Reading with your children and sharing a story is very powerful. This experience strengthens your bond with them, builds vocabulary and language skills, supports brain development, teaches life skills through conversations about the characters in the stories and so much more. It is magical what a few moments spent with a book can do at each stage of life.
And, it’s important to focus on reading with children and not to them. Research shows that reading with your children will increase their reading and other cognitive skills. This is an early-life intervention that is beneficial throughout their lives.
Highlighting the importance of teaching through literature, The Goddard School has introduced its Life Lesson Library, a targeted curriculum built around great children’s books that authentically teach and connect with young children. The books in Life Lesson Library, which were carefully curated by members of The Goddard School Educational Advisory Board (EAB) and Goddard teachers across the country, feature award-winning best sellers, beloved classics and some new favorites.
To further support parents as they engage with their little learners, EAB Chairwoman Lee Scott offers her time-tested tips for reading to your children—from infants to school-aged students—to help everyone gain the most from their time together:
Infants (birth to 18 months old)
Use hardboard or cloth books
Interact with your little ones as you read together by showing them the book, talking about the images, making eye contact and responding to their babbles and gestures
Encourage your child to touch and hold the book
Point to pictures of animals or vehicles and make sounds as you read
All these books (plus many more!) are part of Life Lesson Library, which also features lesson plans for teachers and accompanying at-home activities for each book to help parents reinforce what their children are learning and reading at The Goddard School. The stories in Life Lesson Library teach children important skills around social awareness, decision-making, self awareness, relationships and self-management, all of which are critical lessons as children return to the classroom this fall and reengage with teachers and peers.
The Goddard School’s mission is to make the world a better place through early childhood education. As the nation’s leading premium early childcare provider, Goddard is trusted by parents and families, reaching more than 70,000 students from six weeks to six years old in more than 560 Schools across 38 states.
Just because breastfeeding is natural doesn’t necessarily mean it comes naturally. Many women struggle with producing enough milk, which can be confusing and frustrating. So, we’ve rounded up all the tips, products and natural supplements that can boost your supply and keep that liquid gold flowing.
We also recommend talking to your ob-gyn and a lactation consultant for more personalized guidance, and to run your milk-boosting plan by them.
Food, Drinks & Supplements
Galactagogues (pronounced gah-lak´tah-gogs) is a fancy word that means a food, herb or supplement that can help increase breast milk supply. Add it to the things you never heard of before you embarked on motherhood but is all of a sudden an essential! Here's a list of the most common and helpful galactagogues:
Fenugreek seed. It has been used since the 19th century and is probably still the herb most associated with increasing milk supply (some say it can increase flow by 900%). It's a common ingredient in Indian dishes and is similar to clover. Steep a teabag of it to get full benefits and a sweet maple syrup taste.
Fennel. It's your choice how you want to take this sweet-smelling, highly nutritious herb: Cook with it, toss it into a salad, or take it in the form of a supplement. It's said to be an excellent, natural way to increase breast milk production. It’s also available in an essential oil form.
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil. Flaxseed has phytoestrogens that can influence breast milk production. Flaxseed also contains essential fatty acids.
Oatmeal. This common breakfast food is fantastic for building and maintaining your milk supply; it's also high in iron, which helps new moms who are anemic. Any oatmeal should work—rolled, old-fashioned, steel-cut, even oatmeal muffins.
Alfalfa. Known for its ability to increase breast milk production, alfalfa also provides the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Many midwives encourage their clients to supplement with alfalfa for six weeks before birth and several months afterward.
Brewer's yeast: This healthy nutritional supplement contains B vitamins, iron, protein, chromium, selenium and other minerals. Not only can it help you make more breast milk, it may also give you more energy and have a positive effect on your mood (yes, please!).
H20: Staying hydrated is important for everyone, but especially while breastfeeding. The milk nursing mothers produce is 88% water; when a baby feeds, the mother will lose bodily fluids. Apart from that, you also need to make up for the fluids needed for the body to produce milk.
Techniques to Try
Milk production is all a supply and demand game—the more milk your baby consumes, the more milk your body makes. It sounds simple, but it is oftentimes not. So here are tricks and techniques to encourage your body to produce more milk so you can meet baby's nursing needs.
Breastfeeding on-demand. In the first few weeks after birth, your goal should be 8 to 12 nursing sessions in a 24-hour period. After that, pay attention to your baby’s hunger cues (like lip-smacking, finger sucking and rooting) and feed your babe as often as needed. This number will gradually reduce once your baby becomes more efficient and can drink more milk at each feeding.
Skin-to-skin contact. Research shows that holding your baby skin-to-skin helps increase milk volume by boosting your levels of the milk-making hormone oxytocin—the hormone responsible for milk ejection. Oxytocin is nicknamed the love hormone, and your levels go up when you snuggle up skin-to-skin. Here's to that overflowing love (and milk!).
Power pumping. If your baby isn't with you or has a hard time latching on, try power pumping. To do it, you’ll want to sit down and pump on and off at an interval for about an hour. You can choose the interval that works for you—you can do 20 minutes first and then 10 minutes off and on, 12 minutes on and 8 off, 15 and 5, etc.
Apply heat. Try taking a warm bath or applying a warm compress to your breasts before nursing, as it's an easy way to increase milk flow.
Breast compression. Before pumping or nursing, massage your breasts using the palms of your hands and finger pads. This helps move more milk forward and increases your output. It also helps the rich, high-calorie hindmilk release more efficiently. In addition, with so many milk ducts on the breasts, massaging can help allow for better milk flow when you begin pumping.
Switch sides. It's common for one breast to produce more milk than the other, but it is important to switch sides regularly to increase overall production. The movement of changing sides, plus the change in the flow of breast milk from one breast to the other, may encourage babes to keep breastfeeding. Demand goes up; supply goes up!
Products for Purchase
Motherhood Maternity
Search for products that help stimulate milk production, and you'll find quite a few. We've rounded up ones that are consistently praised by my moms-in-the-know.
Milkmakers. A company that knows how to get a new mom's attention! Milkmakers sells delicious cookies that include ingredients known to increase milk production, like oats and brewer’s yeast. They also contain flax seeds, which provide an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids that pass through the mother’s milk to support proper brain development. In addition to their sweets line, they sell lactation teas and drink supplements.
Legendairy Milk Pump Princess Lactation Supplement. If you're looking for a one-stop supplement, try Pump Princess, which contains a blend of organic ingredients (including black cumin seed, fennel, and dill) designed to optimize breast milk production and support milk flow.
