Child Development & Behavior

Toddlers are notorious for tantrums and meltdowns. They are skillful ninjas that have mastered the dodge-and-run tactic. They are professionals at saying, "NO." They are choosey with whom they share their love and affection. Loving a toddler is not all...

Motherhood is all about seasons, but potty training season is my least favorite. I have successfully toilet-trained one child and we're in the thick of it with the second. When friends ask for my potty training advice, I look...

Someone recently asked me to write about having the sex talk with my kids. I said, "Absolutely not!" I am not discussing sex with my seven-year-olds or my three-year-old. In my personal opinion, they are not socially mature enough to handle...

My niece made homemade gifts for everyone for the holidays. They were sweet, adorable, and she had clearly thought about each one of us during their selection. They brought both a grin to my face and tears to my...

I have two older bonus daughters, currently sixteen and eighteen, whom I met when they were thirteen and fifteen. Given their age when we first connected, I've adopted a somewhat hands-off approach to parenting. I let them know that...

My music education begins and ends with 6th grade orchestra. I vividly remember going into the orchestra room on the first day of middle school and sitting down in chairs arranged in a semicircle. I was excited to finally...

We talk a lot about the comparison in motherhood. We’re constantly told not to compare ourselves to other moms. But what about comparing our kids to other kids? No two children develop at the same rate, but we still...

Happy World Autism Awareness Day! Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that can impair the ability to communicate and interact. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, difficulties in social interaction and communication and repetitive behaviors. Did you know...

My son David is almost four. He is talking more and more, growing like a weed, and absorbing so much. It is becoming more and more apparent that he is an extrovert. He thrives on being around people. He...

One of the most bittersweet aspects of motherhood is when your sweet little babies start to become independent toddlers and preschoolers. Everything becomes "I can do it" or "by myself," which is a nice load off your shoulders, but...

Autism reminds me of a rainbow. No two colors are the exact same shade. It would be difficult to find a person on the planet who doesn't find beauty in a rainbow. No two people who have autism or...

Body safety for children encompasses many things, but let’s discuss how we can effectively have conversations with our children about “safe” and “unsafe” touch/behavior. As I sit here and begin to write this article about body safety, I am filled...

I don't take it for granted that we got very, very lucky. The night after our son David was born, he slept six hours in one stretch. In fact, the nurse had to come in and wake me up...

As young kids grow they are naturally curious and creative. It's a great time to get them thinking about the world around them. There are many exploration and science activities that help toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond learn to explain their...