Pre-Academics
Teach your child the seeds of knowledge through play and by learning in context. Develop creative, curious and capable thinkers.
Language Development Writing Math Reading Milestones Preschool Readiness Kindergarten Readiness
Easy things you can do every day to encourage your toddler to use more language. *Note – Suggestions in this article...
We’re often asked, “How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?” First, listen to your instincts. If you...
Learn the Montessori approach to learning language and how to apply it every day.
Teach your child to *THINK* before they speak. A helpful mnemonic to remind your child that words are powerful.
Some children are naturally drawn to learning letters, while others may not begin to learn letter identification until they’re a...
Many of us are eager for our children to learn to write. It takes practice but it also needs to...
Whether a young child practices prewriting skills or an older child works on sight words, salt / sand trays are...
Is writing letters backwards OK, or is it an early warning sign of a learning difference? Let’s tackle this very...
Many parents are eager to teach their children basic number concepts at a young age. For a 2-year old, exposure...
Take every opportunity to count…anything, everything! It may feel common sense to us grown-ups, but fluency in talking about numbers...
Learning to count may seem simple, but it’s critical to learning well. Let’s learn to do it playfully! The concept...
Increase critical thinking and curiosity when you read aloud. Take story time to a new level.
Learning to read is incredibly empowering for a child, but it’s also very complex. There is no quick-fix or shortcut....
Book selection is key in helping your child learn to read. Parents of emergent and early readers are often tempted...
“Does it make sense? Does it look right? Does it sound right?” is a helpful cueing system to help your...
If you’re looking for a didactic list, here’s a theoretical, academic sequence for teaching your child to read. Just remember...
Your child may not want to learnt to read – *yet*. It’s completely normal and natural. Reading is hard. Reading...
“What is a good resource to understand milestones for my child? At what age should they learn colors? Learn numbers?...
How do you know if your child is experiencing a developmental “bump”? How do you know if it is time...
“It’s not about how smart you are, it’s about how you are smart.” -Howard Gardner
“Sensory processing development” is vital to understanding how children learn. It’s deeply studied among early childhood experts, but not widely...
Trying to figure out what to look for in a preschool and which questions to ask when visiting schools? Learn...
Are you in the midst of visiting preschools and trying to decipher what to look for in a classroom and...
#1 daily challenge with children: How to get from A to Z without fighting, yelling or throwing a tantrum? Learn why...
Knowing why transitions are difficult is half the puzzle. The other half is how to get through them. Teachers go...
Simply saying “Share!” holds little meaning for children. Young children are egocentric and concrete thinkers. Their experience of the world...
Conflict is natural for preschoolers who are just learning about peers and group settings – it’s expected, healthy and natural....
Imagine a magical world where children are internally motivated to be kind and generous. It’s doable!
Acknowledge and promote positive behavior….*Plinkit* with a Marble Jar! You’ll be amazed at the twinkle in your child’s eye each...
“Is my child ready for Kindergarten? What does that even mean?” Here’s my high-level perspective as a parent + teacher...
“OK, I think I have a sense for Kindergarten readiness, but how can I support my child to get there?” Read...
ABCs, colors, numbers, sight words…parents have heard of the “push-down” of academic skills – that Kindergarten has a lot of...
Kindergarten is a meaningful adjustment – for parents too. We’ve got simple tips for parents for a not-so-simple transition –...
It’s hard to know what you don’t know as your child embarks on their learning journey and enters Kindergarten. Sure,...
“Executive functioning” is a phrase often cited when talking about child development. But what does it really mean and and...
Nuts + bolts; let’s get tactical. Now that we’ve baselined the 3 primary processes of executive functioning, let’s look at...
Including children in their own learning process about how to self-regulate is empowering and long-lasting. Here’s how it’s helpful to...