Pink Stork Lactation Sweets: Individually wrapped sweets with a watermelon flavor support breast milk supply with essential herbs. Perfect for on-the-go moms.
Boobie Bar Superfood Lactation Bar: Created by a board-certified lactation consultant, these tasty bars include six organic superfoods that keep the milk flowing.
Starting to introduce solid food to your baby is a rite of passage that can be both exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. While this rite of passage can certainly make for a cute Instagrammable pic when your little one has its face covered in pureed goodness, it can also cause some stress when parents are deciding which foods are safe choices.
As a pediatric registered dietitian, I have seen my fair share of parents who stick to the old-school pureed fruits and veggies as first foods out of fear of feeding babies “the wrong thing.” But there are so many foods that are safe (and recommended) to be a part of a baby’s early diet that offer a slew of health benefits.
No matter whether you are team baby led weaning, team puree, or you are somewhere in the middle, these five foods can be fantastic additions to your little one’s plate when they are being exposed to the wonderful world of food.
1. Chicken
Feeding your baby chicken during its early years is one of the best things you can do for its overall health. Besides being an excellent source of high-quality protein that can help support baby’s growth and development, both dark and white meat chicken contains vitamin B12 and choline, which together may promote brain development in children and help the nervous system function properly.
Lean proteins like chicken are important first foods for infants and toddlers (0-2 years old) as sources of iron, zinc, protein, choline, and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Choline is a nutrient that pregnant or lactating women don’t get enough of but is critical for a child’s normal brain development—and chicken has it! In fact, choline plays a role in good health throughout the lifespan. Young children need choline for continued brain development and recent research is even shedding light on the role of choline in impacting mood and preserving cognitive function into adulthood.
To offer chicken to a baby, simply puree it with some liquid (something like no-salt-added chicken broth or even breast milk) or serve up soft pieces of the meat for the baby led weaning crowd.
2. Peanuts
Imagine no longer having to worry about a young child developing an allergy to peanuts. While there is no magic bullet to prevent peanut allergy in every child in the world, there is a simple step that caregivers can take to help significantly reduce the risk, and that is feeding the infant peanut foods early and often.
Yes, it may sound scary to give your child a food that is a common allergen. But data shows that those fed peanut products later in life have a 10-fold increase in peanut allergy prevalence when compared with those who eat peanut products early and often. Specifically, eating peanut foods early and regularly (2 grams three times per week) reduced the risk of peanut allergy by more than 80 percent, compared to peanut avoidance.
When feeding babies peanuts, choking hazards need to be monitored. Offering your baby a bowl of shelled whole peanuts is obviously a no-go. Instead, add peanut butter to pureed dishes or offer up a soft piece of toast with a thin shmear of creamy natural PB.
3. Salmon
Since baby’s brain is continuing to grow and develop, offering up key nutrients that support this organ’s health is essential. And DHA omega-3 fatty acid is one nutrient that can have a profound impact on baby’s brain.
Feeding your baby salmon early will fuel it with this healthy fat in a natural way. Just watch out for the bones!
4. Yogurt
Babies should not drink cow’s milk until they are one year old. But dairy foods like yogurt can be a satisfying and yummy choice for little ones once they start eating solids. Yogurt will offer up some important nutrients like calcium and protein to support their growth in a natural way.
When considering which yogurts to feed your baby, skip the options that have added sugars and artificial colors. Instead, opt for plain, full-fat Greek yogurt, which is the most appropriate choice for this age group.
5. Eggs
Guidance on whether eggs should be introduced to little ones has taken a 180-degree turn from old-school recommendations. Eggs are recommended as a first food for a slew of reasons. In fact, the recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans specifically calls out eggs as an important first food for babies once they are developmentally ready to start eating solid foods.
First, similar to peanuts, eating eggs early (typically around 4-6 months of age) and often may reduce the risk of baby developing an egg allergy—good news for caregivers and babies alike.
In fact, a recent analysis showed that early introduction of eggs was effective in preventing the development of food allergy in specific groups of infants at high risk of developing food allergy. Plus, the early introduction of potentially allergenic foods into the diets of the non-high-risk infants was not associated with any increased risk of food allergy.
Plus, eggs provide eight essential nutrients and varying amounts of all the nutrients listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as essential for brain development—including choline and high-quality protein.
Babies can enjoy eggs that are scrambled, pureed with some breast milk, or even cooked a-la an omelet and cut into easy-to-grab strips. Just make sure the eggs are fully cooked before they are enjoyed.
Starting Solids With Choices Beyond Fruits & Veggies
Feeding your baby should not be a cause for angst, and being armed with a list of foods that are “dietitian-approved” can help you navigate this exciting stage. Of course, feeding your baby old favorites like carrots and sweet potatoes that are packed with nutrients will be well-received by little palates and are a totally safe and smart choice. And along with the tried-and-true fruits and veggies, offering up these important first food choices can help your kiddo start out their feeding journey on the right foot.
Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, lactation counselor and author. Lauren's work has been featured in numerous publications and demostrates her committment to sharing evidence-based nutrition guidance that simplifies healthy eating. When she is not writing, Lauren can be found boating with her husband, daughter and rescue pup on the waters of Charleston, SC.
With kids home for the summer, the snacking seems to be endless (but isn’t it always?!). Finding a balance between “fun” food choices and eating healthy foods is high up on the list of daily fights we face. In particular, getting them to eat the foods known to be good for those active minds is a huge struggle (but if you’re lucky enough to have a kid that loves salmon and steamed broccoli, good for you!). For the rest of us, our kids are probably not getting the daily nutrients they need for healthy brain development. Good news: Help is on the way! Two dads who were on the same struggle bus created Brainiac®after discovering that their kids weren’t getting enough of the right brain nutrients from their daily meals.
Brainiac® Snacks are the greatest parenting hack: familiar healthy snacks kids love, powered with a blend of super nutrients for developing brains.Read on for five reasons why Brainiac® Applesauce Squeezers are the solution you need to keep your kids healthy as they return to school.
1. Food for Thought: Support Memory, Focus, Learning & Attention
Some food facts coming your way: Just like we need calcium for strong bones and protein for healthy muscles, our brains need Omega-3s and choline—the key nutrients in every Brainiac snack!
Omega-3 DHA: DHA is an essential building block of brain cells and makes up 15% of a child’s brain. It's critical for maintaining normal brain structure, function and metabolism. It also helps with memory formation and has been shown to improve cognition including reading performance, focus and verbal learning.
Omega-3 EPA: The body doesn’t produce EPA on its own so it’s crucial we consume it through diet. Omega-3 EPA helps reduce inflammation in the brain and helps improve mood.
