9 First Board Games for Toddlers That Aren’t Memory Games

by Candace NagyFebruary 23, 2022

Board games are a nostalgic activity that brings families together in a way that technology just can’t compete with. You may have fond childhood memories of playing Chutes and Ladders or Monopoly with your siblings and best friends, and now that you’re a parent, you can’t wait to play them with your child.

Because many of our favorites are a bit too advanced for our littlest players, we’ve come up with a list of introductory board games that will help your toddler build the skills needed for tackling trickier games that the whole family can play together.

(Note: While these board games are geared toward toddlers, we strongly recommend joining in the fun and keeping an eye on pieces your child might try to taste!)

Best Games for Getting the Wiggles Out

Monkey Around

$19 BUY NOW

This game is all about getting toddlers moving (balance, hop, march!) while learning about spatial concepts, developing coordination (catch the banana!), and building listening skills.

Ready Set Discover Twister Shapes Game

$20 BUY NOW

Your toddler’s little limbs will love this mini version of the original Twister game you grew up playing! Ready Set Discover Twister Shapes Game will help them learn the concept of taking turns, while the bright colors and fun stars, triangles, squares, and circles will help them learn and recognize colors and shapes.

Best Games for Building Fine Motor Skills

Lewo Colored Stacking Game Wooden Building Blocks

$20 BUY NOW

The Lewo Colored Stacking Game is just like Jenga but with colorful blocks and cute baby animal faces. Toddlers will put their fine motor skills to the test using the little hammer to try to move the pieces without knocking over the tower—though we think watching the tower tumble to the ground may just be the best part!

Aitey Wooden Magnetic Fishing Game

$23 BUY NOW

Toddlers will have a blast stacking, fishing, lacing, and balancing in Aitey’s Fishing Game! And if all the skills your child will be learning and practicing aren’t reason enough to love this game, we know you’ll appreciate its eco-friendly materials. $19.99

Best STEM Games

VATOS Board Magnetic Kids Game

$20 BUY NOW

VATOS Board Magnetic Kids Game will help even the littlest tots build their math and engineering skills while stacking magnetic pieces into colorful patterns. $19.99

Play Brainy Shape and Color Matching Puzzle Game

$15 BUY NOW

Play Brainy’s Fun Color & Shape Game is a great way to get your toddler’s cognitive thinking skills in gear. Once they understand the concepts, they can play on their own (hooray!).

Best Cooperation & Community Games

Peaceable Kingdom Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game Emotional Development Cooperative Game for Kids

$18 BUY NOW

Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game takes a simple matching game to a new level with social-emotional concepts that teach toddlers empathy and compassion while helping friends and neighbors they encounter along the way. And there’s no competition or winner in this game—just FUN!

Daniel Tiger's Welcome to Mainstreet

$14 BUY NOW

Toddlers will enjoy interacting with their favorite PBS characters as they make their way through town in Daniel Tiger’s Welcome to Mainstreet—all while building essential social, counting, and coordination skills.

Richard Scarry's Busytown, Eye Found It

$28 BUY NOW

We couldn’t end our list without a trip down memory lane! Who didn’t grow up loving Richard Scarry's books? The Richard Scarry Busytown Eye Found It board game may have simple, easy-to-follow instructions, but toddlers will be challenged to use their matching and attention skills while they race across town finding hidden objects and solving mysteries.

—Candace Nagy

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Study Uncovers What’s Helping Kids with Pandemic Loss of Social Interaction: Dolls

by Karly WoodFebruary 8, 2022

Barbie has been hard at work as usual. In a new press release, Mattel announced that she has partnered with a team of neuroscientists at Cardiff University on a multi-year study on the developmental impacts of doll play and that the latest findings are now ready. The study has some interesting information on just what exactly kids say while playing and its relation to playing with dolls and understanding emotions.

Published in Developmental Science and titled Doll Play Prompts Social Thinking and Social Talking: Representations of Internal State Language in the Brain, researchers used state-of-the-art functional, near-infrared spectroscopy equipment to examine brain activity while kids played with dolls and on tablets. They found that children used internal state language (ISL)––talking about others’ thoughts and emotions––more when playing with dolls than when playing on a tablet. So why is that important?

Researcher Dr. Sarah Gerson believes that “When children create imaginary worlds and role play with dolls, they communicate at first out loud and then internalize the message about others’ thoughts, emotions and feelings. This can have positive long-lasting effects on children, such as driving higher rates of social and emotional processing and building social skills like empathy that can become internalized to build and form lifelong habits.”

