Cooperation is the act of working together for the benefit of everyone involved, versus competing against one another for personal gain. Competition has its place, but cooperation is the backbone
We always want our children to depend on us for comfort and security. However, when your little one becomes a permanent fixture on your leg or hip, it’s okay to
You may have witnessed your toddler’s meltdown when you realized you needed to make an unplanned stop at the grocery store on your way from daycare. Or, you woke your
When new research on child development emerges, BabySparks likes to be on top of it. That’s why we’re touching on a recent study published in the latest volume of the
There are very few noises in the world that are less irksome than a child’s whine. Most parents would rather listen to an orchestra of soup slurping and car alarms
Your toddler is quickly growing into a little person with his own thoughts and feelings. He probably even voices what he’s thinking now, with words like, “Yay!” and “No!” This
Divorce is difficult. Period. Between the messy emotions, new living arrangements, and disruptions in your routine, divorce can turn your whole world upside down. While divorce can be personally painful,
When your baby transitions into toddlerhood, you’ll start to notice some changes in the way he plays. He once was content playing alone or with you, but he’ll now begin
There’s a big difference between being bossy and being assertive, but these concepts are tricky to separate, especially with little ones who are growing into their own personalities. You see
Being afraid is something that simply goes along with being a kid. If you think back to your own childhood, you probably remember the monster that lived under your bed,
People often say that music is a universal language. We can connect and communicate through eccentric melodies, whimsical arrangements, or the simplest rhythmic beat. If you’ve ever seen your toddler
No toddler is a bully. Bullying requires a strong ability to strategize, a concept your toddler hasn’t developed yet. Toddlers don’t understand things the way we do, so what looks
When your toddler naturally delivers a “thank you” after you hand her a juice box, it’s not only adorable, but a good sign that she’s beginning to grasp the building
Toddlers are self-centered by design, so introducing the concept of gratitude can seem challenging. We also live in an era of consumerism, especially prominent around the winter holidays. After we
Whether you own a dog or not, it’s important to teach your toddler how to behave around dogs. Today you’ll not only see these furry friends around the neighborhood sidewalks
When it comes to whether you should use sign language to communicate with your baby, there isn’t a definitive yes or no. Opinions are basically split down the middle between
If your toddler is like most, he’ll love digging into your food storage container cabinet. Through the eyes of a little one, there’s so much to explore in there. To
The ball is a classic toy that can be traced back to the beginning of civilization. While some parents are always on the lookout for the latest trends in toys
Tantrums are not a perk of parenting, but they are a normal part of your toddler’s discovery and understanding of emotions. Sometimes tantrums are preventable, and other times you need
When you imagine cooking with your toddler, you might envision spilled ingredients, overly-salted soup, and a child with sauce all over his clothes. We get it, inviting your clumsy toddler
As a parent or caregiver of a toddler, you know it’s not always possible to prevent a tantrum – and that’s okay. Tantrums can be daunting and frustrating, but they’re
You notice your little one sitting on the floor looking at her box of blocks. After several seconds, she picks it up, turns it upside-down, and watches the blocks spill
As common as tantrums are in toddlerhood, they are far from easy to navigate as a parent or caregiver. Once a tantrum starts, it’s tough to stop. And it sometimes
When your sometimes-fussy-but-mostly-calm baby turns into a screaming, crying, angry toddler, your world can quickly turn upside-down. Fortunately, there’s at least somewhat of a silver lining: The tantrum-throwing phase is
There’s nothing quite like watching a baby play in the sand for the first time. Watching her eyes widen as she scoops it up and slowly lets it trickle through
Putting your baby or toddler in a childcare program can be a nerve-wracking experience for both you and your little one. However, the right childcare program can help your baby
When you imagine a pediatrician writing a prescription, you probably think of medication. But did you know that pediatricians are now being urged to prescribe something arguably far more important?