Choline: Choline is critical in developing neurotransmitters in the brain and is shown to improve memory and learning.
Chances are even if you don’t have picky eaters, your child likely isn’t getting the daily brain nutrition they need for a thriving, happy and healthy mind. That’s because these important nutrients are really only found in things like fatty fish, liver, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and eggs—a lot of the foods on kids' "yuck" list. In fact, most children in the U.S. are only getting 20% of the recommended adequate daily intake of Omega-3s and two-thirds of the recommended amount of intake of Choline (*based on guidance by the World Health Organization and National Institute of Health).
Just one Brainiac® Applesauce Squeezer provides as much Omega-3 DHA as a kid’s serving of salmon and as much choline as two cups of broccoli. So if you have the time (and energy!) to go through the motions of cooking an entire meal we applaud you, but for all of those other days, you can now grab a Brainiac pouch!
Ever just throw a fish fillet in your bag and go? (We don’t recommend this.) Brainiac® Applesauce Squeezers are not only packed with brain nutrients but also don’t have any added sugar (or low, natural sugar), have natural ingredients and are easy to throw in a bag or a lunchbox for school and take on the go for all of your summer trips or soccer games.
4. Not Just Another Squeeze Pouch
Most applesauce pouches are just smashed apples (so not the worst snack by any means, but kind of empty calories) but Brainiac pulls double duty. Brainiac® Applesauce Squeezersnot only provide immunity-boosting Vitamin C but they add their proprietary BrainPack to each pouch—160 MG of Omega-3 DHA/EPA and 120 MG of Choline which is the equivalent Omega-3s as one kid’s serving of salmon and the same amount of choline as two cups of broccoli.
Shopping for high-quality fatty fish and fresh vegetables can be expensive. Brainiac® is committed to supporting communities and making brain food accessible to all. They’ve joined forces with Partnership for a Healthier America, Michelle Obama’s non-profit organization, and a portion of all Applesauce sales are donated to PHA to help fight food inequity.
*What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2016 (Ages 4-15), World Health Organization/UN-FAO (Daily Adequate Intake), US National Academy of Medicine (Daily Adequate Intake)
Looking for a place to play, learn, explore and so much more? LA families love heading to Imaginology Kids to tap into their kiddos’ creativity and critical thinking skills. Located in the heart of Silverlake, this joyful, nurturing 3,600 square foot space is where children of all ages can try new things, safely test limits and take on new challenges.
Imaginology Kids hosts STEAM-based classes, birthday parties, toddler classes, family discovery time, camps, a tween club and professional development courses. Here’s why you’ll love it:
REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 30th FOR 50% DISCOUNT ON WINTER CAMP!
It’s the Complete Steam Experience
Everything at Imaginology Kids is set up to help children question their world and discover first-hand how things work.STEAM elements are seamlessly blended into play—supporting multisensory learning, integrating the senses and fueling brain development. Educators at this loft-style space are always re-working the arrangements of furniture, materials,and equipment to best accommodate changing needs, interests and ages throughout the day. Toddlers will be busy filling, stacking, emptying and carrying… while elementary kids collaborate to craft elaborate worlds out of messy materials you totally avoid having at home. (A win-win!)
Little ones will love having all-access to tons of natural and up-cycled materials and tools that spur investigation and open-ended play. Building a tower? Your child may be offered measuring tape to find out how tall it is. And if they name their creation, they can make a sign, too. (See what they did there? Math + writing, all woven into play!)
REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 30th FOR 50% DISCOUNT ON WINTER CAMP!
It’s a Sensory Experience, Without Sensory Overload
This sleek, neutral space is inviting for the younger set, while not being “babyish” for older kids. The interactive discovery space is designed to stimulate the senses through three “Labs” for exploring everything Earth/Air, Water and Light.
In the Earth/Air Lab, kids may use ramps set up for gravity exploration or build with items from nature. They might test cause and effect with pulleys, pendulums, magnets, electric circuits, air tunnels, process art, fans and so much more. And at the right time of day, you’ll spot rainbows reflected on the walls. The Water Lab has an anti-slip tile floor with drains and self-serve water faucets (perfect for tiny hands!). The serene Light Labincludes light tables, flashlights, lanterns and mirrors that showcase beautiful discoveries of light and shadow. FYI: Families with children affected by autism find that Imaginology Kids is a great place for them to come with their occupational therapists.
Celebrating a birthday? Get exclusive use of Imaginology Kids for two hours. Their awesome staff will spark kids’ imagination in the Labs. Then everyone can fuel up on food, drinks and cake before heading home from the most memorable party ever.
And a true sign that this place is awesome? You’ll find yourself wishing Imaginology existed when you were little. And we bet you’ll get in on the action quite easily when exploring this neighborhood gem with your children!
Moms know how to get things done, and that’s especially true for getting their kiddos to eat. When we can’t get our own picky eaters to finish their plate, we can rely on fab mom inventors who have crafted sneaky smoothie blends, gourmet baby food and plant-based kid-friendly foods. Keep scrolling to see some of our fave mom inventors who are ruling the kitchen.
Healthy Guts: Sour Lemon Beverage Co.
Mom to four kids, Callen was finding it hard to get her kids to reap the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. The traditional taste of the immune boosting drink just wasn't kid-friendly––yet. So in the Spring of 2018 she set out to make a tasty version that was free from artificial ingredients and sugar. After just a few weeks, she finally whipped up a pitcher of ACV lemonade that passed the test! Great for both kids and adults, Sour Lemon Beverage Co.'s ACV concentrates reduce cravings, enhance your body's natural detox process and improve gut health. Made with organic ingredients, there's a flavor for everyone, like Pink Lemonade and Cherry Limeade.
Longtime friends Zein Mangalji, Staci Belew, and Maryl Georgi each come from an entrepreneurial background. The idea for Clarified Living came to Zein one day as she realized she wanted to create as many moments as possible with family, and how her childhood was seasoned with memories that involved her mother's cooking with ghee. So together she set out with her mom, Farida Mangalji, to craft a version with higher quality, consistency and variety. The two found the perfect recipe and started production in Houston. Now the team is busy creating unique flavors that include Jalapeño, Garlic Ghee and Cinnamon/Vanilla Ghee and educating consumers about the health benefits of ghee.
Kabrita was founded by moms and is led by a small team, making this goat milk-based line one of our favorite go-tos! Goat milk is naturally easier to digest than cow's milk, has a mild taste, and is rich in crucial nutrients! Kabrita offers baby formula, snacks, and toddler nutrition formula. Curious if Kabrita is right for your family? Try a free sample!