Using ISL allows kids to hone their social skills with real people, resulting in strong emotional development as they mature. Since children were so strongly impacted during the pandemic when it comes to interacting with peers, the researchers at Cardiff University assert that doll play provide a necessary outlet for kids to practice skills, scenes and interactions that can be used in real-life.

“Internal state language can indicate that a child is thinking about other people’s thoughts and emotions while playing with dolls. These skills are really important for interacting with other people, learning from other people, and navigating a variety of social situations. It becomes important for making and sustaining friendships, and how they learn from their teachers, and parents,” says Gerson.

Looks like it’s time to grab the box of Barbies and get all the kiddos playing. The research suggested that the study findings are gender neutral and that doll play is critical for everyone.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Mattel

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6 Actionable Ways to Celebrate Black History Month, Every Day

by Mimi NarteyJanuary 28, 2022

Black History Month is upon us, and while it’s a time to learn about the experiences and contributions of people of African descent in the US, it’s just as important to be mindful about how we teach our children this history. It’s our job as parents to nurture and defend our children’s natural instinct to love, and that includes being deliberate in how we introduce and sustain conversations about social justice toward any group. But how do we make sure we’re doing just that? Conveying Black history in ways that are both fun and age-appropriate can help kids appreciate how diversity makes our society both more rich and resilient. Here are six ways to celebrate Black History Month with purpose.

1. Make sure the information that you share about social injustice is developmentally appropriate

For children under nine years old in particular, we want to limit exposure to content that is excessively violent or that can create a social hierarchy in their minds. As described in Race, Class, and Parenting: 5 Strategies for Discussing Social Injustice with Your Children, age is not a reason or excuse to avoid conversations on injustice; age and psycho-emotional development are crucial considerations when deciding what to discuss and how to share.

Use common sense to discern what kind of language or details you should use to discuss historic injustice—especially violent acts of injustice and hate crimes. We can and should communicate that people were and are sometimes treated in unfair and inhumane ways without traumatizing our young children with graphic details.

2. Realize that it is more important to condemn the oppression than to describe it

Charlotte Hawkins Brown, National Museum of American History, Washington DC — Laura Green

With children that are old enough, we need to make sure that there is a correlation between how much detail we share about racist oppression and how much we explore the psychology of the oppressor. If you do not feel that your child is old enough or sophisticated enough to reckon with the depraved motivations of slaveholders, then they may not be ready to be exposed to the explicit details of the practices on plantations.

Many Black history stories are curiously missing an antagonist. We risk inadvertently laying blame on the victim when we do not identify and condemn the abuser. Avoid content that describes institutionalized racism in the passive voice. For example, Harriet Tubman was not a slave. The Brodess family enslaved Harriet Tubman. Reframing these conversations in this way creates accountability for these crimes against humanity, which is the most critical step towards justice.

3. Make sure to give broader context for systemic bias against Black people

There are many historical examples of systemic bias and oppression throughout the world. Make sure your children are aware that suffering and enslavement are not unique to Black people. If we fail to contextualize the enslavement and segregation of black people, we unintentionally dehumanize this population.

Many children are taught about the oppression of Black people long before they are taught about the oppression experienced by any other community. The goal is not to incite pity for Black people; it is to illuminate the universal problems associated with systemic injustice. Ultimately, we want our children to understand Black history in order to recognize and combat injustice against any individual or group.

4. Do not ignore the diversity and complexity of the Black experience

Truthfully, there is no singular “Black experience.” It is inherently problematic to make skin color the singular unifying factor in the historical experiences of groups of people. The African diaspora spans the globe. People with dark skin exist everywhere, and the historical context of their arrival at their respective locations is completely different for different groups of people and individuals.

Do not collapse Black history education into the U.S. slavery to civil rights narrative, as is often practiced.

The Black experience is diverse, complex, evolving, and ongoing. Black history started long before the slave trade. It encompasses people of all religions, socio-economic levels, and political persuasions. If you fail to teach your children to grapple with this complexity, they may default to stereotyping. During Black History Month, be sure to include conversations about a variety of black people living in America, including LGBTQ individuals, differently-abled Black Americans, recent immigrants, and women.

5. Make Black history relatable by focusing on shared interests and experiences

Focus on teaching about the contributions and experiences of Black Americans that naturally align with your child’s interests. For example, if your child is very interested in space or astrophysics, you could look for biographies on Mae Jemison or Neil deGrasse Tyson.

If you have a little foodie, try sampling or cooking foods from the African diaspora like soul food or Caribbean food. If you have an actor, musician, poet or inventor, expose them to Sydney Poitier, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, or Garrett Morgan.

Black history month is a unique opportunity to cultivate authentic respect for and identification with Black American culture. Take advantage of the surge of content that is available this month to help your children see that there is more that unites us than divides us.