Whether you’re at the beach, by the pool, or simply in the comfort of your bathtub, playtime in the water is a wonderful opportunity for you and your little one
When the Harvard Center on the Developing Child released the 5 steps of serve and return, we knew we had to share it! Every BabySparks instructional video incorporates serve and
Babies actively take in everything from the world around them. The colors, shapes, smells, textures – it’s all new and exciting to developing brains. However, your baby doesn’t yet understand
Transitional Objects: How Your Child’s Favorite Stuffed Animal Promotes Social Emotional Development
What is a Transitional Object? Transitional objects are chosen possessions that offer security and comfort to a child. They’re often soft and huggable items, such as teddy bears and blankets,
Babies go through several stages of emotional development from birth through age three. These stages continue to transform as your toddler becomes a child, teenager, and adult. In the early
Let’s face it, we all love pictures! Babies, toddlers, and even most adults would prefer to learn through pictures, symbols, and illustrations instead of words or auditory cues. Our brains
In every household, at one point or another, a purging of toys happens. Maybe it’s a seasonal cleaning or just an itch to donate. Regardless of the reason, when the
During this month, muscles get more flexible and primitive reflexes begin to give way to voluntary movements. Babies will begin to open their hands and look at them with interest,
Picture yourself at the local playground. Just beyond the sounds of children laughing and the squeaking of swings, you might also hear some familiar commands, such as “slow down!”, “not
Imagine you’re playing peek-a-boo with your baby. At first, he is delighted: Every time you pull your hands away from your face his eyes widen, he laughs, and then he
Baby talk – that high-pitched, sing-song way we tend to speak to babies. It feels automatic, almost instinctual. Research shows that adults around the world do it. People who lack
Are little ones born with a built-in ability to learn language? Or is language all about learning from others? These questions are part of the classic nature versus nurture debate,
It’s common for autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to affect a child’s cognitive skills – in different ways and to varying degrees. Cognitive strengths can include attention to detail,
Type “educational baby videos” into a search bar and you’ll see about 200 million results. Despite experts warning against screen time in babyhood, developers of these videos claim they’ll give
Difficulty with social and emotional skills is a hallmark of autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research suggests that this may be because certain areas of the brain that are
What is autism? Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), includes a cluster of neurological disorders that affect people in different ways and to varying degrees. In general, ASD interferes with
A smile. A laugh. A hug. Children with Down syndrome (DS) are seen as cheerful, affectionate, and sociable. Positive interactions with others is a common strength for little ones with
One of the goals of early childhood is getting a child ready to venture out in an educational environment, where new skills and friends await her. Because intellectual disability is
Not all little ones develop at the same rate, which is why milestones are based on averages or age ranges. But sometimes a parent or caregiver may suspect that a
If you pay attention to your little one, you’ll notice that he plays in different ways, often with the very same toy. If you’ve ever wondered why he does this,
Chances are you’ve heard the word mindfulness. In casual conversation, social media and research, mindfulness (or, put simply, observing the present moment without analyzing it) is gaining popularity as more
Like many areas of development, language tends to evolve in similar ways for most children. When they’re first learning words, though, there can be a divide: Some toddlers prefer a
Disagreeing with your partner about parenting is a common issue couples face after having children. Deciding on a set of “rules,” so to speak, can help you create a positive
Do you have plans to visit family this holiday season? Head to the beach for a week this summer? Take a vacation? Just because you’re taking a break from everyday
As adults, we each have a unique style of artistic expression. Toddlers, though, in general, all scribble the same. Across cultures, they go through predictable stages of scribbling—from a single
