Parenting Support and Education from Early Childhood Experts

On Spelling – Part 3: A Checklist to Strengthen Your Child’s Spelling and Writing Skills

A simple checklist for your child to know what to look for in their writing to strengthen their spelling skills...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

On Spelling – Part 3: A Checklist to Strengthen Your Child’s Spelling and Writing Skills

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Encourage Listening – A Simple Sequence to Follow

One of the most frequent questions we get from parents is, “How do I get my child to listen?” It’s...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Encourage Listening – A Simple Sequence to Follow

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Tattling vs. Telling

Tattling is very common but it can be shaped by our responses to their tattling. Teach your child this simple rhyme to work...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Tattling vs. Telling

Ages

4-5,

5-6

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

By learning why young children hit – learning what is developmentally going on in their brains when they hit –...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Sensible Structure for Slower Days

Your go-to schedule and plan for balancing play, learning and structure for large amounts of time with your child (i.e.,...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Sensible Structure for Slower Days

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Activities + Games You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child’s Learning

Your go-to list of curated learning projects, activities and games that you can do at home to support your child’s...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Activities + Games You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child’s Learning

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Easy/No-Prep, Self-Directed Activities Your Child Can Do at Home

Ready-made cards with easy / no-prep, self-directed activities to entertain your toddler, preschooler and early learner. Excellent for when you...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Easy/No-Prep, Self-Directed Activities Your Child Can Do at Home

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Teach Your Child to Move Through Boredom

The benefits of letting your child be bored and five ways to teach your child how to move through boredom....

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Teach Your Child to Move Through Boredom

Ages

6-7,

7-8

24 Clever + Creative Project-Based Learning Ideas

Early learners learn best through hands-on, self-directed experiences. Try our Project-Learning Bingo – 24 project-based learning ideas to fuel your...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

24 Clever + Creative Project-Based Learning Ideas

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Practical Advice for Parents – Structuring Your Child’s Daily Routine

How to structure the day at home with your child, specifically extended time periods at home is hard. Here’s our...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Practical Advice for Parents – Structuring Your Child’s Daily Routine

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Raise Responsible Children – Introduce Chores

We may have grand intentions when it comes to involving our kids in chores. But how do you know which...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Raise Responsible Children – Introduce Chores

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Build Your Child’s Independence

Foundational skills for teaching your child to be more independent and to be in charge of themself and their learning....

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Build Your Child’s Independence

Ages

6-7,

7-8

An Awesome Approach to Allowance

Our Awesome Allowance System gives children practice in setting financial goals, making hard choices, and developing a sense for the...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

An Awesome Approach to Allowance

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Handle Sibling Fights

Sibling fighting and rivalry is normal and, in most cases, healthy. Learn how to resolve sibling conflict in 5 simple...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Sibling Fights

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Sibling rivalry and fighting are normal parts of family dynamics, but they can really disrupt a home’s harmony and stir...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Wheel of Choices – Resolve Social Conflict Independently

Help your child learn how to resolve a social conflict on their own with this framework – Wheel of Choices.

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Wheel of Choices – Resolve Social Conflict Independently

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Teach Your Child to Identify Their Feelings and Emotions

Learn why it is important for your child to be able to identify their emotions, and help them build their...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Teach Your Child to Identify Their Feelings and Emotions

Ages

3-4,

4-5

What Anxiety Looks Like and How to Support Your Child

Learn how to help your child handle the expected feelings related to anxiety, and how to identify when anxiety moves...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

What Anxiety Looks Like and How to Support Your Child

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Teach Your Child Coping Skills for Their Anxious Behavior

When your child begins having anxious thoughts, empower them with practical self-help strategies and coping skills so that they can...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Teach Your Child Coping Skills for Their Anxious Behavior

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Kindergarten Readiness: Part 1 – Social + Emotional Skills

“I think I have a sense for Kindergarten readiness, now how can I support my child to get there?” Keep...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Kindergarten Readiness: Part 1 – Social + Emotional Skills

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Share – Part 2: Some Helpful Rules

Conflict is natural for preschoolers who are just learning about peers and group settings – it is expected, healthy and...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Share – Part 2: Some Helpful Rules

Ages

2-3,

3-4

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

By learning why young children hit – learning what is developmentally going on in their brains when they hit –...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Teach 3 Key Social Skills

While some children inherently understand how to socially interact with others and are comfortable with basic social skills, others need more...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Teach 3 Key Social Skills

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Self-Regulation – Part 1: Optimize Your Child’s Learning

Including your child in their own learning process about how to self-regulate is empowering and long-lasting. Here’s how everyday tools...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Self-Regulation – Part 1: Optimize Your Child’s Learning

Ages

4-5,

5-6

10 Ways to Teach Your Child Kindness

For many children, kindness needs to be explicitly taught. Parents and teachers only need a few prompts to help their...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

10 Ways to Teach Your Child Kindness

Ages

5-6,

6-7

On Impulse Control: Part 1 – What Is It?