6. Make sure to continue Black history and social justice education year-round

Dedicating the shortest calendar month of the year to acknowledging the experiences and contributions of Black people is inherently problematic. In an equitable circumstance, academic curriculums would reflect the experiences and influences of all people seamlessly. If our textbooks were accurate and inclusive, we would learn about the contributions of African American engineers during our engineering unit—not just during Black History Month.

In this way, Black History Month is a cultural institution that may contradict or subvert its own intended goal. It absolves our schools, teachers, and society from the responsibility to integrate people of color during the rest of the year, but we can remedy this within our own homes.

Make sure to integrate conversations and history lessons about Black people all year so that your children will know that diversity appreciation and the mission of social justice are a lifestyle, not a novelty.

– Mimi Nartey

featured image: Adobe Stock

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This L.A. School Network is Revolutionizing the Way Students Learn

by Marianella OrlandoJanuary 3, 2022

Education is evolving. It’s no longer just about learning how to read, solving equations, and taking tests. Today, students are immersed in the realm of diversity, inclusivity and community. They’re encouraged to be proud and accepting of themselves, while also learning to work with others across lines of difference. They’re taught how to become a well-rounded person through social-emotional learning and mindfulness, while also being immersed in art, music and STEM that enrich a whole child.

This holistic approach to education is what Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWC) Los Angeles, a tuition-free, non-denominational school, is currently cultivating for its students in grades TK (transitional kindergarten) to 8. Through its progressive education model, CWC is developing its students’ abilities, confidence and sense of responsibility for themselves and their community—while also holistically preparing students to succeed in their next educational journey.

In 2010, CWC initially launched by opening the doors to its first campus in Hollywood. Due to the school’s impressive results and overwhelming community demand, it expanded to the neighborhoods of Silver Lake (2012), Mar Vista (2013), and most recently, the West Valley (2020) and East Valley (2021) communities of the San Fernando Valley.

*Photo Credit: Citizens of the World Charter Schools*

Today, CWC can proudly say that it is the largest public charter network in L.A. committed to serving a socioeconomically and racially diverse student body. In addition to its middle schools serving its Mar Vista, Hollywood and Silver Lake campuses, CWC plans to expand even further in the next few years, by opening another middle school for its elementary school students in the San Fernando Valley.

Over the last decade, CWC has cultivated a robust curriculum. It blends critical thinking, cognitive skills and creativity with its key fundamentals of academic excellence, diversity and community. While students are still required to partake in standardized tests and core subjects (math, reading and writing) the program places a large emphasis on art, music, physical education, social-emotional development and project-based learning.

As a result, CWC schools have consistently ranked at the top of LAUSD schools in terms of test performance, with students going on to attend the top L.A. high schools.

Its staff, faculty and teachers believe that its holistic approach can help prepare future leaders in a rapidly changing global society. “We are preparing our students to emerge as a new generation of leaders—as trailblazers who are ready to tackle the future challenges in our world and surpass the conceived limitations of what students, communities, parents, and schools can achieve in the world,” says Jennifer Mansfield, founding Principal of CWC West Valley.

*Photo Credit: Citizens of the World Charter Schools*

CWC’s learning model is also unique, from constructivist and culturally relevant to data-driven and project-based. At the beginning of the school year, teachers draft detailed assessments of each child, which are then revisited numerous times throughout the year. This helps keep students on track to excel but also pinpoints areas that may need additional attention.

CWC schools also tout low student-to-teacher ratios, with a teacher assistant in every classroom for grades TK-5. All 6-8 grade classrooms are kept to a maximum of 28 total students. CWC’s smaller classrooms help ensure that all children are given the proper attention and resources to aid in their success, continued growth and development. With balanced classroom sizes, teachers are able to get to know each child as an individual.

Enroll now, or apply for free, to join Citizens of the World Charter Schools for the 2022-2023 school year. All residents of California are eligible to apply and will not be charged a fee, as CWC is a public charter school. To stay up-to-date on CWC and learn more about the school, join the interest list here.

Twindemic Tips: How to Handle the Winter Flu & COVID

By Goddard School

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

November 9, 2021

In the U.S., flu season is typically October through May, with peak flu activity from December to March. This is a familiar cycle parents navigate with their kids annually. However, this season of sniffles might be a little different, with the possibility of what experts are calling a “twindemic,” the combination of a severe flu season alongside COVID-19.

While parents may understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the flu, it can be difficult to find the right words to explain such precautions to young kids. Thankfully, it is doable!