When parents live separately (usually because of separation or divorce), getting both on the same page is extremely important; successful parenting involves consistency, after all. Once custody is worked out,
A baby is upset and letting the world know through a bout of crying. Wow, a completely rare occurrence, right? What the baby’s caregiver does next is key to how
If your experienced crawler made her way to the edge of a tall bed, would she fall off? What if your brand-new walker toddled to the top of a climbing
It’s a thrill to witness your little one point to a firetruck and say wed! (aka red), or hold a puzzle piece and try to articulate the word “triangle.” But
Maybe you have a great relationship with your parents and in-laws. Or maybe you feel like you might explode if they give you one more piece of parenting advice. Either way,
If you’re scrambling after a toddler to keep her from standing on tables or scaling bookshelves, you’re not alone. Toddlers LOVE to climb, and for good reason! After mastering crawling
You’re at the park with your toddler and an airplane flies overhead. He runs to you, tugs your sleeve, points up and says, «Pane!» He looks at you as you
When you think of «scaffolding,» you may envision the temporary structure at a building site that allows construction workers to get to heights they wouldn’t be able to reach on
From an infant discovering her hands to a toddler feeding herself with a fork, children’s hand-eye coordination steadily develops during the first years of life. How does hand-eye coordination work,
Sitting down as a family to eat (especially with a wiggly toddler) may seem overwhelming. You have to cook, set the table, and convince your child to eat her peas
Puzzles are a childhood mainstay. Like blocks, balls and dolls, they’re a toy that’s stood the test of time — for good reason! Puzzles support virtually every area of toddler
When life gives your child lemons, you want her to do more than make lemonade. You want her to be able to manage and bounce back from tough situations with
We’ve written a lot about breastfeeding, but we know there are reasons for parents to go the formula route. When it comes to storing, mixing and serving baby formula safely,
“Kids and screen time” has become a buzz phrase as child development professionals grow increasingly concerned about the negative effects of screens being introduced at too young an age, and
The topic of what babies and toddlers can remember, and for how long, has captivated scientists for decades. Thanks to fascinating research we now know that a lot goes on
Imagine your little one is in elementary school, stuck trying to solve a math problem one way. Then, his teacher shows him another way to approach it. He looks at
Whether it’s shaking hands, kissing on the cheek, bowing, saying please, or speaking respectfully to your elders, manners are a mainstay in every culture. Yet in articles, classrooms, and kitchens
Most babies and toddlers experience separation anxiety, but those with a “slow-to-warm-up” temperament are especially shy, cautious, and wary of the unfamiliar. They prefer observing before slowly joining in. They
All little ones are challenging at times, but some are challenging most of the time. According to research on temperament, roughly 10% of children fall into the “difficult or challenging”
All of us are born with a unique way of approaching, responding to, and interacting with the world — also known as temperament. Temperament, to varying degrees, remains stable throughout
Just as we’re born with a certain eye color, hair color, and body type, we’re also born with a unique way of approaching, responding to, and interacting with the world:
When you think of a baby or toddler, the opposite of self-regulation probably comes to mind: Throwing food despite your dozen reminders not to; hitting a peer even though you
You organize a playdate for your baby, and he sits in a corner playing by himself. Or you observe toddlers at a daycare who are happily playing alongside each other,
Skin-to-skin is as simple as it sounds: Cuddling your unclothed baby against your bare chest. It’s a bang for your buck, developmentally speaking, because it’s so easy yet it benefits
Whether it’s at a playdate, daycare, or park, toddlers and toys together usually leads to sharing squabbles. Rest assured your toddler’s sharing woes aren’t a reflection of bad parenting or
If your little one throws a fit any time another child even looks at his toys, you’re not alone. There are good reasons for why sharing is hard for toddlers.
Can you give your friend a turn with your truck? Your cousin is sad. Can you let her hold your teddy bear? Can you share your crackers with your sister?
