Interaction is Important for Your Baby’s Development

Experts suggest the first three years of life are extremely important in the long-tern development of young children. You can jump start your babies emotional and intellectual development by providing the right kind of stimulation.

· At a basic level, facial expressions, like playing peak-a-boo or smiling can begin to stimulate your baby’s brain from a very early age.

· Reading aloud to a baby can provide stimulation and the basic building blocks of speech and language development.

· The stimulation your baby receives by touching various types of fabrics, shape blocks and even playing with water during bath time can help develop a baby’s motor skills as well as stimulate their brains.

· Hugs, kisses and other positive interactions can help stimulate your baby’s brain and provide emotional development and support to make your baby feel secure.

· There is a fine line between providing enough stimulation to your baby and too much. Soothing music and baby massages are a great way to stimulate your baby’s brain why at the same time calming them.

The best way to make sure your baby is getting enough stimulation is to fill their environment with books, colorful objects and pay toys of all different sizes and shapes.

The Top 5 Potty Training Issues and How to Tackle Them

Let’s face it, potty training can be difficult for everyone involved. There can be many issues that parents/guardians face during potty training.  This article from Education.com helps parents/guardians through the top 5 potty training issues.  Click here to read more

Teaching Healthy Eating

If getting your child to eat vegetables and fruits has become a battle. Get them involved in choosing healthy food by create a collage of nutritious fruits and veggies. This will help them learn about new foods while embracing their inner artist.

What you'll need

* Magazines, preferably cooking and food publications
* Cardboard or poster board
* Scissors
* Glue or a glue stick


How it works

Ask your child what healthy foods they likes to eat, and look through the magazines together to find pictures of those vegetables, fruit, or grains. Encourage them to pick out items that they are less enthusiastic about and explain why those are good to include in their diet as well.

Help your child to cut out the images and glue them on the poster board arranging items by color. Then hang their masterpiece on the fridge as an easy reminder of what foods are best to eat, or head out to your local farmers market and have your child pick out foods they want to try that are on their poster.

Helping Preschoolers to Celebrate Siblings’ Birthdays

It can be hard for toddler’s/preschoolers to celebrate their siblings birthday.  They watch their brother or sister receive all the attention, opening present after present.  Scholastic  wrote a great article on how to deal with this issue and how to keep everyone happy during a fun birthday celebration.  Click here to read the article

Getting Toddlers to Help Around the House

One of the most common complaints from parents with toddlers is that their toddlers don’t clean up, because of their curious minds and nonstop energy they are into everything. By the end of the day your house looks like 50 kids had a play date instead of just one. However, there is some good news, toddlers can learn at an early age to pick up after themselves and even have a little fun while doing it. The earlier you start cleaning up and helping around the house habits the easier it will become as your little one gets older.

One of the most important habits is to have a routine for clean up. Try giving them a 5 minute warning that clean up time is coming. Next, is having a verbal cue to let your child know that it is clean up time. A favorite one used by teachers is the clean up song, you can make up one on your own or use the old time favorite. Singing will help pass the time while your child is picking everything up and putting it away. Now, to make things easier for your child, you need to be organized. It makes it much more fun when your little one knows where everything goes. One of the best ways to do this is to purchase some inexpensive bins and label them. Take a picture of the toy that belongs in the bin and place it on the outside so all your child has to do is to match the toy to the picture. If you have older children, place a card with the name of the toy written on it. This will help with their reading skills.


Remember to keep a positive attitude. Your little one may not get all the toys back where they should go but, they did clean up, so offer them positive encouragement for even the littlest effort. Your toddler will be so pleased with their accomplishment.

6 Keys to Help a Child To Become a Good Reader

Since Read Across America takes place on March 2nd.  I wanted to share  6 Keys to Help a Child To Become a Good Reader from the National Education Association website.  This article gives you tips on helping to facilitate your child to become a good reader.

Click here to read the article

Summer Camp at Goddard

I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s that time of year to start to make plans for your child’s summer camps. Make sure you register early so you can reserve you child’s spot in our exciting and fun summer camp here at Goddard.

Beyond summer camp: Goddard’s summer program blends fun, adventure and learning for your child's best summer yet.

The Goddard School®summer program offers a safe and nurturing program.  Each school develops a unique learning experience for the children in their neighborhood.  Teachers provide a stimulating experience for children - full of
age-appropriate activities and oodles of fun based on the Goddard Developmental Guidelines.

The Goddard School® summer calendar includes special visitors and cultural events throughout the summer.  Visitors provide exciting learning opportunities in a safe environment, and include community helpers; performances by storytellers, musicians, and magicians; as well as outreach programs through local museums

Arts & Crafts is a learning element that provides children the opportunity to stretch their creativity and work with their hands to make special summer memories.

Music & Movement may be one of the most exciting features of Goddard’s summer program. Everyone is having fun, and they’re learning rhythm and tempo.

Cooking incorporates a creative ingredient into the learning process.  Children make Bug Sandwiches for a Friendship Picnic, and in the process they learn to measure, make decisions, and work together.

Literature & Language may be the most compatible school year component. Children explore poetry, prose, creative writing, and storytelling

Science & Nature is a natural component of the summer program.  From nature walks to experiments,observations, and investigations, children expand their cognitive skills.

Computers & Technology are part of each child’s everyday schedule.  Goddard’s summer program promotes dexterity and familiarity with this universal tool in a safe environment.

Sports & Games is a vital aspect of Goddard’s commitment to children’s fitness and nutrition. Children participate in Scavenger Hunts, Sprinkler Fun, and Obstacle Courses.

Drama stretches imaginations, plays with role models, and expands each learning opportunity

Click here to see Goddard's Summer Program