Here are three tips from The Goddard School’s team of early childhood health and education experts to help keep these discussions cheerful, along with six indoor activities to make quarantine time fun, engaging and educational:

1. Make Healthy Habits Fun

Remind your child that handwashing is a great way to stay healthy, clean and safe. Have them scrub their hands to the tune of “Happy Birthday” to ensure proper timing. Washing hands as a group makes for additional fun.
Teach kids about keeping themselves and each other safe. Share guidelines about wearing masks and social distancing. This may mean that the “big kids” (older than 2-years-old) should wear masks if they are able. Coach them on how close or far apart to sit when indoors or outdoors. Make it a game by having kids help set up chairs in the appropriate arrangement. For some added imagination, throw a few blankets over the chairs to create a fun and socially distanced fort!

2. Talk about Quarantine

Quarantine can be a tough concept for young children to grasp. Remind them that sometimes teachers and friends might need to stay home to get better. And if someone in your family gets sick, explain to your child why that person is staying home. While it may be a given for you, help tie the two things together for them.
Ensure the conversations are easy for young children to understand. Simply explain that staying home gives them a chance to rest and get well enough to be reunited with their friends.
Above all, keep conversations with kids about illness, COVID-19, quarantine and the like upbeat and foster a feeling of safety and protection.

3. Teach Your Child to Be Honest about How They’re Feeling

Kids may want to stay silent if they don’t feel well to avoid getting sent home and be away from their friends. Who can blame them? It’s helpful to point out that going home sooner may help them feel better faster while lessening the chance of their friends getting sick.
It’s important to teach kids there’s no shame in feeling sick and help them feel comfortable telling teachers or other grown-ups. Be sure to keep the mood supportive and nurturing. This will help them open up, and in the long run, help everyone have less of a chance of getting sick.

4. Keep Young Minds Engaged with Indoor Activities

Whether homebound due to quarantine or just stuck inside on a cold afternoon, here are six indoor activities to keep your little one entertained while supporting their learning:

Puzzles: Puzzles are a great way to learn how to solve a problem. As your child works on puzzles, they develop self-regulation and concentration. Kids can also make their own by gluing pictures on paper and then cutting the paper into 6-12 pieces.

Cooking: Follow a recipe or create your own! Have your child engage in planning, collecting the ingredients and tools, measuring and mixing. All these activities support math, science and execution function skills such as planning and organizing. Most of all, it’s a fun way to connect with your child and enjoy what you made.

Fun Science: Simple science experiments can be a fun way to your child. For example, try the classic volcano. It’s messy but a lot of fun! To start, cover a soda can or bottle with paper and clay, leaving a hole at the top. Let the clay dry. Add about one cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of dish soap into the can. Wrap a tablespoon of baking soda in a bit of paper towel and push it into the can. When the paper breaks down, the volcano will erupt!

Child Games: Learning to take turns, counting and vocabulary development are just some of the skills kids build when playing simple board games. Get out the classics such as Candy Land, UNO for Juniors and Chutes and Ladders, and prepare for lots of giggles. You can also play games such as Under the Cups or Simon Says. Under the Cups is simple—as your child watches, place one bean under one of three cups. Move the cups around. Can your child guess where the bean is?

Creative Fun: Get out the art supplies and let your child create. You can add to the fun with special projects such as building a tower challenge (who can go the highest without it falling) or sending secret messages on paper. Your child can write a message in white crayon on paper. Then use watercolor paint and brush on the paper. Surprise, the message is revealed!

Reading: Reading together is very powerful. The experience strengthens the bond with your kids, builds their vocabulary and language skills, supports brain development, teaches life lessons 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.

Here are a few book suggestions from Goddard’s Life Lesson Library that are designed to support emotional development and inspire on indoor days:

Infants—Toddlers:

I Like Myself! By Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow
Corduroy by Don Freeman
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Preschoolers—Kindergarteners:

The Rabbit Listened by Cory Doerrfeld
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

Goddard School

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

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.

Why Being an Animal Lover Matters (According to Experts)

by Leah R. SingerSeptember 22, 2021

Almost every kiddo wants to cuddle a cute puppy or purring kitten, but being an animal lover is more than simply caring for a family pet. Teaching little ones to appreciate and love animals is beneficial for social and emotional growth, and experts agree that when kids are animal lovers, they have increased compassion and empathy and a stronger sense of responsibility. Here are five reasons you should teach your kids to appreciate their furry friends.

Being an Animal Lover Builds Empathy

Kids who are compassionate toward animals tend to be more sensitive and caring. Patty Born Selly, Executive Director of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, believes children who are caring toward animals develop stronger empathy with people. She also notes that "As children have experiences with animals, they learn about differences and similarities and needs (such as for food, shelter, water and space)," which can also lead to more positive classroom relationships and peer interactions.