If you’re the parent of a toddler who bites, you may feel embarrassed, frustrated, and worried. And for group childcare providers, little ones biting brings up safety issues and parent
If you’re the parent or caregiver of a toddler who bites, rest assured that biting in toddlerhood is common, and there are reasons for it. There are also things you
Your toddler may not accomplish much with his tot-sized broom, but encouraging him to help around the house is a unique opportunity to support his language development. According to Pediatric
What’s an inexpensive and surefire way to support your little one’s development? Use mirrors! A mirror is a “toy” she’ll love from the get-go, and one that will grow with
Sometime around her second birthday, your toddler may start refusing to sleep without a light on, or wake up crying from dreams. This is common, and there are several good
Your baby was finally sleeping for a long stretch at night, and suddenly she’s waking up regularly again. Or one day your new walker who was a nap champ starts
Babies and toddlers require a lot of sleep in a 24-hour period, and some of it needs to happen during the day. We’ll talk about how naps evolve during months
Want to raise your child to be a happy and successful adult? Equip him with a tot-sized broom. Chores pack a punch when it comes to your little one’s development,
Bath time is a fun way to wind down and get your little one squeaky clean, but it’s also great for her development. Take a look at several ways splashing
Clothes, check. Socks, check. Shoes, check. Baby, check? That’s right, you can “wear” your baby in a sling, wrap, or carrier, and child-development experts say it’s good for babies, parents,
When we think of the senses, the classic five usually come to mind: Touch, sight, taste, smell and hearing. There are two other important senses, though, and they don’t always
The sense of touch is also known as the tactile sense. We receive tactile information all over our body, but especially through the mouth, hands, and feet. For your little
Imagine you walk into a busy restaurant to meet a friend. You scan the room for her face, and maneuver your way around tables. You give your friend a hug
Think back to learning how to drive. Remember those first days of intently focusing on your every move while jerking a car through an empty parking lot? Now, you can
Attention skills are central to learning, engaging with others, accomplishing tasks, and succeeding in school and the workplace. They develop gradually and steadily, and as a parent or caregiver you
We’re all about improving children’s futures here at BabySparks—we built an entire program around it! So when we read this recent paper, published by The Harvard University Center on the
Spatial awareness helps us do things like read a map, put together IKEA furniture, trot up spiral stairs without bumping ourselves, and follow an instruction like: The keys are inside
Put simply, narrative skills are storytelling skills. You may not think of storytelling as an important life skill, but it goes far beyond entertaining friends at a dinner party. In
It’s adorable to watch your toddler move her hips to her favorite song, but did you know that dancing with your child is good for her (and you!) in many
Did you make your bed this morning? How about a cup of coffee? Maybe you went to work and completed a multi-step project. All of these examples have at least
Ah, milestones. They’re a source of both excitement and anxiety. Watching your little one take her first steps is thrilling, but if she’s a late walker you may worry about
As your child gains developmental skills, reading with her will evolve. Below we’ll explore that evolution from months 0-24. Yes, we said zero! The American Academy of Pediatrics and others
Reading is jam-packed with developmental benefits, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do it regularly, starting in infancy. Whether you’re reading to a newborn or a toddler,
From marks on a paper to purposeful drawing (even though the “dog” she draws may still look like a blob), your child’s artwork steadily evolves during her first two years.
Reading to your toddler likely involves being interrupted, skipping pages, and conversing as much as reading. Far from a waste of time, this is developmentally appropriate and just what your
Should you really start reading to your baby when she’s a newborn? She doesn’t even know what you’re saying! No matter, say child development experts. Reading to an infant, even
Taking time each day to massage your baby by gently pressing, rubbing, or kneading different parts of his body isn’t just a sweet way to spend time with him. It’s
Welcome to the roller coaster! Full of exciting milestones, the toddler years are also prime time for frustrating parenting moments as your little one tests limits and deals with big
Entrusting your little one to a childcare program is a big step. While it’s important to choose a quality one, it’s also helpful to find one that’s a good fit
There are lots of benefits to choosing a childcare program like daycare or preschool for your little one. In order to reap those benefits, though, quality matters. To help you
Setting up childcare for your baby or toddler is a big decision. You want her to be safe, happy, and in an environment where she can thrive. An increasingly popular
Child-development professionals have long suspected that screen time with hand-held electronic devices like smart phones and tablets can negatively affect children’s development. Now, science is beginning to agree. Last year,
At BabySparks we’re all about enhancing your baby’s learning from the minute he’s born. But that isn’t when learning begins. In fact, when he’s born he’s already acquired knowledge about
La disciplina tiene que ver con las reglas y consecuencias, ¿cierto? Es un asunto serio. ¡No siempre! Cuando se trata de enseñar a tu pequeño cómo esperas que se comporte,
Se nace con o sin sentido del humor, ¿Cierto? Falso. Según los investigadores del humor (y sí, realmente existen este tipo de investigadores) el humor no solo se puede enseñar,
“La risa es la mejor medicina”. No solamente es un dicho popular, sino también un tema ampliamente investigado. Los beneficios del sentido del humor abarcan desde el lenguaje y las
Quieres educar un niño feliz, equilibrado e independiente, con habilidades para tener éxito en su vida. ¿Te preguntas cómo? La respuesta depende de a quien le preguntas. Desde aquellos que
Estilos de crianza y su importancia Los estilos de crianza son un tema muy popular en el que diariamente aparecen nuevos consejos. También es controversial, los expertos debaten frecuentemente los
The baby and toddler years are a time of rapid growth and development, with endless opportunities to say things like, “Good job! You’re so smart!” This kind of praise boosts
Renowned physician and educator Maria Montessori said: “Play is the work of the child.” Indeed, play is central to your child’s physical, cognitive, language, sensory, social and emotional development. But
Imagine it’s summer and you’re about to get into a swimming pool with your 2 year-old, who is holding his favorite toy—a small, stuffed giraffe with a rattle inside. He
Like any parent, you want to raise a happy child, and research tells us you can take steps to do that. One of those steps, and arguably the most important,
Imagine a ten year-old boy. He enjoys going to school and playing sports. Ever since he was in preschool he’s loved art, and he often draws in his spare time.