It may feel like a number of impulsive behaviors are seemingly normal for children. But what is ‘normal’? In this...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

On Impulse Control: Part 1 – What Is It?

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Teach Your Child to Independently Calm Down

A go-to list of calming strategies that your child can independently use to get back on track when they feel...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Teach Your Child to Independently Calm Down

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Social Exclusion and Inclusion – Part 1: Why It Happens

Watching a child turn to you crying for the first time because “A friend said ‘I can’t play’”, is a...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Social Exclusion and Inclusion – Part 1: Why It Happens

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Choosing a Preschool – Part 1: What to Look for in a Classroom

Trying to figure out what to look for in a preschool and which questions to ask when visiting schools? Learn...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Choosing a Preschool – Part 1: What to Look for in a Classroom

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Kindergarten Readiness: Part 2 – Pre-Academic Skills

ABCs, colors, numbers, sight words…parents have heard of the ‘push-down’ of academic skills – that Kindergarten has a lot of...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Kindergarten Readiness: Part 2 – Pre-Academic Skills

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Encourage Language Development

Easy things you can do every day to encourage your toddler to use more language. *Note – Suggestions in this article...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Encourage Language Development

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Teach Your Child to Write

Many of us are eager for our children to learn to write. It takes practice but it also needs to...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Teach Your Child to Write

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Fine Motor Skills, Handwriting and How to Hold a Pencil

Learning to write is a hallmark in a child’s education journey. It empowers them to express themselves and their talents....

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Fine Motor Skills, Handwriting and How to Hold a Pencil

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Teach Math Basics: Part 1 – Talk Numbers

Take every opportunity to count…anything, everything! It may feel common sense to us grown-ups, but fluency in talking about numbers...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Teach Math Basics: Part 1 – Talk Numbers

Ages

2-3,

3-4

(Academically) Teach Reading in 6 Steps

If you’re looking for a didactic list, here’s a theoretical, academic sequence for teaching your child to read. Just remember...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

(Academically) Teach Reading in 6 Steps

Ages

4-5,

5-6

On Spelling – Part 1: What is ‘Spelling’ and When Should My Child Be Able to Spell?

A primer on why and how learning to spell is such a powerful and fundamental concept for early learners and...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

On Spelling – Part 1: What is ‘Spelling’ and When Should My Child Be Able to Spell?

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Encourage Your Child’s Math Thinking

Tips from an elementary school teacher for parents when teaching math. Key things to remember when supporting your child’s mathematical...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Encourage Your Child’s Math Thinking

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Read Aloud and Increase Your Child’s Comprehension

Learn specific tips from a teacher on how to read aloud to your child, listen to your child read aloud...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Read Aloud and Increase Your Child’s Comprehension

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Essential Math Terms, Concepts + Tools for Your Child

Understand how to help your child with math skill development and learn common math terms and strategies that teachers use....

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Essential Math Terms, Concepts + Tools for Your Child

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Essential Concepts to Know When Your Child is Learning to Read

A simple primer for parents that outlines the mechanics of what it means to learn to read when you’re a...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Essential Concepts to Know When Your Child is Learning to Read

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Grow Your Brain – Apply a *Growth Mindset*

Let’s double-down on how to translate *growth mindset* into something tangible with your child. We’re focusing on how to teach...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Grow Your Brain – Apply a *Growth Mindset*

Ages

4-5,

5-6

The Super Power of *Yet*

*Yet* – Three letters that may change your child’s outlook on life, even among the youngest learners. Learn how the...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

The Super Power of *Yet*

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Teach Your Child to Fail

If you want to raise a child who grows up to be a resilient, problem-solving, persistent and adaptable adult, let...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Teach Your Child to Fail

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Helpful Ways to Praise Your Child

A simple tip sheet for how to praise your child. Something more than “Good job” or just commenting on process and...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Helpful Ways to Praise Your Child

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Reinforce (vs. Reward) Positive Behavior

Imagine a magical world where children are internally motivated to be kind and generous. It’s doable!