Being an Animal Lover Increases Self-Confidence

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, kids that are raised to love animals will see an increase in their self-esteem. When kiddos develop positive feelings about animals, such as their pets, they become more self-confident. In addition, "Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion, and empathy."

Being an Animal Lover Fosters Leadership in Kids

Whether it’s a dog or a rabbit, when kids are asked to take care of their animals, they become a significant part of that animal’s life. According to Sara McCarty, Editor of Run Wild My Child, these tasks help kids take responsibility and ownership. "Aside from building great memories, having a pet in the house or growing up around animals serves some pretty incredible purposes when it comes to the emotional development and even physical health of kids," said McCarty. For example, Fido relies on your little one to give him water or play fetch. All those care-taking skills that require a child to provide for someone else help to make strong leaders.

Being an Animal Lover Helps Kids Become Nurturers

Nurturing and caring for others is a skill that’s learned and needs to be practiced. Kids love to be helpers, so taking care of animals is a great way to nurture that instinct and practice the art of caring. According to Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian with VetStreet, as kids become more intuitive and nurturing toward animals, they become more compassionate and generous. "As a veterinarian and lifelong animal lover, I think one of the most important things you can do for your children or grandchildren (or, really, any child you know!) is to nurture a love of animals," said Becker. He believes and has seen in his many years working with kids and pets, that as kids grow older, they want to help animals, and as they do, they practice compassion and generosity. Eventually, kids will start using those emotions and characteristics toward caring for younger siblings, other kids and peers. "If you doubt me about how much children want to help, start asking kids what they want to be when they grow up. A veterinarian is a very, very common answer!"

Being an Animal Lover Helps Kids Stay Healthy

Not only do kids who love animals develop social and emotional skills, but they also tend to be healthier. According to David Meyer, founder of Adopt-a-Pet, playing with dogs lowers blood pressure, keeps kids active and helps promote fitness by getting little ones outside in nature. Additionally, Dr. Ruth MacPete, a veterinarian with Pet Health Network, mentions a study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison that found kids who regularly interact with pets have less risk of developing common allergies and asthma. "Infants that grow up with pets are less likely to develop asthma and allergies," said MacPete. "[The study] evaluated blood samples from infants after birth and then on their first birthday to look for changes in their immune system or evidence of allergic reactions. The research supported previous studies that have shown that allergies, eczema and asthma occur less frequently in children with pets." She also notes that animals have been proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression, autism, ADD and other psychological issues.

—Leah R. Singer

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7 Fun Outdoor Learning Activities for Young Kids

By Goddard School

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 24, 2021

Photo: Phil Goodwin on Unsplash

I recently did an interview to share insight into the benefits of summer learning and the positive impact it will have on a young child’s social-emotional development. I was joined by Dr. Helen Hadani, an expert in early childhood and creativity development, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and member of The Goddard School Educational Advisory Board.

We talked about the value of outdoor play and highlighted research that proves that this type of play builds and promotes children’s confidence, resilience and executive function skills. These skills include planning and flexible thinking; things that children will take into their adult lives. Outdoor play also has long-term health benefits. Discovering nature and other exploratory outdoor activities support gross motor skills (balance, coordination and agility), impact muscle strength and heart health and provide opportunities to develop senses of sight, hearing, touch and smell.

With such important skills that can come from outdoor play, my colleagues at The Goddard School recommend these seven easy activities to enjoy in the summer sun and the benefits of each:

1. Play in the water. Turn on the sprinklers. Blow up an inflatable pool. Break out a bucket of soapy water and the hose and make a toy car wash. Your little ones will love dunking their toys into the bubbles and spraying them clean. Sing a song as you play in the water to describe what your child is doing. Try singing “Here we are playing in the water” to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.” Water is great for sensory play and observing the bubbles is fun for your young scientists. Singing and talking while playing are terrific for early language development.

2. Let your child help. Children love to help, so why not enlist them to help water your flowers? Fill a watering can and show them how to water the garden. Tap into your child’s natural curiosity by asking why plants need water or what helps plants grow. Allowing children to assist with simple tasks helps them acquire valued skills and feelings of personal empowerment, self-worth and belonging.
3. Go for a walk. Ask your child to point to what they are seeing and talk to them about it. Your descriptions of the items will help them learn about nature while building language skills. Children also learn by observing and experiencing new things, so help them pick up flowers, leaves, stones and sticks and feel the textures of the different items. Being able to touch and feel in the outdoors is also the best way to spark creativity.

4. Conduct science experiments. Get out some ice cubes and watch them melt while asking your child to describe what’s happening. Or place ice cream in a sealed plastic bag and have your child play with it until it melts. Remember to talk to your child about what they’re seeing and repeat the activities a few times. Repetition supports learning and recognition.