Mẹ’s Way, authentic Huế-style chili sauces are small-batch, carefully crafted and 100% mom-invented. Founder Chau Tonnu, a first-generation Vietnamese America and mom to a 7-year-old daughter herself, created a product from a recipe that has been passed down in her family from three generations of mothers to daughters. Choose from regular or vegetarian.
When Emily Groden's daughter was born in 2018, she wanted to have easy and healthy food options. When she couldn't find a good option for mini waffles on the market, she set out to make her own clean version that contained no refined sugars or preservatives. The Harvard-educated lawyer soon found herself making a huge career change into the waffle business! Evergreen Waffles are made with 100 percent whole wheat and flavored with real fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices. Each Evergreen variety contains 12 ingredients or less and makes for a quick breakfast or snack, anytime during the day.
You know your baby’s developing new skills every moment of every day. Support her growth with nutritious food that is customized to her stage of brain development. Launched in Sept. 2019, Cerebelly does just that. Founded by Dr. Teresa Purzner, neurosurgeon and mom of three, think of Cerebelly as neuroscience meets nutritional science. As baby’s brain develops, it needs specific nutrients to grow and reach its full potential. Cerebelly’s formulas are customized to the baby’s stage of development, and they’re yummy to boot (it was the first food our Editorial Director’s baby actually gobbled down).
Simply tell Cerebelly about your kiddo’s age and what they’re up to, Cerebelly recommends products to fit her stage of development and they deliver the food straight to your door. The organic blends include combos like black bean/sweet potato, carrot/chickpea, sweet potato/mango and white bean/pumpkin/apple. We’re impressed with taste of the food and felt confident we were feeding our baby nutrients he actually needed to grow and thrive. Bonus: Cerebelly recently expanded to Target!
When mom Beth Porter and her seven-year-old daughter went vegan, they struggled to find meals that were packed with nutrients but still tasted good. After experimenting in her kitchen, Porter developed the perfect amount of organic fruits, nuts, and seeds that resulted in frozen ready-to-eat organic spoonable smoothies. Sweet Nothings was born! Now, the delicious cups are available for purchase online, in 1,500 grocery stores across 10 states and include flavors like Strawberry, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Coffee and Blueberry Beet.
Ashi Jelinek was at the beach with her three-year-old when she realized that the only options for beverages were packed with sugar. After that day, she set out to create a healthy kids drink that had tons of nutrients and zero sugar. KidsLuv launched in 2017, and now the brand sells their vitamin enhanced beverages that are vegan and contain Vitamins A,B,C and more! Jelinek's products are now sold at over 2,000 locations and at Thrive Market and Amazon.
Australian mom, Antoinette Jackson grew up with a deep respect for sustainable living and respecting nature on her family's rural farm. After touring the world, she settled with her husband and children in Chiang Mai, a mountainous area of Thailand. To help find per place in the Thai culture and combat the feelings of depression from the loss of a few friends, Jackson founded SuperBee Wax Wraps in 2016. Gleaning the process from her paternal grandmother, the eco-friendly product replaces plastic wrap in the kitchen. It's naturally antibacterial and handmade in Thailand by women in the mountains, providing jobs in the community and a sense of empowerment.
As a child, Linda York didn't entertain an interest or love for veggies. It wasn't until she became an adult and mom that she finally started to enjoy them. When she became a grandmother, she saw her grandkids express a waning interest in all things green, and she knew that bribery wasn't the way to help them become adventurous eaters. That's where the idea for "eat-able" stickers came in: using a kids love for stickers as a way to make fruits and veggies exciting. York created StickyLickits, all natural, food-based edible stickers that contain no sugars or dyes. After years of testing, StickyLickits now has their own original characters and licensed Nickelodeon and Sesame Street options, too! Kids just lick, stick to fruits and veggies and eat StickyLickits: healthy eating accomplished!
In 2008, Registered Dietician Katie Thomson became a mom. After becoming fed up by what she found for baby food options, she set out to create a better solution for parents. She met her future business partner Kendall Glynn at their children's elementary school where they worked together in volunteer roles at the school over the next few years. They created Square Baby® as a solution to feeding kiddos. Their program offers handmade meals made with whole, organic foods and the Square Meal System,™ which is made up of balanced meals with organic veggies, fruits, whole or sprouted grains, and various protein sources. Parents can rest easy knowing that meals have half the sugar and twice the protein and healthy fats as most pouches. Square Baby is also the fresh baby food company that offers a comprehensive allergen introduction option for each of the Top 8 Allergens.
As a new mom, Betsy Fore's main goal was making sure her son ate healthier early in life. With a decade of experience as an inventor, product founder and CEO, she and cofounder Sofia Laurell decided that the world needed more healthy, flavorful and textured food options for little eaters and Tiny Organics was born! The company's products helps introduce babies and toddlers to their first 100 flavors that will build adventurous eaters, are all 100 percent organic, fresh-frozen, plant based and built on essential fruits and vegetables.
Ready-to-Eat Meals for the Entire Fam: Nurture Life
When her son started eating solids, Jennifer Chow started making all of his meals from scratch. When he started eating foods beyond the easy-to-make purees, she found she was spending hours making "mini adult meals," like many of her friends. Wanting to avoid fast and frozen foods and provide fresh, nutritious meals Chow and her co-founder Steve created Nurture Life. The company provides freshly made and ready-to-eat meals that are balanced and made from antibiotic-free meats, whole grains and organic produce. Parents can choose from baby, toddler, kid, teen and adult meal options which are then made from scratch, delivered to your door and ready to eat in two minutes or less.
Lynn Lasher grew up in a home of entrepreneurs so when she lost her job one year, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Founded on the premise that when something is "homemade," it tastes better, Lasher started Somebody's Mother, with her first product inspired by her mom's own chocolate sauce. Now, almost 15 years later, Somebody's Mother sells a variety of dessert sauces, with every lid sharing a quote about mothering or parenting. Lasher says of her business, "I started Somebody’s Mother’s in April 2005 to teach my 3 children how to start a business and, more importantly, how to take matters into their own hands and to assume responsibility for their own financial well being."
As a registered dietitian, Lisa Mastela was overwhelmed by amount of nutritional needs that need to be met while pregnant and how on earth she was going to fit them all in. While a smoothie lover, she found it even more challenging to get all the ingredients she needed safely into the blender (an ER-worthy carrot situation really set things back) while navigating the kitchen with a belly. She set out to "help other soon-to-be mamas meet their baby’s nutritional needs and nurture their pregnancy symptoms in an easy, fast, and delicious way.” Bumpin Blends offers total customization based on your taste preference, dietary restriction and food aversions. In addition, customers have access to a Nutritionist around the clock via text message! Smoothie cubes come in 22 blends that support 22 symptoms, including morning sickness, heartburn and fatigue.
