I’m a Big Kid Now! The Best Montessori Toys for 2 Year Old Toddlers

Let’s face it. A lot of toys these days are all flash and no substance. That’s why I use the Montessori method as my guidepost for selecting toys for every age and stage. Today we’re scoping out the best Montessori toys for 2 year old toddlers.  We’ll use the Montessori perspective on early child development […]

Educational Montessori Toys for 4 Year Olds

To spend an afternoon with a four-year-old is to witness a child’s personality in full bloom. These preschoolers are bouncing with boisterous energy and brimming with imagination. Purchasing educational gifts for 4-year-olds is rewarding for everyone – the child, the parent, and the gift-giver. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, unlike […]

When Potty Training Regression Strikes and How To Get Back On Track

There is nothing more horrifying to the parents of a potty-trained child than walking into the kitchen for a cup of coffee and accidentally stepping into a big, warm puddle of urine. At first you may wonder if it’s just a one-off thing, an accident. Your kid is having a bad day. But then it […]

An Conversation with a Transgender Bonus Mom & Child Educator

I met Thea on a sunny day in early autumn. She and her friend Nicole run a small, independent school, and they gave me a private tour of their classrooms. Before I knew her as a bonus mom, Thea was my son’s teacher. With bright eyes and a mischievous smile, I quickly fell in love […]

How To Start Pumping At Work: One Mom’s Tips for Success

Pumping at work poses its own unique challenges for new mothers, and it often comes at a time of difficult transitions for both mom and baby. You may feel like you’ve only just started to get to know your little one when it’s time to head back to the grind. There’s no getting around the […]

Constipation in Toddlers: Remedies For Natural Relief At Home

A constipated toddler requires some of the most stressful tasks of parenting small children: getting them to eat, cleaning bodily fluids, and potty training. We know that if you’re googling “constipation in toddlers remedies” at 10 o’clock after your exhausted and uncomfortable child finally fell asleep, you need answers pronto! We hear you, my friend! […]

Life Beyond the Tantrum: Emotional Development in Toddlers

Once you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing your normally well-behaved child completely lose it in the middle of a public space, you truly understand the power of toddler emotions.  They go big, and we go home. While embarrassing, tantrums are now recognized as a developmentally appropriate reaction to a toddler’s inability to regulate their emotions.  […]

What to Expect After 2 Month Vaccines from a Mom/Epidemiologist

The simplest of tasks can require a monumental effort when you’re caring for a newborn and recovering postpartum. As a new mom, a trip to the pediatrician’s office can seem like a full day event when you’ve never changed a diaper in a public bathroom; you’re not experienced using the car seat or stroller; and […]

Montessori for Infants: Finding Daily Connection with Your Baby

I stumbled across an article discussing the joys of Montessori for infants while I was pregnant with my son. The article featured a classroom with open shelves perfectly lit by sun beams streaming in from large picture windows. The children seemed serene as they scooped beans into a bowl or arranged flowers into a small […]

The Ultimate Flying with Baby Checklist

For all the bleary-eyed parents and parents-to-be out there researching tropical holidays in the wee hours of the morning or dreaming of their thrice-postponed family vacation, this article is for you. I’ve assembled a list of parent-tested tips from both travel experts and parents who have taken their babies into the air and not only […]