5. Let kids get messy. Messy art projects are perfect for the outdoors. Using finger paints and paper, encourage your child to use his or her feet and hands to create a design. Or let your child get their hands really dirty by making mud pies. Creating a make-believe outdoor kitchen where children can “bake” muddy delights is always a big hit. Getting messy is one of the best ways for children to learn science. Bonus: Use the hose to clean while enjoying even more water play. Jumping over the hose spray is a great gross motor activity!

6. Set up an outdoor obstacle course. Using big cardboard boxes, blankets draped over a chair and favorite toys, create an obstacle course. Your child can explore going in, under and around the items. Give simple directions such as “roll the ball into the box” or “let’s have Teddy go through the hoop.” Your child will build language and listening skills as well as work on gross motor development.

7. Play with bubbles. Bubbles are just plain fun for children and adults. Kick bubble-play up a notch with some experiments. Get your child’s hands wet, blow bubbles onto their palms and listen to them squeal with delight when the bubbles don’t pop. Bubbles help young children strengthen muscles and develop gross motor skills.

Summer is a great time for outdoor play with your little one, and these activities will ensure that your child experiences a memorable summer full of learning and fun.

— Dennis R. Maple is Chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, Inc., the franchisor of The Goddard School, and the proud father of two beautiful, grown children. Dennis is passionate about educating our nation’s young people. He comes from a family of educators and has spent a significant portion of his career supporting the K-12 community.

Goddard School

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

7 Simple Health Hacks for Families

By Kara Reynolds

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 23, 2021

Photo: National Cancer Institute via Unsplash

Whether you’re looking for brand new ways to improve your family’s health or you’re already a healthy bunch, it’s never too early or too late to add some new ideas into your repertoire. Health is a journey, and different techniques will work for different people and families better than others. Whether you have little ones who are hardly old enough to toddle or you’re chasing after growing tweens and teens, getting healthy is all about finding the methods that work for all of you.

There are so many health hacks out there for those interested in living a more conscious life, whatever that looks like in your household. While of course, if you find yourself or any of your kids in a medical quandary or serious emergency, you should head to the doctor’s office or hospital immediately, there’s no reason why you can’t use little tips and tricks to improve your health before that happens! If you’re on the hunt for the best hacks around, here are some amazing ways you can make room for a little more healthy living in your family.

1. Go On Walks Together

Going on walks is one of the best ways to get in a bit of exercise while you spend quality time together. Since it’s a fun and leisurely activity, you almost don’t think of it as exercise, even though it definitely is. While you give your mind a break, you can also move your body and get some sunlight.

2. Always Eat Breakfast

It can sometimes be tempting to skip breakfast, especially if you tend to be busy often and the whole family is running out the door in the mornings. However, eating breakfast can be more beneficial than meets the eye—in fact, eating a healthy breakfast encourages more balanced choices throughout the rest of the day. So even if you eat something small, this one is a hack that can go far.

3. Freeze Your Fruits & Veggies

For another money-saving and waste-cutting hack, this food trick is one of the best out there! If your family doesn’t always finish the foods you bring into the house, you don’t need to let them go to waste. In fact, you can simply save fresh produce for later by sticking them in the freezer. Simply cook up those veggies later and blend up the fruit for smoothies, and you can save both money and food!

4. Always Bring Snacks

Sometimes you don’t know when hunger is going to hit you, and that especially goes for kids! Rather than searching for junk food when you’re out and chowing down on snacks with sugar and preservatives, you can pack snacks to keep on you when you go out so you—and the kids—don’t go hungry or looking for junk food snacks.

5. Stay Hydrated

Just like keeping snacks on you so you and the kids don’t need to worry about finding junk food when you’re out, it’s also important to keep a water bottle on you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Water keeps you energized and feeling good in your body, so you shouldn’t forget to drink your water every day!

6. Make Time for Meditation

Meditation is a great way to take care of your mental health as a family. While some people do not realize that kids can meditate and benefit greatly from the process, teaching kids to meditate early on can aid in emotional development, communication and mental health—notably, the same benefits that most adults see, too. Even if you just carve out five minutes each day, meditating can be a great habit for your family.

8. Get On a Sleep Schedule

If you have kids in your house, you’re likely well aware of the kind of sleep that they need to grow and function. But everybody needs sleep—parents, kids and teens alike. Ideally, you should be getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, and one of the best ways to do that is by getting on a sleep schedule. Yes, a set bedtime for you and the kids!

