Like most four-year-olds, my granddaughter, Alma,” LOOOOVESSSS“ stickers! She has lots of sticker books that provoke limitless conversations and long periods of play.
From vehicles and outer space to ballerinas, unicorns, and various animals, these collections provide her with hours of fun. And in addition to being very entertaining, stickers are loaded with learning.
Discussions about her little stickies increase vocabulary and hone her verbal skills as she describes what they are and what they are doing. Using these stickers also develops excellent visual discrimination as well as sorting and categorization skills. Moving the stickers and placing them in new locations requires dexterity and improves fine motor skills, especially the important “pincer grasp” of thumb and pointer. All of the above are necessary skills for learning to read and write.
When Alma first came across the “pinata” sticker, she had never heard that word before. After learning what a pinata is and where you might find it, she set about to draw the picture above. Not only did she understand the meaning of a new word, but her imagination was sparked to create a scene complete with all the ingredients for a wonderful birthday celebration for her ladybug stuffy…presents, balloons, and yes, a piñata!
The next time you are considering a gift for a member of the Pre-K or kindergarten set, check out a sticker collection—they entertain and educate!
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
Our daughter is 3 years old and was just recently diagnosed with autism.
This came with so many emotions, but the one I felt the most was peace. Finally, we knew. We were finally out of the unknown and we could move forward! It’s like I had a backpack on, and someone took out a bunch of rocks. I felt free. It was empowering. But, the road before her diagnosis was dark.
When you know something is wrong and you can’t fix it, as a parent it’s debilitating. It makes you feel so lifeless and weak because you can’t figure out what’s wrong. And doctors are great too, but they can only recommend so many things, cross off their lists, and ultimately, it’s not their child. It’s yours.
I felt so alone. I felt like no one in the whole entire world had ever gone through this. I had an aching in my heart for my daughter, Opal. I wanted to help her, but I didn’t know how.
That unknown area is the hardest. I was stay at home mom and it felt like it was my fault that my child wasn’t on the same level as all her peers. It was hard to celebrate other children’s victories when my child couldn’t relate. And the questions. Everyone asks why your child isn’t talking or if they know the alphabet or their colors, when I’m struggling to even get my child to eat food with some kind of nutritional value.
If you’re on that middle road right now, I want to encourage you. It’s not your fault. You are an amazing parent. Your child is amazing. You are not alone.
My heart goes out to you. I know how you’re feeling. I know the pain. I know the heartbreak. It’s one of the worst feelings ever. But, hang in there. You may feel like you want to raise your white flag and escape it all, but you have a child who needs you. You don’t have to pretend you’re strong or put on a brave face, but you do have to keep moving forward. Cry, let out your emotions, don’t bottle them up. But once you’re through, hike up your momma leggings, and fix that cape. You can do this. I’m rooting for you!
Hi! I'm a wife and mom to two beautiful girls! I have a three year old, Opal, and a one year old, Lucy. My oldest was just diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. I love to watch reruns of "FRIENDS" and drink chai tea whenever I have a free second!
Your creative kiddo is about to get a Target-tastic treat! The big red bullseye retailer recently launched Mondo Llama—a new line of nearly 400 colorful arts and crafts items.
Mondo Llama includes everything your pint-sized Picasso needs to make their own mini masterpieces. The crafting line includes paint sets, canvases, drawings kits and more.
Even though your littles will love this line, Mondo Llama isn’t just for kids. Adults can get in on the crafting action too! Julie Guggemos, senior vice president and chief design officer for Target, said in a press release, “Mondo Llama is about joy and creativity for all. After extensive guest research, we co-created a new brand with our guests that meets their arts and crafting needs at an incredible value.”
Guggemos continued, “More guests are looking for creative ways to have fun, and Mondo Llama encourages families to create, experiment and spend time together. It’s the perfect addition to our portfolio of owned brands.”
As if this crafty line wasn’t imaginative enough, Target commissioned a diverse group of artists from around the globe to design more than 70 original artworks featured on the new brand’s packaging. The artists all use Mondo Llama products to make these colorful creations.
Find Mondo Llama products in Target stores and online at Target.com. Prices start at just $1.25 for a pack of crayons, $1.75 for paint and cap out at $70 for a wooden easel.
I wonder if this mama knew how much these little girls loved her.
I wonder if she realized how much comfort they felt nuzzling into her arms and feeling her heartbeat.
I wonder if she ever knew how much they loved their daily dance parties.
I wonder if she knew, how each time she entered the room, they filled up with joy and peace washed over them.
Looking back now, there is so much I didn’t know.
There is so much I missed out on, thinking I wasn’t a good enough mama.
There is so much I second-guessed about my decisions and how I was parenting.
But one thing I did know, the love I had for them was magical.
