Helping your kids develop a love of learning is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. What better way to do it than with an activity that kids naturally love, like play? We are all …
Strange Matter: Dry Ice Sensory Play
I love this activity, and it’s been field-tested by many museum-going school-aged and adult children alike. It’s so much fun to watch people engage with dry ice in this manner. Most people are familiar with what happens to solid carbon …
Benefits of Play: A Conversation With a Play Expert
I recently sat down for coffee with Kathy Jack, MA, LCPC to talk about the importance of play. She’s been a professional counselor since 2001 and a mom since 2006. Some of Kathy’s specialties include: child-parent interactions, child-centered play therapy, …
Play, Shame and Body Parts: Understanding and Preventing Sexualized Play in Young Children
Candace sat before me, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I never told anyone this before,” she said, staring at her feet. As a therapist, I’ve heard the confessions of many wounded souls. They come to find a safe space to …
The Importance of Banter With Young Children
Banter, or informal and spontaneous chatting, gossiping, joking and storytelling, can be incredibly beneficial for young children. Researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley found that daily exchanges between a parent and a child shape language and vocabulary development. Informal talking with children …