In 2012, Alison Cayne founded Haven's Kitchen, a cooking school, cafe and event space all in one. Mom to five kids, Cayne set out to make cooking at home more fun––and delicious. In 2018, she launched Haven's Kitchen Sauces, globally-inspired sauces with all natural ingredients inspired by recipes from her student's favorite classes. Now the mompreneur's products are available at over 300 locations, including Whole Foods Market.
Plant-Based Meals That Actually Taste Great: Splendid Spoon
Splendid Spoon was founded by Nicole Centeno, a mom who realized how difficult it was to attain a healthy-minded lifestyle with a 9-5 job and demands of family life. With Splendid Spoon, she’s made it her mission to make vegan plant-based meals accessible, nutritious and a daily habit that’ll power your day (no need to reach for that protein bar to get you through the mid-morning hangries) through a food subscription box. All meals come ready-to-eat, which is ideal for families on-the-go or new moms who may not have the energy to even boil water for pasta. Bonus: as of Jan. 2020 all of Splendid Spoon’s packaging is 100% recyclable.
Chef Kathy Fang, new mom and two-time CHOPPED champion, just launched Bon Petit, an innovative, freeze-dried, gourmet baby food line designed to provide busy parents a solution to feeding their children healthful, nutritionally rich, balanced meals. If you have ever traveled with a baby, you know what it's like to have to lug around tons of tiny jars of baby food. Bon Petit solves this problem as the baby food comes in freeze-dried packs that are liquid free, shelf stable and TSA compliant. They include whole food-based ingredients with protein, complex carbs, fiber and more. With options like Under the Sardinian Sea which contains Wild Dover Sole, Italian butter bean, oregano, tomato, olive oil and basil, tiny palates will be awakened.
Eat Your Veggies for Dessert: Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream
With flavors like mint chocolate chunk, cotton candy and strawberry, you may think that a scoop of Peekaboo Organic Ice Cream is just another sweet treat. But like most moms, founder Jessica Levison had a few tricks up her sleeve when she developed this line of ice cream that features secret spinach, cauliflower, beets and carrots in every bite. As a mom of picky eaters, Jessica knew first-hand what a struggle it was to get kids to eat enough vegetables. She put her ice cream skills to good use as the owner of Miami's Serendipity Creamery and developed this line of ice cream with hidden veggies. Look for it at a grocery store near you!
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: Real Food Blends
When Julie Bombacino, an Indiana mom of two, found out that her six-month-old baby boy would need a feeding tube, she didn’t just sit idle. She began researching and discovered quickly that nearly half a million people in the U.S. alone rely on feeding tubes. The tube formulas made her son very sick, and Bombacino knew there had to be a better way. She began to experiment with real foods, pureeing things like carrots, chicken and sweet potatoes, to put in his tube. It wasn’t long before AJ stopped vomiting and began to improve. That’s when Bombacino knew she could not only help her son, but thousands of people like him, and Real Food Blends was born. Designed for people with a feeding tube, Real Food Blends comes in six flavors and each one has just five to eight ingredients. There are no preservatives, corn syrup, dairy, soy or nuts. Not only is it made and manufactured in the U.S., but it is also covered by home health companies and insurance companies.
Eating the Best at Any Age: Harlow's Harvest and FarmBox Direct
Ashley Tyrner, founder of Farmbox Direct, and her 8-year old daughter Harlow, CEO of Harlow’s Harvest, are bringing families together through food. Farmbox Direct is a door-to-door service that brings the freshest vegetables and fruits directly from organic farms. Harlow, a self-proclaimed vegan since she was two years old, wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pass on what she has learned to bring the same quality product as FarmBox Direct to other kids in the hopes of them taking better control of their nutrition. She founded Harlow’s Harvest with Ashley so that parents and kids can make cooking together fun, interactive and educational. Harlow’s Harvest is a monthly subscription box that comes with recipe cards, a science project, background on the dish your child would be making and an online game they can play that is connected to that month’s theme.
Bonafide Provisions was founded in 2011 by Sharon Brown, mom and clinical nutritionist who used bone broth to heal her son’s chronic illness. After her son suffered through years of sinus infections, ear infections and respiratory infections that resulted in numerous rounds of antibiotics, Sharon knew there had to be another way to heal him. That's where Bonafide Provisions was born. Sharon started making bone broth in her home and it is now available to purchase online. Bone broth is rich in minerals, collagen, gelatin, amino acids and other nutrients which detoxifies the body and heals the gut and joints.
If you want to feed your baby the best, but time isn't on your side (we hear ya, Mom!), turn to Once Upon a Farm. Their organic, cold-pressed blends are designed to enhance kiddo's nutrition and expand her palate without YOU having to shop, chop, blend and puree. The ingredient list is simple (never anything artificial or processed). In fact, many of the ingredients are sourced from farms the company knows and trusts. If Once Upon a Farm's mission sounds familiar, you might have heard of this beloved brand from Co-Founder and Chief Brand Office, Jennifer Garner. Garner, along with mom Cassandra Curtis, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, are bringing farm fresh baby and kid food to high chairs everywhere. These two moms are making it their mission to become a leader in the organic family food space, fighting for and supporting efforts to drive positive social change and food justice for families.
Lauren Jupiter and Jordan Gaspar started AccelFoods to help smaller innovative food startups make it to mainstream, with a specific mission—insure a healthier future of food. They raised the $40M venture fund in just four years and have helped over 30 brands like Kidfresh (all-natural kids meals with hidden veggies), Rethink Water (kid-friendly flavored boxed water), and Brami (plant-based protein snacks) grow their businesses. Not only are these moms inventors and entrepreneurs, but they’re also helping other moms find success as well.
In 1998, Gail Elvidge co-founded Vermont Nut Free Chocolates after her son was diagnosed with a life-threatening nut allergy. It was difficult for her to find nut-free baking products, chocolates, sweets, and products, so she and her husband Mark started the company to help families like theirs! What started as a small chocolate company in Vermont, has grown to nearly 40 employees, offering products like trail mix, gift baskets, fudge, truffles, baking essentials, hot cocoa, and much more. The company is proud to offer 100% peanut and tree nut free gourmet chocolates and products for those with or without allergies to enjoy.