I loved these girls fiercely.
I loved them with an intensity that even scared me sometimes.
I loved them with my full heart-piercing my soul.
And you know what, my friends, the love for these girls is still just as intense.
They may be teenagers now but some things will forever remain the same.
The bond and the love between a mother and a child rise above all else.
So as I lay in bed, attempting to fall asleep, I recall my daughter’s sweet words reassuring me of all I have done right in this world. A simple moment, a simple phrase, locked in my brain and one she probably wouldn’t think twice about.
A simple remark, “They don’t talk for hours like us, Mom.”
And with that one sentence, all of my worries and anxieties began to fall away and room was made for glorious dreams to swirl around in my head, rather than the nagging thoughts of all I need to improve upon.
So mamas, if we just listen to what our kiddos are saying each day, we are bound to find the little reassurances that our presence means the world to our children.
It may be simple.
It may be one sentence.
But let it fill you up and value their words, for their words are truth.
Ali Flynn Is excited to share with you the joys and hardships of motherhood with an open heart, laughter and some tears. Ali is a monthly guest contributor for Westchester County Mom and has been seen on Filter Free Parents, Grown and Flown, Today Parents and Her View From Home.
Lupita Nyong’o’s number one New York Times bestselling book, Sulwe, just keeps getting better. In addition to being released in an audio version, Netflix has just announced the children’s story will be turned into a new animated musical feature. The film will be produced by Nyong’o and based off the book.
The story follows Sulwe, a young girl with skin the color of midnight. One night, she heads out on a magical journey where she learns the story of the sisters Night and Day and a subsequent lesson in self-esteem, colorism and true beauty.
photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Nyong’o shares, “The story of Sulwe is one that is very close to my heart. Growing up, I was uncomfortable in my dark skin. I rarely saw anyone who looked like me in the aspirational pages of books and magazines, or even on TV. It was a long journey for me to arrive at self-love.
Sulwe is a mirror for dark-skinned children to see themselves, a window for those who may not be familiar with colorism, to have understanding and empathy, and an invitation for all who feel different and unseen to recognize their innate beauty and value. I am thrilled that the book is being adapted into an animated musical that we hope inspires children all around the world to celebrate their uniqueness.”
Netflix has not revealed details as to the release date.
It’s funny what kids can teach you. Recently, a good friend of mine told me a story about a problem his daughter was having with one of her friends. She told him how upset she was because her friend had said something mean to her, and the comment, according to his daughter, was unforgivable.
But then, my friend said, he watched as his daughter reflected about what she just said to him. She shook her head and said, “No, that’s not right. I still want to be friends with her.”
She proceeded to tell him she would forgive her friend in the end. His daughter said she could see herself making the same mistake her friend did. And besides, she noted, their friendship would become stronger because of what happened.
He told me how astonished he was watching the whole scene play out in front of him, and he wondered aloud how could a child show so much empathy?
Afterward, it got me to thinking the world would be a much better place if we all could show more empathy and forgiveness in our lives. And maybe, if we taught our children to be more forgiving, then maybe we could be more forgiving ourselves.
To Forgive Others, First Forgive Yourself
We are often our own worst critics, especially children. How often have you heard your child say to themselves, “I’m not good at this” or “this is too hard for me”?
Maybe the first step in teaching the value of forgiveness to is to teach our children to forgive themselves. If we’re angry with ourselves, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise when that anger and resentment comes pouring out at those around us.
The awesomeness of teaching your child to forgive themselves is that it instills in them a self-confidence that allows them to project a kindness onto others.
With young children (ages 4-6), it’s important we start to build this foundation early. We can do so by sitting and reading picture books with our child that demonstrate the value of love and understanding. Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who! is wonderful example of a story showing how every being brings value to this world.
Even with older children, the power of story is a valuable tool in teaching life lessons, including forgiveness. There are countless examples of stories with powerful messages. Encourage your child to read such stories.
Teach by Example
Like it or not, your child watches you carefully and takes cues from your behavior. What better way to teach forgiveness then to demonstrate it regularly with your spouse or the rest of your family. Openly ask for forgiveness from your spouse and be sure to extend it when your spouse asks for it.
These lessons can apply to spouses, between you and your kids, and between siblings. I’m not sure about you, but my kids bicker regularly, which provides countless opportunities to practice the principles of forgiveness.
An important key is to ensure the forgiveness is genuine. Our children are more insightful than you would think. Forgiveness shouldn’t be forced. Allow time for everyone to cool off if it’s necessary. If days are required, then days are what it takes. Nothing will be resolved if forgiveness is forced.
And through your actions, teach that forgiveness is not conditional. Teach that forgiveness does not have to be reciprocated. Yes, for reconciliation to occur, two people must come together. But at the very least, teach that it’s ok to forgive even if the other person does not.