Health Hacks for Your Family

There are so many ways to feel a bit healthier in your household, and it’s all about finding the ones that work with you and running with them. From freezing fruits and veggies to developing healthy sleep habits, there are so many choices for turning your home into a healthy space for everyone there. Do you have any favorite health tips you swear by?

Kara Reynolds

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine. A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures. She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time.

Want to Connect With Your Child? Try Technology

By Jamie Edelbrock

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 16, 2021

Photo: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

Xbox. Nintendo Switch. PlayStation. Netflix. YouTube. TikTok. Snapchat…Those are all words (and sometimes used as verbs in the case of Snapchat) we are used to hearing in my house because we have teenage and pre-teen children. Those words used to fill me with anxiousness because most of the time, it meant my kids had their eyes glued to a screen, and I worried they were turning into zombies while connecting to a world that I knew very little about. Not to mention connecting in a world that is technologically and socially a much different landscape than when my husband and I grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Naturally, as a parent, I became concerned about too much screen time, online safety, cyberbullies, stalkers, inappropriate interactions, terrible images, and more. In my mind, technology quickly became the enemy.

To ease my anxiousness and squash my concerns, I gave my children a long list of rules, screen time restrictions and monitored everything they did online. I thought my restrictions would help our family connect more because of their time limits. Let me be clear, my intentions were pure, and it is crucial to protect your children online, but my plan was causing nothing but resentment and disconnection.

I’ve always known that connecting with my children is a critical part of their social and emotional development. One of my favorite quotes is from a Kids In The House video. In the video, ADHD specialist and Author Edward Hallowell, MD, EdD, says, “By far, the most powerful force in life for development, joy, confidence, health; is the force of connection. At its most distilled, we call it love. I think that the bond between parent and child is the single strongest emotion in all of human existence. Then it spreads out into what I call a connected childhood. It is the greatest gift you can give your child.”

With connection on my heart, I continued trying to connect with my children in various ways. We would bake cookies, create crafts, go on walks, but often they would get bored, and often as soon as we would finish spending a moment together, they would head right back to technology. I was left wondering why we didn’t feel more connected, so I started researching.

An article I found on Child Development Info says, “Try not to seem judgmental about their hobbies. If your kids aren’t hurting anyone, you shouldn’t be concerned. If they start to feel that you don’t appreciate what they love, they’ll start to push you further away.”

Wait, were my best intentions causing my children to push me away? That was the last thing I wanted. Was my own experience growing up with little to no technology creating an unconscious bias in my mind about how they should grow up? That’s when it hit me; technology may not be the enemy after all. In fact, I could use technology to our benefit and connect with my children.

Instead of just implementing more rules and red tape, I pushed my technology judgments aside and picked up a device. Please understand that I didn’t throw all rules out the window, especially ones about being safe online; I did back off a bit and started playing their video games, watching their favorite Netflix shows, and making silly faces on Snapchat. It was like magic. Suddenly, we were engaging, interacting, laughing at the same memes, and sharing inside jokes. We’ve even had entire conversations using nothing but funny gifs on iMessage. If you don’t think this is possible, try it. I assure you it is. Now, I’m still not good at any of their video games. In fact, I don’t think I’ve won a single Mario Kart race, ever. Whenever I build on Minecraft, I get confused, and I’ve never mastered a TikTok dance. But the reality is that none of that matters. What matters is that we are connecting, and we are having fun.

With technology, the sky is the limit, and you can positively expose your children to a variety of interesting things that might otherwise not be possible were it not for technology. Other ways to connect with your children through technology include:

1. Listen to a podcast of their choice

2. Follow a blog of their choice together

3. Zoom/Facetime extended family and friends together

4. Take virtual field trips

5. Movie marathons (especially Marvel!)

6. Learn TikTok dances

7. Create YouTube videos together on topics of their choosing

8. Create digital art

9. Make digital music

10. Create memes together

11. Build an Instagram page together to highlight an important topic

12. Learn to DJ with your child

Out of curiosity, I asked my children two things. The first question was: Do they enjoyed it when we joined them online for games and connected with them via social media? All three immediately said yes. The second question I asked: Was their favorite way to connect with my husband and me through technology? While their answers were different, their message was loud and clear. My 5th grader said she likes playing Minecraft and Stardew Valley Xbox games with my husband because they spend time together. My 6th grader said she looks forward to watching our favorite Netflix or Disney Plus shows every night because she gets to spend time together as a family. My 9th grader said she likes communicating with the family via Instagram because we all send funny memes and posts. The message? They like being together.

