A preschooler’s wet bed is more common than you think.  

Are you dreading your preschooler’s first sleepover invite, because he still wears a nappy?  Take heart. Bedwetting is so common that there are probably other kids in your child’s class who bedwet and whose parents keep it a secret too.  Here are expert answers to the questions you may be too embarrassed to ask.

Read More »

Santa Clara County officials vote to ban toys and other promotions that come with high-calorie children’s meals.

After a contentious meeting between parents and restaurant owners, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of banning the Happy Meal in Silicon Valley restaurants.

Read More »

Get your child ready for that first movie theater experience.

Is your little one ready for the big screen? You may remember your first time in a dark, cavernous theater as a thrilling experience, but for a preschooler, it might be overwhelming, even traumatic.  Much of this first foray into the movie theatre will also depend on your child’s temperament, interests and quirks.

Read More »

Children’s food allergies are unpredictable, and misinterpreting them could be deadly. Learn to separate fact from fiction.

MYTH:  Children are allergic to any kind of food that causes a negative reaction.

FACT: Many negative food reactions are unrelated to food allergies and are simply food sensitivities.  True food allergies are not as common as people think and only affect 2% of children.

Read More »

Do you live under the dictatorship of a little child? Learn how to respond when your preschooler thinks she is the boss of you.

Bossiness is inherent to preschoolers. It kicks in, because their vocabulary is growing and they are just now in the process of breaking into the social world with little or no understanding about consideration and respect for other people’s opinions.  And of course, let’s not forget that they’ve been bossed around all their lives by their parents.  Telling people what to do, therefore, has been incorporated into their world view.  Being bossy is normal, natural, part of the way the world works.

Read More »

Children who engage in creative and active play may grow up to be healthier adults.

The finding comes from a British study that asked 505 young adults to describe their health and their childhood play experiences.

Playing is one of the cornerstones of a young child’s world. Play builds imagination, promotes social skills, advances physical development, and allows a child to work through emotions.

Read More »

Help your child find the starter-pet that’s perfect for your family

It’s the perfect age to own a pet. But finding the right pet for your child and entire family is not an easy choice. You have to consider how much free time you generally have, how much you’re willing to clean up, how much space you have in and outside your house, how often you’re gone, and how much you’re willing to spend on your pet’s care, feeding, and maintenance.  

Read More »

No one likes a tattletale.  Help your preschooler keep her constant need to tell on others from turning into a real problem,

Preschoolers often can’t resist tattling. They love to run to  parents or teachers, to tell them what wrong-doing their siblings, friends or classmates are engaged in.

Read More »

Turn the day around when your child insists there is nothing to do.

There are many reasons why children get bored. Boredom isn’t so much about “lacking something to do” as it is an inability to become engaged in any specific activity.

 Educational psychologists say children fail to engage in a particular activity when the child perceives the activity to be unchallenging, tedious, repetitive or meaningless.  

Read More »

Teasing can bruise young egos. Help your child tackle teasing without turning her into a tattletale or perpetual victim.

The preschool years is a time when kids grow more sensitive to individual differences. As children grow up and interact with others, inevitably, there will be conflict.  The schoolyard and the playground are melting pots for kids of all shapes, sizes and persuasions.  As your child opens her world up to more kids and more diverse types of kids, teasing will be part of life, and there is no way to prevent it.

Read More »