as they learn new vocabulary and build their linguistic skills. They also go through a stage of egocentrism around the same time meaning that they believe others see, hear, and experience the world the same as they do (for further information see my […]
Read More Walk-By ParrotingIt’s easy to fall into a pattern of routines with toddlers. For me, I bathe my son, put on his pajamas, let him play for a while, provide him with a bedtime snack, brush his teeth, and put him to bed. In the process of our nightly routine, my son has his own routines: Bath: […]
Read More The Danger of RoutinesAccording to Jean Piaget’s stages of child-development, children enter the “Preoperational Stage”, and a state of egocentrism, at the age of 2. Egocentrism refers to a child’s inability to take the perspectives of others. Children at this stage of development believe others experience the world the same as them. This includes thinking the same thoughts, […]
Read More Grandparent EgocentrismIs there such as thing as Feline Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Yes… yes I can definitely vouch for the existence of FPTSD. My wife’s friend, Lindsey, recently discovered this reality as well when she looked after our cat, Marbles, during the holidays. She blogged about Marbles on her website http://www.happyorhungry.com and even managed to post […]
Read More Feline Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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