According to early childhood researchers, pretend play, also called dramatic or creative play, is how children learn best. With creative play, children often imitate life such as playing “family,” “school,” or “restaurant.” By reenacting these familiar situations in their play, children get the opportunity to work on important soft skills such as conflict resolution, problem solving, how to listen to instructions and develop their self-confidence. Developing these abilities are as significant to a child being kindergarten-ready and attaining success later in life as is focusing on literacy and numeracy.

Toys are everywhere you look this month, and chances are that your child wants everything he sees! With so much to choose from, how do you choose the right one? A good rule of thumb is to select a toy that is age appropriate, safe, interactive and fun.
Do a little research on your own before you go shopping and don’t believe the hype. All children reach developmental milestones at different times and what they are interested in varies. So, what may be the “hot toy” for children your child’s age may be completely wrong for your child. Remember that buying the latest and greatest toys isn’t always necessary. Some of the best play items, such as cardboard boxes, ribbons and yarn, and plastic bowls, can often be found at home.

What Can You Do to Keep Your Child Well During Cold and Flu Season?Other than wrapping your child in plastic, how can you and your child care program keep your child healthy when it feels like everyone else is sick? Start by asking your child’s teacher what the sick policy is and how the child care program helps prevent germs from spreading.

What your child eats, at least for the first several years, is largely up to you. As an infant, the best nutrition for the first four to six months is breast milk or a quality infant formula. Once your baby is able to hold his head up by himself, sit in a chair and swallow, he’s ready for soft solid foods. Remember, the food eaten as an infant strongly affects his long-term health, body weight, immune system and overall aging.

It’s never too early to support your child’s social and emotional growth, and doing so is just as important as supporting his physical development. Social and emotional intelligence is necessary for children to understand the feelings of others, as well as control his or her own behavior while building relationships and getting along with their peers.

Children love story time, and rightly so! Books build imaginations while teaching children important literacy skills and vocabulary. Every child should be read to aloud for at least 15 minutes every day beginning at birth. As a child’s attention span lengthens, the amount of reading times should be increased.Parents should carve out cuddle and reading time each day with your children, and make it part of a routine.