When Dietician Dr. Michelle Davenport became a first-time mom she wanted to find (and make) easy, simple meals for her new eater that were big on nutrition and hadn’t sat on a shelf for months (or years). So, she co-founded Raised Real, a subscription-based meal service designed specifically for growing babes featuring organic baby food. The company uses superfoods and nutritional expertise to create each recipe—each one integrates fruits, veggies and micronutrients that are crucial for a child’s early development. They are delivered in pre-portioned, ready-to-steam packages that cost less than $5 per meal. You can opt to have meals delivered every two or four weeks, and you can skip or cancel at anytime.
Have you been considering learning sign language but wondering how you and your family might benefit? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Sign language can support development in many areas and here’s how:
1. Sign Language Helps to Solidify One’s Deaf Identity
Do you have a Deaf child or anyone in your family who is Deaf? American Sign Language (ASL) is used throughout North America, and the sign language for each country is an integral part of its unique Deaf community. There is a rich culture and history surrounding sign language and it is an essential component to developing one’s Deaf identity. Sign allows for language to be accessible to deaf children from birth, providing the opportunity for them to acquire language, engage in learning, develop supportive relationships, and socialize on par with their hearing peers.
2. Sign Language Can Help to Bridge Two Spoken Languages & Lead to Trilingualism
Are you already a bilingual family? Once you speak two languages, it’s easier to learn a 3rd—your brain is wired for it. Sign language can also aid in bridging two spoken languages: when your child hears one parent or family member say “milk” and another say “leche” and each one signs it (in ASL, for example), the same sign connects and provides consistent meaning to the two different words. Meanwhile, a 3rd language is acquired!
3. Sign Language Helps to Clarify Word Approximations & Expand Vocabulary, While Also Giving a Real Language to Children Who Don’t Develop Speech
Do you need clarification because you can’t understand what your child is trying to say? It’s possible that they’re using words you might not expect from a young child, and asking for sign clarification can help. If your child is looking at flowers but saying something like “ggog”, perhaps the sign for ‘pretty’ would let you know that they picked up your descriptive use of the word ‘gorgeous!’ Or maybe they are saying “bah” for many things—distinct signs can let you know if your child is referring to a book, or the bath, a banana, or a bird… and that way they’re expanding their overall language use through sign. Additionally, some hearing children with disabilities may not develop speech, and ASL (or the local sign language where you live) can be essential as their primary expressive language.
4. Sign Language Can Help to Strengthen Motor Coordination & Support Literacy Skills
While these two things seem to be quite separate, there’s more connection than one may think. Crawling requires cross-lateral coordination which strengthens overall brain development. This type of movement and practice helps to solidify eye-hand coordination and spatial awareness, among other skills that are required in reading. Left or right-hand dominance develops here as well, leading to comfort with writing. Also, fingerspelling allows for practice in fine motor skills while providing opportunities for spelling and reading to emerge.
5. Sign Language Can Connect People in a Conversation from a Distance
Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could communicate with a neighbor through your window? Or with your kids from across the playground? If more people, Deaf and hearing, used sign language this would be an option! When my kids got too far away from me at the playground and fell down, they would either sign or respond to me signing with things like ‘hurt’, or ‘ok’, or ‘help.’ Signing also allows for clear communication in a noisy subway or a quiet library, rows apart in a theatre, giving instructions in a swim lesson, and more.
So how do you get started? There are many online resources, but it’s important to make sure they are reliable.We recommend learning from Deaf teachers and from teachers who are credentialed in Deaf education or otherwise experienced in this area. At Baby Fingers we offer programs in person and online with Deaf and hearing teachers who are active in the Deaf community and can provide additional resources to families, children, and students of any age.
Lora Heller is a music therapist, Deaf educator, and author of several sign language books for kids. She has also written for music therapy professional publications and national parenting magazines and is the on-line expert for various parenting programs including ParentsTV.com baby sign language videoseries. Lora founded Baby Fingers in 2000. www.mybabyfingers.com
They say it takes a village and thankfully our tribe of moms is constantly churning out ways to help each other navigate parenting. Whether it’s inventions to reduce the daily amount of laundry, wooden baby toys that help with development or revolutionary lunch boxes that make kids excited to eat, moms have got each other’s backs. Keep scrolling to see the best mom-invented products for kids and babies.
Multicultural Play: ISH Dolls
When mom Amanda Ealla wanted to find a way for her kids to celebrate their diverse culture, ISH Dolls was created. These colorful plush dolls are designed to bring joy to children of all backgrounds and to introduce them to the avatars found in Hindu culture. This mom-owned business launched at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 with their first plush, Baby Krishna, and followed up with his companions Shiva, Lakshmi, Rama, and Sita, who will soon be joined by Durga and Saraswati (launching summer 2021).
Their clothing is designed to showcase the beauty of the culture while also empowering little ones. The Devi Collection features the goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati with uplifting words that encourage positivity and self-expression.
Created by single adoptive mom Kayla Lupean, Play Maysie is a portable, customizable world in a case for the pint-sized bunch. Noted as “everything a dollhouse should be,” this toy is a gender-neutral classic childhood favorite that is made for adventures. Play Maysie’s design was inspired by the nostalgia of vintage tin lunchboxes. It folds out on both sides to showcase interchangeable, magnetic rooms with fixed wooden furniture—built for frustration free play, less mess and no more lost pieces! With an eye on teaching sustainability, each Play Maysie is made of eco-friendly, renewable materials for indoor and outdoor play either at home or on the go.
At the core of the company's mission, for every three Play Maysie cases purchased, they will donate another one to a child who is entering the foster care system. Their hope is, with an integral sense of ownership, foster youth can open their Play Maysie case at any time to create an experience where they feel safe, secure, and in control during a time where nearly everything in their world is unfamiliar.
When Sharmi Albrechtsen became frustrated trying to find educational and fun toys for her daughter in 2015, she took her experience in consumer education for STEM companies and took a leap. Seeing a world of opportunity to inspire interest in STEM-related subjects through coding, digital learning and tech, Albrechsten started SmartGurls, which later led to the creation of Smart Buddies. Using a tablet or smart phone, Smart Buddies programmable self-balancing scooters that kids code to do all sorts of actions, like zoom and spin. The introduction to coding further teaches kids to create sequences, loops, events, conditionals, functions, and variables and most importantly, get excited about STEM!