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Reinforce (vs. Reward) Positive Behavior

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Common Manners by Age

We teachers have the good fortune of learning and playing with a wide range of children in class and are...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Common Manners by Age

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Ask Your Child About Their Day

Go beyond “How was your day?” Our Top 10 favorite conversation starters can give you insight into what matters to...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Ask Your Child About Their Day

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Why Children Should Play Outside

Taking time to connect with nature has a long-lasting impact on our health, learning and emotional well-being. Here is what...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Why Children Should Play Outside

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Teach Gratitude

“Gratitude is not just a feeling outside your control that arrives willy-nilly. It’s more like a radio channel: you can...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Teach Gratitude

Ages

4-5,

5-6

The Benefits of Mindfulness and Easy Ways to Practice It

The benefits of mindfulness and how it can help your child thrive. How to naturally and authentically infuse mindfulness into...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

The Benefits of Mindfulness and Easy Ways to Practice It

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Encourage Listening – A Simple Sequence to Follow

One of the most frequent questions we get from parents is, “How do I get my child to listen?” It’s...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Encourage Listening – A Simple Sequence to Follow

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Ask Meaningful Questions During Story Time

Increase critical thinking and curiosity when you read aloud. Take story time to a new level.

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Ask Meaningful Questions During Story Time

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Sibling Fights

Sibling fighting and rivalry is normal and, in most cases, healthy. Learn how to resolve sibling conflict in 5 simple...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Sibling Fights

Ages

4-5,

5-6

3 Things to Say to Immediately Stop a (Sibling) Fight

Get flustered in the heat of the moment when your children fight? Use these three key phrases to stop sibling...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

3 Things to Say to Immediately Stop a (Sibling) Fight

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Sibling rivalry and fighting are normal parts of family dynamics, but they can really disrupt a home’s harmony and stir...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 1 – What’s Going On?

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 2 – What You Could Do and Say

Should parents force siblings to ‘get along’? What do you say when siblings are constantly competing with each other? What...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Handle Sibling Rivalry: Part 2 – What You Could Do and Say

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Sibling Love – Make It Happen with a Sibling Love Jar

We can’t end sibling fighting nor force our children to get along, but we can help them recall happy moments...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Sibling Love – Make It Happen with a Sibling Love Jar

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Teach Your Child to Independently Calm Down

A go-to list of calming strategies that your child can independently use to get back on track when they feel...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Teach Your Child to Independently Calm Down

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Tattling vs. Telling

Tattling is very common but it can be shaped by our responses to their tattling. Teach your child this simple rhyme to work...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Tattling vs. Telling

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Fibbing vs. Lying – Why Preschoolers Lie

Around the ages of four and five, children begin to tell ‘tall tales’. They may also begin to tell fibs...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Fibbing vs. Lying – Why Preschoolers Lie

Ages

4-5,

5-6

*THINK* – Be Powerful with Your Words

Teach your child to *THINK* before they speak – to consider the impact of their words (vs. their intent). A helpful...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

*THINK* – Be Powerful with Your Words

Ages

5-6,

6-7

“I” Messages – A Helpful Technique for Conflict Resolution

Empower your child with a valuable life skill – teach them how to express their emotions and desires during conflict.

Ages

5-6,

6-7

“I” Messages – A Helpful Technique for Conflict Resolution

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Wheel of Choices – Resolve Social Conflict Independently

Help your child learn how to resolve a social conflict on their own with this framework – Wheel of Choices.

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Wheel of Choices – Resolve Social Conflict Independently

Ages

5-6,

6-7

*STOP!* An Easy Technique for Impulse Control

Empower your child to manage their emotions and regain control in heated situations with *STOP!*

Ages

5-6,

6-7

*STOP!* An Easy Technique for Impulse Control

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Share – Part 2: Some Helpful Rules

Conflict is natural for preschoolers who are just learning about peers and group settings – it is expected, healthy and...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Share – Part 2: Some Helpful Rules

Ages

2-3,

3-4

10 Activities to Encourage Sibling Bonding

Siblings fight – it is normal and expected, and you can handle it. But sometimes, stepping outside of the normal...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

10 Activities to Encourage Sibling Bonding

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Bring Peace to Your Mornings – Make a Routine Chart

Power struggles and harried mornings for both parent and child are normal, and yet not a fun way to start...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Bring Peace to Your Mornings – Make a Routine Chart