My takeaway through all of this was that I needed to meet my kids where they were, not where I wanted them to be. They are living in a world filled to the brim with TikToks, memes, vines, YouTube clips, and more, so if you don’t speak that “language,” you face the risk of being less connected as a parent. Trust me, engage on their level, and you’ll quickly learn to speak the language. You’ll also quickly find new ways to connect, and connection is the greatest gift you can give to your child.

This post originally appeared on Parentology.com.

Jamie Edelbrock

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.

How to Encourage Physical, Emotional & Intellectual Development in Kids

By Smith Willas

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

June 13, 2021

From birth through adulthood, a person’s growth is a continuous process. Various stages in one’s life are attributed to various types of developments—physical, behavioral and intellectual. Childhood, however, is the most important stage when a strong foundation for these three developmental areas can be put simultaneously and in a balanced way.

If you want your children to excel in all walks of life, it is important to understand how they develop physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. All these developmental milestones correlate with each other as well.

Physical Development

Physical development is the process in which your child’s body grows and acquires movement, which includes gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Gross motor skills refer to controlling large parts of the body such as arms and legs. Fine motor skills refer to coordinating small body parts, hands, and fingers.

This area of development provides children with the ability they need to explore and interact with the world around them. Thus, you need to reinforce your kids’ development and foster further progress wherever necessary, for example, by providing new opportunities to practice new skills.

Here’s how to promote physical development in your kids:

Healthy Food

A healthy and nutritious diet is one of the most important factors for ensuring that your kids reach optimal development. In general, a child needs adequate dietary intake to have enough nutrients and energy to grow. A healthy diet rich in calcium, protein, and other essential vitamins and minerals, enables optimal skeletal and physical growth.

Physical Sports

Encouraging your kids to take up sports offers many opportunities for improving coordination, strengthening muscles, body speed, and agility. Along with boosting health and fitness, sports will encourage your kids to utilize all their senses, locomotor systems, and brain capacities. By choosing sports in their lives, your children can not only become physically stronger but mentally tough as well.

Exercise

If your child isn’t the sports type, regular exercise has long-term health benefits for your kids, including a stronger immune system that increases their body’s ability to fight diseases to a reduction in type 2 diabetes. Exercise also helps build a strong cardiovascular system and optimum blood pressure level, stronger bone and muscle structure. Kids are less likely to become obese as exercise enhances the body’s metabolism.

Parents are the ones who mostly inspire their kids to take up exercises and physical activities, or any other good habits for that matter. So you also have to keep yourself fit and healthy in order to work with your kids.

Social & Emotional Development

Under social-emotional development children acquire skills that allow them to interact with other people, and to express and control their emotions. It includes forming relationships, learning social skills, caring for others, sharing toys, self-reliance, and making decisions.

Here’s how to promote social-emotional development in your kids:

Create a loving environment

A loving environment is an essential factor for the emotional development of your children. A comfortable and supportive atmosphere helps boost their self-confidence. They learn how to express affection and successfully use body language as a means of communication.

Self-awareness

To promote self-awareness in your children, start responding positively to their queries. Children need attention, patience, and a lot of face-to-face interaction. Encourage them to try new things, and help them do what they are capable of.

Social awareness

Social awareness is very important for the behavioral development of your kids. Let them be in the company of other kids to play and interact. Tell them to show empathy and understanding towards others. Knowing how to positively engage with others and understanding their feelings will have lifelong benefits.

Intellectual Development

Intellectual development in children is usually characterized by how various mental processes—attention span, understanding information, reasoning, learning, remembering, problem solving, and thinking—develop from birth until adulthood. Understanding this area of development gives you insight about your kids’ ability of logical reasoning at different age levels.

Here’s how to promote intellectual development in your kids:

Develop problem-solving skills

Building problem solving skills during the formative years of your kids can be extremely helpful for their lifetime. You can encourage them to play board games, brain games, and puzzles. Encourage them to come up with original ideas, while waiting and listening to them patiently.

Improve attention spans

Increasing attention span can play a vital role in the cognitive development of your kids. How much attention your children pay to a task depends on whether they are enjoying it or not. Since kids entering school have to perform more structured, repetitive, and academic tasks such as writing and reading, you need to make their tasks interesting for them.

Improve memory skills

Since memory is a complex process, you can employ a range of strategies to help your kids recall information. You can teach them how to remember the sequence of letters of different words, names of animals using their unique attributes, and names of places with specific landmarks.

As a loving and caring parent, you need to incorporate best practices to nurture and pamper your kids. It is important that from the early stage of their life, you must focus on their physical, emotional, and intellectual development.

Smith Willas

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Smith Willas is a freelance writer at Assignmentbro , blogger, and digital media journalist. He has a management degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and Marketing and boasts a wide-ranging background in digital media.

ML Interest Tag: emotional-development

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