Cognitive Development for Every Age & Stage: Lovevery
Lovevery
Co-founder and CEO Jessica Rolph came up with the idea for Lovevery after reading a doctoral thesis on infant brain development. Also a founding partner at Happy Family, the mom of three wanted to nourish her baby's developing brain as much as his body. In response, she began making her own toys for cognitive development at each stage. Now, Lovevery offers subscription boxes with toys, tools and information that gives parents the confidence they are helping their kids learn and grow.
When Zahra Kassam learned that 85% of a child’s brain is formed by age three, before they even go to school, she knew that she had to do something, especially being a new parent herself. So, she created Monti Kids, the only program for children 0-3 that gives parents in-home access to the Montessori curriculum. Via an easy-to-use subscription service, parents receive eight levels of age-appropriate toys, delivered every three months, with free access to online classes, one-on-one support and a private community moderated by child development experts and Montessori.
It was during the morning-prep-for-school chaos when Jamie Montz came up with the idea for the Original Stretchlace. She had three boys all in different stages of learning to tie their shoes—the oldest still needed help re-lacing high tops, the middle was mastering tying (at a less-than-ideal pace) and the little one wanted to ditch the velcro for laces like his brothers. Oh boy! Jamie knew there had to be a better way so she scoured the market for elastic laces that looked good enough and instead she found elastic laces with locks, clips, clasps and boring colors. That wasn't going to cut it so the Original Stretchlace was born!
Melanie Hurley's girls were the motivation behind Piggy Paint, and they continue to inspire her daily. She started Piggy Paint when they were two and four as she was always concerned about the chemicals found in traditional nail polish. She started looking for a safer alternative and couldn’t find any. Thus, Piggy Paint was born! Piggy Paint is non-toxic, virtually odorless and free of all harsh, smelly chemicals. This water-based nail polish dries to a hard finish that doesn’t wash or peel off—cruelty-free, vegan and kid-friendly!
Reduce Your Laundry One Towel at a Time: My Buddy Towel
Angelyn Myers, mom of six, turned the idea for My Buddy Towel into a product in less than a year. The Original My “Buddy” Towel® was created out of frustration (as are many good products)! Her daughter would always use three towels after a bath and Angie was tired of the unnecessary towel laundry piling up. She turned to Google to hopefully buy a solution. There were hooded kids towels, or bath robes, but she had already tried those with no luck. Angie needed something with full coverage, high absorbency that covered the whole body. She had frog and pink flamingo prototypes made and her daughter has only used one towel ever since—The Original My “Buddy” Towel®.
Nancy Yen has over 15 years of experience bringing game-changing new products to market, with a focus in the kids and baby space. At Gap Inc. Nancy did merchandising and consumer insights, as well as supported the development of new store concepts (BabyGap Home). With an MBA from Stanford Business School, it’s no secret that she’s a savvy businesswoman. But when her own son, was a picky eater and underweight, she came up with possibly her best business idea yet! Searching for a lunchbox that could hold both hot and cold foods, she found there was nothing on the market—and OmieBox was born. It’s an innovative Bento-style food container that features separate temperature zones! You can find OmieBox at Amazon.com and the OmieLife website.
Toronto moms Anna Lozano and Lindy Sood started Love Powered Co. in 2017 with the goal of improving the lives of families. After successful business careers, both moms wanted to achieve a better work-life balance, and also create positive change in the world using tools for mindfulness and compassion. They just debuted the Love Powered Littles Box Set, a set of 22 affirmation cards to help children affirm their own greatness—I am loved, I am compassionate, I am kind—and six bonus cards to help parents in this positive journey. These cards reaffirm children’s natural brilliance, power, compassion and strength. And we are betting they are going to be healing for parents too.
Invented by an avid runner and working mother of three, Mary Tiffin created RunLites gloves and mittens because (like so many moms) she did most of her running and exercising at night and was frustrated by inefficient flashlights and headlamps. These gloves with built-in, rechargeable LED lights are comfortable, easy-to-wear and perfect for illuminating your path as you need it (and are also killer for helping you find stuff in the bottom of your giant purse). They are easy to spot and increase visibility dramatically. Tiffin also discovered that a glove with a built-in light added to her children’s visibility when walking at night or when waiting for the bus stop on winter mornings when it was still dark. They come in fingerless and full-gloved styles as well as mitten (and even a sling model for hotter months) and run from XS to larger sizes for adults and they even have a little pocket for you slide in cash and keys (We found the XS was a good fit for a child around 5 or 6, but it does depend on the size of your kiddo.). Prices range from $24.95 and up.
Inventor and mom Wendi Cooper will be the first to tell you: kids with dangling feet while going to the bathroom face a host of issues including pain and discomfort. Not to mention that many children experience constipation and without proper toilet posture, this can go from bad to worse. From numbness to difficulty pushing and strain, Wendi knew there was a better way and she knew she wanted to help. While there are plenty of bathroom footstools out there, this is the first of its kind to fit right up against any toilet and easily tucks away when not in use so it never gets in the way. It comes in four different colors and takes up barely any room compared to other clunky stools. It is “compact, cool and discreet.” Your kiddos can sit with proper toilet posture and relax, every time, just like nature intended. Retail price start at $26.99.
Ylleya Fields was reading to her oldest daughter when she was surprised at how few books were available that featured African American characters. In response, the mom of four girls and two boys began writing her own stories that blended the personalities and physical traits of her own daughters into a lovable character: Princess Cupcake Jones. Now, the author has five books in her series, with an interactive website that features downloadable activities and merchandise all dedicated to her main character.
Problem: Parents want their kids to have exposure to new and engaging books, but with so many new releases and busy, busy lives, they don’t always know what to choose (or have time to choose them). Solution: Literati Book Club, a subscription book service founded by two busy moms who wanted to make sure kids could get vetted, awesome new books delivered right to their door. Kelly Carroll teamed up with Jessica Ewing and started Literati Book Club. They work with top-educators and librarians to hand-pick five beautiful new books every month with a fun theme (science, friendship, adventure, history, etc.). You select the book club based on your kids' age and development (up to nine years old) and the books come each month. You have a week to read them, decide what you want to keep, and send the rest back. You are only charged for the ones you keep. We love Literati so much we recommended it in our gift guide this year.
Mownika Chawla was born in India, but shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Texas. She stayed connected to her Indian heritage while in TX, and after her first child was born, HAVA was created.
Growing up in Texas as an Indian-American wasn’t easy. I wasn’t surrounded by people that looked like me, that ate the foods we ate at our dining table and I didn’t see other moms that dressed like mine. I often found myself very self-conscious of being so different and ultimately, that feeling impacted the way I saw myself and the world around me. These were the experiences I reflected on when I became a mother. I wanted to make sure my kids were surrounded by the tools and resources that would help them embrace their unique identity as well as learn to appreciate the differences they saw in others.
