Play is an integral part of childhood, but in recent years play has started to slow down with active alternatives replaced with video games and online interaction. Active play is a great way to keep kids healthy and moving at any age, but a lot of parents don’t know where to start. If you’re trying […]
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Ask Dr. Gramma Karen: Ongoing Issues With the In-Laws
I wrote to you last year about favoritism occurring in my husband’s family – his parents showing a preference for their other grandchildren over ours. We took your advice and spoke to his parents about a few of the issues we noticed. They were very appreciative for the information and accepted it, but things still […]
Should We Stay or Should We Go? 5 Questions to Ask if You’re Leaving the City
Countless city families have had this very same debate every single year—should we stay in the city or head to suburbia? It’s, arguably, the biggest decision you’ll ever make, so it’s definitely one not to take lightly. So if that’s where you are—deep in the city versus suburbs debate—read on. By running through these questions […]
Adoption 101: Online Class Re-cap
We recently held an amazing new class – Adoption 101 – expertly facilitated by Katie Foley, MSW, and Associate Director of Outreach at Spence-Chapin – also our generous sponsor. For those in our community who are considering adoption among the various pathways to parenthood, Katie provided a rich overview of the current landscape of international […]
A Playground Safety Checklist for Parents
It’s never been easier for kids to spend an entire Saturday seated. Almost unthinkable a few generations ago, kids today have so many passive entertainment options to where they exercise nothing except their thumbs and eyeballs. Although there’s nothing wrong with TV time or playing video games with friends every so often, kids today are at risk […]
A Parent’s Checklist for Children’s Oral Health
There is no such thing as too early to begin caring for your children’s teeth, and that includes before their teeth are even visible. Protecting your child’s teeth begins at the start of their lives, and should continue to be encouraged long after your children are able to brush and floss on their own. The […]
Successful Toilet Training: Online Class Re-cap
How do you know when child is ready for toilet training? We recently held a highly informative session, facilitated by Dana Rosenbloom, child development expert – and generously sponsored by Happy Family – that helped parents recognize the signs of readiness. Dana also shared the initial steps in the training process. She covered why toilet […]
Why Unstructured Play is So Important
Spring is finally here! It is a great time to be outdoors and play with your children. Play is so important for your children, especially unstructured outdoor play. While structured play is also important, that is activities that involve instruction with an adult like sports or arts classes, it is important to not overbook your child with these […]