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Activities to Boost Gross Motor Development: An Age-by-Age Approach: Birth to Age 5

“Gross motor skills” are needed to control the movement and coordination of the larger muscles found in the arms, legs, and torso. The following activities can help you boost gross motor development in your child from birth to age 5. Birth to Age 1 Give your baby brief tummy time sessions to help strengthen neck and back muscles. While your baby is on his tummy, get his attention by holding colorful toys or making noise. Begin putting graspable objects in your baby’s hand. Gently pull, teaching your baby to start pulling back and building muscle. Start putting your baby in …

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Activities to Boost Social-Emotional Development: An Age-by-Age Approach (Birth to 5)

Social-emotional development in children is crucial. It includes the child’s ability to understand the feelings of others, manage his emotions, and build relationships with both children and adults. The following activities are simple ways to help boost your child’s social-emotional development from birth to age 5. Birth to 12 Months Be responsive to your baby’s needs to give your baby a sense of comfort, safety, and trust. Demonstrate delight in your baby, sending the message that your baby is loved and admired, which will develop his self-esteem. Give your baby plenty of hugs, kisses, and affection. Be patient with your …

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How to Be Successful Co-Parents

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Co-parenting refers to two parents who are no longer together raising their child or children jointly. It requires patience, open communication, and empathy. For former couples who have experienced tension and strife, this can be a difficult task. It isn’t easy, but following these four tips can help you co-parent successfully. Focus Solely on Your Child This is the key to healthy and successful co-parenting: make it all about your child. You must be able to put aside your differences in order to communicate and compromise for the good of your child. Don’t make decisions intended to hurt your ex; …

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The Benefits of Reading to Your Newborn

It’s become a well-known fact that reading to our kids is extremely beneficial. But if you’re wondering when to start reading to your newborn baby, the answer is right now! While you may think it’s too early for your baby to reap the benefits of reading, research shows otherwise. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement recommending that “early literacy development” should begin in infancy, including reading aloud to newborns. Here are a few of the benefits of reading to your newborn. It Strengthens the Parent-Child Relationship In the statement mentioned above, the AAP urged pediatricians …

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Activities to Boost Language Development: An Age-by-Age Approach (Birth to 5)

The following activities are simple, effective ways to boost your child’s language development from birth to age 5. Birth to 2 Years Beginning from birth, talk to your child as much as possible. Read stories, narrate your actions (“Now I’m putting on your socks”), or simply talk to her about your day. The more you expose your child to language, the faster she’ll learn. You can also use gestures to help convey meaning, such as waving goodbye or pointing. Around age one, toddlers begin using gestures to communicate. When your child begins to do this, supply the words that go …

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Why You Shouldn’t Obsess Over Developmental Milestones

It’s natural for parents to obsess over their child’s development, celebrating when the child reaches milestones “ahead of schedule” and worrying over any perceived delay. Parents may compare their child to others of the same age, anxiously read books detailing developmental milestones, and wonder if their child is developing at a “normal” rate. But the majority of the time, all of this worrying and progress-tracking isn’t necessary. Developmental milestones aren’t as significant as you might think, and overemphasizing them can be harmful to your child. Child Development is a Continuum, and Milestones Are an Average Every child is different, and …

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