#MomLife — Age 3-6 yrs / Preschool

Childhood is a time filled with imagination and boundless creativity. One of the most wonderful aspects of a child's early years is their world of pretend play. I’m lucky that, as a nursery school teacher’s aide, I get to see this every morning with the kids. But these make-believe scenarios go far beyond mere entertainment – they play a critical component in a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development. 

I’m not sure who has more anxiety come Wednesday morning: me or my 2 year old. I dread the tears that come Wednesday morning and the pleas from him to not go to school. It’s enough to make a parent cry, too. But there are a few steps parents can take to help ease that inevitable nursery school departure. 

Children just aren't good listeners. That's not anything new. But there are ways to support (and even increase) listening skills in children. Here are 3 simple games that can help flex those listening muscles and make you, the adult, feel a bit less ignored.

It’s Mr. Rogers who reminds us all that screen time for little ones can be used as not only a break from reality, but also a tool to enhance children’s learning and provide them opportunities for experiences typically out of a child’s reach. Here are 3 preschool-age television shows that do just this.

As parents of little ones, we hear a lot about prepping for kindergarten and elementary school. But what about preschool? How do you prepare children for the year that’s supposed to prepare children for the following year? Although play-based learning needs no preparation, there are a few things you can do with your child to ensure they are ready for preschool.

As a parent of young children, basic behavior management can be daunting. There is so much pressure to do everything the “right” way, yet raising children sometimes seems like you are constantly in an unwinnable war. There are so many facets to take into consideration, how can you parent without losing it? Here are some things to consider when approaching the decision about picking your battles with little ones.  

Nightmares in children can happen at any age, but experts say they typically start happening between ages 3 and 6. Telling a child that there’s “nothing to be scared of” just doesn’t help, and I speak from experience; that phrase doesn’t make scared feelings magically disappear. So, if you can’t make them magically disappear, what can you do?

Don’t shy away from letting your little ones take on a chore or two around the house. Introduce them as fun activities, rather than exposing how we, parents, truly feel about folding laundry (ug!). By doing so, you’ll help them learn important life skills, build confidence and self-reliance, and you might get some chores done as well.