The Myth of the Terrible Twos

Remember your cheerful little toddler who smiled all the time and was happy with nothing more than a comfy blankie to sit on and some keys to play with? That child may seem as if he existed in another lifetime when your little guy suddenly turns into a screaming, demanding, bossy little monster. Aggression in two year olds is so common that people have long called this phase, "the terrible twos." What if it didn't have to be this way? It's time to learn to communicate with your toddler.

Getting a Big Kid Bed               

There is something about moving your little one into a big kid bed that yanks at the heart. While she may still only be a few years old, moving from a crib to a real bed signifies a big change in your child's life. Beds for kids are more than just a place to sleep. A bed is a refuge, a symbol, a fort, a ship, a treasure chest and a hundred other things. Make the transition from crib to bed easy for you and your child with a few simple strategies.

Why Preschool Isn't as Important as You Thought

You've probably heard that the most important role preschool plays in a young child's life is helping him develop his social skills. While that is true to some extent, preschool may not play as large a role in your little one's social development as you've been led to believe. Some experts believe preschool, when not properly supervised or supplemented by adults, can actually decrease social skills for kids.   

Teaching Toddlers to Brush Their Teeth can be Fun!

Teaching toddler tooth care is a fun way for your kids to learn how important it is to take good care of their teeth. Most little ones will welcome the lesson, but do make sure they are old enough to be brushing them on a daily basis. Studies show that teaching toddler tooth care when the child is two years of age is a great time to start, but some children are not ready until they reach three years of age. You should also invest in a dental checkup around their second or third birthday to ensure they have no cavities and that they have healthy little mouths.

Is it Necessary to Enroll the Kids into a Swimming Program?

It’s a dilemma. Like every other decision, there are advantages and disadvantages to each choice. The structured classes for kids swimming lessons offer: expert instruction, trained lifeguards, the authority of someone the child doesn’t know, peer involvement (seeing how other children do it), release of pressure (the child is not the center of attention and can relax) and set times that keeps everybody on schedule. The big downsides of instructor classes is the unfamiliarity your child has with the people involved and the place.

New Schools and Separation Anxiety

It's something that is faced by every parent and child come the new school year: separation anxiety. This type of problem is most common in children entering Kindergarten.  Letting go can be hard for the parent and the child alike. Some schools try to make the transition easy by allowing the parent to stay with his or her kid for awhile, lessening the time each day. This does seem to help in some cases, but for others there is still a sense of not being able to let go.