When the fight is between siblings, it’s the perfect opportunity to teach the value of understanding the other person’s point of view. Discuss each person’s perspective openly to build understanding. Allow your child to witness how it’s easier to resolve disagreements when you know the other’s side of the story. These opportunities are an excellent time to teach the importance of treating others as we wish to be treated ourselves.
Finally, use family gatherings periodically—like during a mealtime once a week, for example—to discuss the matter, including how easy or hard it is to forgive, how it feels, and what it means.
Mistakes Are a Part of Life
Everyone makes mistakes. It’s important that kids understand that. Children make mistakes. Mom and Dad make mistakes. We are human. Making a mistake is a part of life, but a mistake does not define who you are. Forgiveness reinforces that idea.
Conflict is inevitable, especially among families, so teaching and learning these lessons early are crucial to raising children who respect the value of peace, compassion, and civility. But every journey begins with a single step. Teach by example. Practice forgiveness in your own life. Share those moments. Let your children watch and learn. It’s not an overstatement to believe these small steps can lead to a more peaceful and productive society.
Chris Parsons grew up in Flatrock, Newfoundland. After many years of telling his stories, he published his first book "A Little Spark" in October 2020. The book is a fully illustrated chapter book - complete with a Soundtrack and Audiobook. The book recently received the Mom's Choice Gold Medal. He resides in Dallas.
I registered my oldest child for kindergarten recently. The process brought up all kinds of questions, like “How is she growing up so fast?” and “What are we having for breakfast?” Despite an accounting degree and years of related experience, the scariest question I had was “What if I have to help with her math homework?”
Quiz shows like “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” remind us that we’ve forgotten much of what we learned in school. With a desire to show my daughter that Mommy Knows Best, I’ve come up with five real-life examples below that help illustrate some textbook math definitions. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you about any trains speeding towards each other.
1. Repeating Decimals
Definition: a decimal representation of a number whose digits repeat their values at regular intervals and the repeated portion is not zero.
Example: “Brush your teeth. Put on your shoes. Brush your teeth. Put on your shoes.” Shouldn’t this come with a recording device?
2. Isosceles Triangle
Definition: A triangle in which two equal sides are joined by an odd side.
Example: When I have to convince my children they have the exact same number of intricately cut vegetable shapes while eating the leftover scraps myself.
3. Inverse Proportions
Definition: When one value decreases at the same rate that the other increases.
Example: The more effort I put into making a meal or planning an outing, the less my children will enjoy it. The reverse is also true. Pasta with cheese for dinner, anyone?
4. Mode
Definition: The number which appears most often in a data set.
Example: 5. This is the number of minutes my daughter needs before she can finish her block tower, put away playdough or put on her shoes.
5. Constant
Definition: A number whose value is fixed by an unambiguous definition.
Example: The amount of love I have for my children, no matter how much they hate the boeuf bourguignon with extra mushrooms I made for dinner.
So you see, despite new methods of teaching, we parents already have tricks up our sleeves to help our kids learn about math. If you need a bonus suggestion, remember that pi is also a mathematical constant. Would you prefer apple or cherry?
I'm a Seattle transplant originally from California via stints in Massachusetts and France. My husband and I love showing our two young children the Pacific Northwest's natural beauty and toting them around the world for the occasional escape.
Whether currently, or at one time or another in our lives, I think most of us have experienced the feeling of not having control in a situation, or not knowing what to do, or what is the best decision to make. Perhaps you’ve felt helpless, emotionally overwhelmed, or as if you just couldn’t stand one more thing occurring. Being the mom of a child with profound special needs definitely generates those feelings in me on a frequent basis.
In my opinion, life is about learning to cherish every moment granted to us, especially the sorrowful or ordinary ones because each moment that passes us by holds eternal weight. I’ve identified three ways to encourage myself to retrain my daily focus—to learn, appreciate and soak up how each moment, happy or difficult adds value to the overall story of my life.
Seize the Day
How often do we tell ourselves that we will call our friend later, start eating healthy, focusing on self-care or we’ll start working on accomplishing that life-long dream when the timing is right—then never actually do it? It seems that we are always putting things off because we tell ourselves that we don’t have time right now. If the COVID quarantine has taught us anything it’s that ‘timing’ isn’t the issue. What we may be lacking is the motivation or confidence to live for today and identify the value in the little things.
Regardless of the challenges each day may bring, and with special needs children those can be unique and plentiful, remember your ‘Why.’ Each day presents an opportunity, whether it’s large or small to push ourselves to grow and learn and appreciate the now. That is my ‘why.’ By seizing the most out of each day, I’m modeling for my kids the importance of never settling and to keep seeking ways to turn lemons into lemonade.
