They are walking and talking…but still developing many crucial skills, including the ability to manage emotions and regulate their own behavior.
What does research tell us about development during these years? How can we help kids navigate conflicts, build social relationships, and learn about the world? Here you will find evidence-based articles about socio-emotional development, cognitive development, preschool science and mathematics, and more.
Working memory is often likened to RAM in a computer. The more you have, the more information you can juggle at once — allowing for faster processing. But of course we humans can’t improve our memory capacity by installing a new RAM stick. Nor can we expect new humans to perform at the highest level … Continue reading
Is bed-wetting in children — also known as “sleep enuresis” — a sign of illness? Does it indicate a child is lazy or defiant? Trying to get attention? Suffering from behavior problems? The answer — in most cases — is no. Kids who wet the bed aren’t lazy. Stress can contribute to enuresis, but most … Continue reading
Teaching kids to count is a good start, but it isn’t enough. Children also need to develop “number sense,” an intuitive feeling for the actual amount associated with a given number. Where does number sense come from, and what can we do to make sure kids really learn the concept of number? Check out these preschool number activities.
Whether your goal is to start potty training soon – or simply make training less stressful – these steps can help your toddler get ready.
Evidence-based potty training techniques. Review the most popular methods and what research reveals about their effectiveness.
Studies suggest that children can learn math lessons from a preschool board game — if the game has these features.
These preschool dinosaur activities begin with a thought experiment. If you were given a living dinosaur to take care of, what would you do? There are no rules, and kids can use a variety of props to bring their ideas to life. The goal is to learn about dinosaurs, think imaginatively, solve practical problems, and keep a record of your discoveries.
An evidence-based guide to common potty training problems, including child anxieties, resistance, refusals to defecate, accidents, and more.
These preschool math games have helped young children develop an intuitive understanding of numbers. Here’s how to make them, and how to play.
© 2009 – 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved These preschool and kindergarten science activities build on what most young children are already interested in — animals! And in addition to teaching lessons about biology, they also offer kids opportunities to practice analytical, spatial, and symbolic reasoning skills. Where to begin: Free exploration with … Continue reading
Emotion coaching is the practice of tuning into children’s feelings, and helping kids learn to cope with negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness.
When children show signs of toilet training readiness, they may learn toileting skills more easily or quickly. But not all signs are equally helpful — or even relevant — to your family’s needs. Before you begin training, it’s important to decide on your individualized goals for potty training, and then look for signs that your … Continue reading