The most rapid brain development occurs in the first five years of a child’s life, and especially in the first three. During this time, teaching children about cultures and communities other than their own, encourages curiosity and helps develop empathy. When we teach children to see themselves as citizens of the world, we are doing our part in raising a stronger generation with greater respect and openness towards one another with a hope that as they grow, they see themselves bound together as a global community.
Since it’s not always possible to take kids out into the world to experience every community first hand, we rely on tools to bring the world to them. Different cultures can be explored through the clothes we wear, the foods we eat, the books we read, the languages we speak and even by way of observing our own and new traditions. We are living in an unprecedented time of conscious parenting and because of that, there are more resources available than ever before to support our parenting to us in doing so.
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Mila Dress - Indian Garden
Organic Cotton Dress
$39.95
Featuring a wrap silhouette, this timeless, pint-size Mila day to night dress is as versatile as it is adorable. This organic dress is bound to be a favorite for moms and their littles.
Inspired by full-grown formal wear, scaled down for little Saturday adventures and family gatherings alike.This GOTS certified organic vest is a wonderful way to brighten up your child's wardrobe.
In this charming story of friendship and celebrating differences, young readers can discover how entering a new friendship with an open mind and sharing parts of yourself brings people together. And the calendar of holidays at the end of the book will delight children as they identify special events they can celebrate with friends throughout the year
This Is Our World, written by Tracey Turner, is a colorful celebration of our planet’s cultural and environmental diversity―an unforgettable journey that brings the people, customs, and wildlife of 20 places around the world vividly to life for young readers. Our guides are children who tell us about the animals, plants, and weather that they encounter; the feasts and festivals they enjoy; and the clothes they wear, the way they learn, the languages they speak, and the sports and games they play
Absolutely EVERYONE brings sandwiches for lunch. No matter how much they love their home-cooked Indian food, Neeva and Nimi couldn't possibly pack something different in their lunchboxes . . . or could they? In this yummy tale of food around the world, one group of friends finds out how delicious diverse food can be! Food is a fun way to introduce different cultures to your child. Check out @thechutneylife and @lovelaughmirch on Instagram for delicious recipes for the whole family!
Hearing languages spoken by a native speaker is invaluable in creating a foundation for our littles. This starter set is the perfect entry into Habbi Habbi's world of bilingual learning, offering a mix of Word, Phrase and Sentence books from their collection. Every inch of their books is tappable, bringing each page to life with sound and music. Language learning has never been so playful and fun! We use the Spanish starter set with our 7-month-old and 3-year-old and they both love it!
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages For more wonderful book and activity recommendations check out @shelvesofcolor on Instagram.
Handling the game blocks facilitates the knowledge of the different family models that exist today. The game encourages respect for diversity through the verbalization of the different types of families.
Discover fun-filled games that Australians play on Australia Day with their family and friends. Explore a different dialect and learn new and unique words from Australia. Build early language skills, geographical awareness, and promote global understanding with these teaching tools in our box!
Orboot Globe + app takes your child on an augmented reality based journey around the world. Fun. Interactive. Educational. Learn Geography, History, Environmental Science, and more. Theres so much to learn with this globe, you'll be learning along side your child!
As a parent, ensuring your growing toddler properly develops in all aspects of life is likely a top priority. However, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with all the things you’re supposed to do to give toddlers the best foundation. This period of a child’s life is important as 85% of brain growth occurs in the first three years. Here are several ways to ensure your child engages in activities and habits that will simultaneously foster their brain health and development.
Regular Reading: One of the best ways to build language and literacy skills prior to your child reading on their own is reading to them on a regular basis. This will promote early vocabulary and listening skills that will, in turn, predict later success in reading and other school subjects. Books that are best bets at this age have engaging, imaginative illustrations and help develop basic language and number concepts. Let your child help pick out books they’re interested in will make it more fun.
Action Toys: Anything toddlers can ride on, push, pull, or use in motion helps them practice motor skills and coordination—and burns off some of their boundless energy. Consider toys such as wagons, pedal-free bikes, strollers, play grocery carts, pull toys, plastic bowling sets, pounding and hammering toys, and large and small balls.
Get Outside: Research has shown that children who spend time outdoors are more physically active, more creative in their play, less physically aggressive, and show better concentration. Exposure to nature also plants the seeds early for becoming more eco-sensitive later in life.
Try a big net for catching bugs or minnows, toys for outdoor play (such as balls), a sandbox and sand toys (shovels, dump trucks), and gardening tools (like a child-size rake and watering can).
Plan Some Playdates: Playing with other children is a great way to help your child learn social skills, but it is also great for helping them learn to make decisions and to work in a group or in parallel with another person. These types of interactions now are setting the stage for your child being able to master higher-level cognitive tasks later in life, so the more practice they can get when they are young, the better.
Make Believe: Pretend play is fun for your toddler and great for helping them develop the skills for sequencing, storytelling, and logic. Encourage your child to engage in pretend play by prompting them with ideas, like “Let’s pretend we are pirates…” and have your child act out what you both should say. You can also pretend to play with dolls or action figures, and ask your child to tell you a story about what is happening.
In addition to traditional toys and activities, nutrition also goes hand-in-hand with fostering healthy brain and cognitive development. Poor nutrition during your toddler’s pivotal years of growth can have negative long-lasting effects, so it’s important for parents to regularly consider their child’s food intake. Try some of these food-focused tips:
Grocery Shopping/Meal Preparation: Involving your toddler in grocery shopping and meal preparation are additional ways to encourage incorporating healthy foods into their diet while expanding their awareness of smart food choices. Directing them to the produce aisle to pick out fruits and veggies is also a great way to teach colors and counting.
Smart Snacking: Children love snack time but providing the proper food options is important to ensure your toddler receives nutrients they need. Often during the younger years, toddlers are picky and require additional attention when trying new foods. In this case, opt for incorporating a toddler nutrition drink like Enfagrow Toddler Nutritional Drink Powder. It’s made with real milk and has nutrients like DHA (Docosahexanoic Acid) which is an important omega-3 fatty acid and a building block of the brain, as well as vitamin D and iron. Mix with water or add one scoop to recipes such as muffins, pancakes, and smoothies to easily deliver nutrients important for your toddler’s growth, brain and immune health.
A research neuroscientist and expert in nutrition, diet and addiction. Dr. Avena is an Asst. Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai Medical School in NYC. She is the author of several books, including Why Diets Fail, What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, and What to Feed Your Baby & Toddler.