Failure is often described as the opposite of success, but not many successful people have soared to the top without making mistakes, learning from them, and bouncing back along the
Tal vez hayas leído nuestro artículo sobre el cociente intelectual –CI- y estés poniendo en práctica nuestros consejos para niños inteligentes, pero ¿sabías que mientras tu hijo pasa por la
Your little one laughs hysterically one minute and rolls on the floor kicking and screaming the next. Is your head spinning yet? Welcome to the world of her emotions, which
Durante el primer año de tu bebé, su desarrollo emocional pasó de simples reacciones a la forma como se sentía en cada momento, a comenzar a entender el significado de
El desarrollo emocional es un tema que está ganando popularidad a medida que los investigadores, los profesionales del desarrollo infantil y los padres están prestando cada vez más atención a
La interacción entre tu bebé y tú es uno de los temas favoritos de BabySparks. De hecho, uno de los objetivos más importantes de nuestro programa es fomentar interacciones de
Cuando pensamos acerca del lenguaje tendemos a relacionarlo con el uso y la comprensión de las palabras. Pero el lenguaje está lleno de sutiles matices sociales que exceden a las
With toys named after famous geniuses, baby-friendly smartphone games, and baby classes galore, raising a smart baby may seem like a sophisticated and expensive task. The truth is, science does
Cuando piensas en una persona creativa, probablemente te vendrá a la mente un pintor, un compositor o un escritor. Rara vez asociamos la creatividad con un ejecutivo que reestructura una
Just as the top executive at a busy, successful company keeps everything organized and running smoothly, executive function skills allow us to focus, plan, accomplish tasks, control impulses, and manage
Your baby smiles at you and you smile back. Or you make a scene enthusiastically babbling back and forth with her in the supermarket line. Aside from generating warmth and
Symbolic play (or pretend play) is a highlight of childhood. Remember when toy food and plates set the stage for an elaborate lunch served to stuffed animals? Or when picnic
As any adult who’s had trouble sleeping knows, the habits around sleep (like winding down before bed and creating a comfortable sleeping environment) play a big role in falling and
When babies reach around 4 months of age, they have a cognitive growth spurt. Skills appear that form the foundation of a new, more advanced way of thinking. One of
Just like adults, babies are social creatures and seek out others for love and comfort. They communicate from the start that they seek nurturing. For a long time, the parents’
Music is a vital part of human culture. It’s how stories are told, it’s a powerful way to express emotions, and can be how we tell someone we love them.
You’ve seen it for sure. Your baby looks at your concerned face, and the bright smile washes away from hers. Or your toddler looks over at the crying child at
Hola. Bonjour. Ni hao. Hello. How many of these greetings do you recognize? Do you speak more than one language in your home? Does your child? Increasingly, the answer to
Es hora de dejar a los niños en la guardería. A medida que varias mamás y papás se preparan para dejarlos, algunos niños parecen preocupados, otros se acercan más a
As you play and interact with your baby during his first months of life, you may notice that he already has a wide range of movements from the first days.
