Parent Tips

Benefits of Reading VS. Screen Time

Benefits of Reading VS. Screen Time

Taking away screens and reading to our children during the formative years of birth to age 5 boosts brain development. We all know that's true, but now science can convince us with startling images.

Reading Skills: What to Expect at Different Ages

When I was a second grade teacher, many of my parents had many questions about their child. I wish I had found this organization and their website: Understood.org  to help answer their questions. Understood.org is one of the many excellent resources to help parents with concerns and questions.

I found a graphic and article that list the reading skills a child is to acquire at certain ages. The contributor Amanda Morin state an important point: 

"Not all kids develop reading skills at the same rate. But there are some general milestones to look out for as your child grows up. Take a look at how they typically unfold."

Wayne Lee, M.Ed

The Impact of a Father's Involvement With Their Baby

The Impact of a Father's Involvement With Their Baby

Mothers play a major role in their baby's lives and in their development. What about the fathers?
According to researchers, dads who interact more with their children during the first few months of life have a positive impact on their baby’s cognitive development.

Building Your Baby’s Brain

Building Your Baby’s Brain

The following article was from my local public library newsletter. It was from the director, Ryan Livergood. He talks about the biggest predictor of a child's vocabulary at age three is the amount and the quality of words spoken with a child in the first three years. Ryan further states that it is a good indicator of academic success. There are numerous studies on brain development in children. All the studies provide proof that reading, talking, and interacting with your child in the first three years have a great impact on their brain development. Areas such as speech, language, and literacy are impacted. Ryan also provides tips on how to help your child. I want to share his letter, so I retyped it below:

Ain't Misbehavin'

Ain't Misbehavin'

That old song title typically also applies to most children under the age of five, as they try to figure out what the adults in their world expect of them.  It can be a confusing world for young children – AND for their parents and the adults who work with them.  We WANT to teach them behavior that our society think is acceptable – but what is the most effective way to do it?

The debate about “spare the rod, spoil the child” is pretty much in the rearview mirror.  Numerous studies have demonstrated that spanking is one of the least effective ways to teach children the social rules...