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Raise Responsible Children – Introduce Chores

We may have grand intentions when it comes to involving our kids in chores. But how do you know which...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Raise Responsible Children – Introduce Chores

Ages

4-5,

5-6

An Awesome Approach to Allowance

Our Awesome Allowance System gives children practice in setting financial goals, making hard choices, and developing a sense for the...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

An Awesome Approach to Allowance

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Create Family Agreements

Try having ‘Family Agreements’ instead of having ‘rules’. Family Agreements can be powerful yet simple tools for encouraging baseline behavioral...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Create Family Agreements

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Executive Functioning: Part 1 – Why It Matters

‘Executive functioning’ is a phrase often cited when talking about child development. But what does it really mean and how...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Executive Functioning: Part 1 – Why It Matters

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Executive Functioning: Part 2 – How to Strengthen It

Nuts + bolts; let’s get tactical. Now that we’ve baselined the three primary processes of executive functioning, let’s look at...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Executive Functioning: Part 2 – How to Strengthen It

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Get Your Child to Practice

Learn at what age you should expect that your child can practice skills without prompting and strategies for encouraging your...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Get Your Child to Practice

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Build Your Child’s Independence

Foundational skills for teaching your child to be more independent and to be in charge of themself and their learning....

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Build Your Child’s Independence

Ages

6-7,

7-8

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 2 – What to Do and Say

Knowing why a child hits is the first step in handling a challenging ‘hitting’ situation. Next, how should you respond...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

When Your Preschooler Hits: Part 2 – What to Do and Say

Ages

2-3,

3-4

How to Get Your Child to Practice

Learn at what age you should expect that your child can practice skills without prompting and strategies for encouraging your...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Get Your Child to Practice

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Handle Disrespectful Language and Tone of Voice

Concrete steps to help identify why your maturing child may be using disrespectful language or tone of voice and how...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Handle Disrespectful Language and Tone of Voice

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Talk to Your Child About Racism

A practical guide for navigating conversations with your child about racism, including helpful What You Could Say scripts on important...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

How to Talk to Your Child About Racism

Ages

5-6,

6-7

What Anxiety Looks Like and How to Support Your Child

Learn how to help your child handle the expected feelings related to anxiety, and how to identify when anxiety moves...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

What Anxiety Looks Like and How to Support Your Child

Ages

6-7,

7-8

10 Characteristics of a ‘Good’ Friend

Teach your child a strong Friend Skill Set that can help them establish healthy, happy friendships and that will support...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

10 Characteristics of a ‘Good’ Friend

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Executive Functioning: Part 1 – Why It Matters

‘Executive functioning’ is a phrase often cited when talking about child development. But what does it really mean and how...

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Executive Functioning: Part 1 – Why It Matters

Ages

5-6,

6-7

Activities + Games You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child’s Learning

Your go-to list of curated learning projects, activities and games that you can do at home to support your child’s...

Ages

3-4,

4-5

Activities + Games You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child’s Learning

Ages

3-4,

4-5

How to Set ‘Intentions’ (vs Resolutions)

Any opportunity for a fresh start to refocus and reset (the New Year, the start of the academic school year,...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Set ‘Intentions’ (vs Resolutions)

Ages

4-5,

5-6

Why Children Lie and What You Can Do and Say

A practical roadmap to guide your response when your child lies. Understand the common developmental reasons for why children lie...

Ages

6-7,

7-8

Why Children Lie and What You Can Do and Say

Ages

6-7,

7-8

How to Ask Your Child About Their Day

Go beyond “How was your day?” Our Top 10 favorite conversation starters can give you insight into what matters to...

Ages

4-5,

5-6

How to Ask Your Child About Their Day

Ages

4-5,

5-6

FAQ: How Do I Know if My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

We’re often asked, “How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?” First, listen to your instincts. If you...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

FAQ: How Do I Know if My Child Needs Speech Therapy?

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Castle Construction Set

A fascinating introduction to engineering, architecture and construction. Mix mortar and place bricks to construct a castle. We love the...

Ages

Castle Construction Set

Ages

Carwash + Garage

Filled with thoughtful details like a moving car lift, a car wash, a helipad and beautifully illustrated European wooden figurines...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Carwash + Garage

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Lacing Cards

A favorite of Plinkit expert and pediatric occupational therapist, Shannon White. Lacing cards develop finger dexterity (important for handwriting control...

Ages

2-3,

3-4

Lacing Cards

Ages

2-3,

3-4