Preschool

Kids whine when they are hungry, tired, bored or if they are sick. But they also whine when they need attention from their parents. Parents tend to worry, and not without good reason, that their children will grow up to be whiners and never be anything less than miserable in their behavior.Give positive attention to non-whiny behaviors and learn to practice refusals … [Read more...] about Whining – what to do about it!

There are documented cases where two year old children have started speaking verbally but have yet to let go of the pacifier. The need to suck is a baby’s most innate need – if not the thumb, there is always the pacifier. The risk of tooth misalignment, slowed language development and increased ear infections increases if toddlers are not weaned off their pacifiers at … [Read more...] about Liberate the pacifiers!

You never know where your children have been and what they have been up to till you see their hands. Toddlers tend to collect germs on their hands from a variety of sources - contaminated surfaces, foods, even animals and animal waste. If they don't wash their hands frequently enough, there is a strong chance they may get infected themselves and spread these germs to … [Read more...] about The dangers of unwashed hands

Biting and hitting are obviously signs of aggression; but they are also signs of frustration. Words don't come easily for toddlers below 2 years, and hitting may sometimes seem to be the only way they can express their frustrations. Parents should understand such behavior as a form of ‘communication’ and try to understand what is really going on in their children’s … [Read more...] about Biting, Hitting, and other common misbehaviors

Keep containers of trinkets, knickknacks and do-dads. Give your children one of the boxes to explore. They will take each item out of the box, examine it and experiment with possible uses. Be careful to include only items that have no small parts that could choke tots who still put things in their mouth.   Stock up on board books when they’re on sale, and introduce a … [Read more...] about More tips on Toddler Play