Especially on days when I’ve lost my patience because my son has thrown his food to the floor and his hitting was at an all-time high, all while I was extremely sleep deprived, I recognize that how I handled those tough moments doesn’t define me or my entire day—but rather refines me and how I will handle adversity in the future. I instead choose to be grateful for the sweet family moments, random acts of kindness, laughter and the chance to experience it all again tomorrow.
Attitude Is Everything
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact a positive attitude has on one’s life. I truly believe a person’s attitude is more important than money, than failures or successes, and certainly more important than outward appearances and social-media profiles.
We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change how others act, the things they say (or post), or the inevitable outcome of many situations. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. We are in charge of our attitude!
I also hold onto a strong belief that everything happens for a reason. I wake up each day with the intention of smiling and laughing more while not wasting energy on gossip, negative thoughts, or things beyond my control. The benefit of maintaining a positive attitude (and constant resetting throughout the day if needed) is that when situations go awry it’s so much more productive to laugh and develop an alternative solution rather than being stressed and angry.
Stop & Appreciate the Beauty in & around You
It is so easy to become hypnotized by a daily routine and feel that everyday actions such as driving to work or coordinating therapy sessions are mundane and monotonous thus causing fatigue and burnout. I would wager that we don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.
We must remind ourselves that we are surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and we ourselves are a part of that. Choose to focus on what you “get to” do versus what you “have to” do. Life is a gift, not an obligation.
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” ― Earl Nightingale
If there is one thing we have learned over the past few months, we have come to see the importance of raising our children to make the world a better place through their actions and reactions to what is going on around them. As their first teacher, there are many virtues parents look to model for their little ones. According to a new Parents survey, Kindness is the most important value parents want to instill in their children, topping intelligence and strong work ethic.
Parents today announced the results of its first-ever Parents Values Study which reveals that although parents believe raising kind children is the most important value they can instill, they also believe that kids today are less kind than past generations. The study, which uncovers insights about American parents’ biggest parenting challenges, concerns and priorities, as well as their views about their own parenting skills and parenting in the pandemic, is highlighted in Parents‘ second annual special November Kindness Issue and on parents.com/kindness.
Moms were asked to select the top three qualities they most hope to instill their children. The top selections are:
Kindness (73%)
Love of family (68%)
Intelligence (51%)
Strong work ethic (51%)
Individuality (31%)
Julia Edelstein, Editor in Chief of Parents said, “As a mother, I care more about instilling kindness in my kids than any other trait, and it turns out that the vast majority of parents are on the exact same page. One of the many things that the pandemic has taught us is that kindness is a life-giving force, and we need more of it. With that said, one of the most disappointing findings from this study is that although our priorities are aligned when it comes to raising kind kids, most moms don’t see kindness reflected in kids’ behavior today. We have a lot of work to do, but we will get there. Parents‘ November issue—our second annual kindness issue–is a roadmap to prioritizing kindness in your family, and raising truly kind people.”
To help parents in their effort to raise kind, compassionate people, the Parents special November Kindness issue has a collection of articles offering feel-good stories, profiles of inspiring families who stepped up in big ways and small during the pandemic, expert insights and creative ways that parents can take action.
Ho-Ho-Ho. Letters and face-to-face meetings with Santa are so last year. Enchant Christmas just unveiled the cutting edge new iPhone app, Enchant Santa Calls, which uses cutting-edge 3D animation technology and advanced facial recognition to turn users into Santa Claus, allowing them to make video calls with their loved ones.
Available now to download for free on the Apple App store, the app is the perfect tool to connect with loved ones around the world this holiday season. Get your jolliest “ho ho ho’s” ready for an unforgettable video call experience. Making calls will require an iPhone 10 or newer, while anyone with an iPhone device can receive a call.
“We were not going to let a year go by without making a magical experience for our valued guests. The team has rallied to create an experience like no other with Enchant Santa Calls. A video calling app that allows you to BE Santa and amaze your loved ones with an unexpected call from the big man himself. We hope parents, children and friends all use the app to bring a little awe and wonder into their lives, during this challenging year.” said Kevin Johnston, Founder and CEO of Enchant Christmas and Enchant Labs.
Enchant’s mission is to make magical memories which is so important this year. The app gives users the ability to gift anyone with a special video chat surprise, allowing them to reach friends and family via their iPhones. In addition, the app also gives users the option to select Santa’s race, customizing the experience to each individual. After the call, the app provides a recording of the most joyous parts of the call, making these magical moments sharable.
Enchant Santa Calls is free to download and offers free, 15-second recordings as Santa through the app. To place a live, 10-minute video call, users can purchase call credits in bundles with 2 calls for $5.99 USD, 5 calls for $8.99 USD and 20 calls at $24.99 USD.
