HAPPY, HEALTHY KIDS!
19 Expert Bloggers Weigh in With Their Best Tips for Raising Happy, Healthy Kids
As moms and dads, we all share the same mission: to find the most effective ways to raise happy, healthy kids.
But being a parent is tough. In this age of Pinterest and kids blogs, it’s easy to get carried away, comparing yourself to others and wondering if you’re doing a good enough job. That’s why we’re here. We want to get back to the basics – to bring the focus back to real life ideas from trusted child development experts.
We’ve called on some friends and colleagues to chime in with their best ideas for raising kids who are happy and healthy from the inside out. This series of posts will cover everything from creativity and sleep to social development and nutrition (and much more!). We’re excited to celebrate our kids and to feel empowered by the fact that the more we know about child development – all areas of child development – the better we can do for our kids!
1 || Free Play Every Day! The Free Play Toolkit || The Inspired Treehouse
Over the next year, we’re going to try to give our kids (at home and at work) a chance to engage in lots of free, unstructured, self-directed play every single day. The kind of play that lets them move, explore, engage, and lead the way! We even put together a free play toolkit for inspiration!
2 || How to Be a Tour Guide for Language Development ||
Guest contributor: Rebecca Bowen, M.A. CCC-SLP
When babies arrive, they are strangers in an unfamiliar land who don’t speak the language. But luckily, you do, and you will be their guide through crazy the adventure that is babyhood.
3 || The Best Ways to Support Kids in Social Situations || Encourage Play
In order for kids to start and maintain friendships so they can experience these benefits too, kids need to learn social skills and how to interact positively with others.
4 || 7 Ways To Encourage Gross Motor Development || Pink Oatmeal
Gross motor development is exciting for both parents and kids. It’s fun to see our little ones changing, learning, and exploring their environments. Check out these great tips on how to encourage gross motor development from the beginning!
5 || EXPLORE MORE – WORRY LESS: Children depend on it || Timbernook
How do we take the first steps towards more independent exploration for children? By making some small changes. Here are a few ideas on how to start fostering more independence with outdoor play.
6 || How to Rotate Toys in 5 Simple Steps || OT Cafe
Tired of hearing, “I’m boooored” coming from your kids? If so, it might be time to try out a toy rotation! Check out these easy-to-follow steps to make old toys new again!
7 || Weekly Creativity Prompts || Tiny Rotten Peanuts
Creativity isn’t always hands-on. Much of the time it is a way of thinking, a way of living and feeling and experiencing the world around us. Try these creativity prompts for kids to get your kids thinking differently about their everyday.
8 || Everyday Learning in Everyday Life || Your Kids OT
Kids learn every day. The most natural place for them to learn is within their own home. Take this little room-by-room tour to discover what your kids can learn at home!
9 || Mindfulness and a Morning Ritual || Kids Yoga Stories
Learn how to create a morning ritual that will help you and your children start the day with calm and peace.
10 || Building Up Your Kids Immune System Through Nutrition || Your Kids Table
Kids can get sick all year round. As parents, we quickly learn that this comes with the territory. The good news is that we can do something about it! There are ways to boost our child’s immune system that are effective and easy to manage with a little planning.
11 || Why is Sensory Play so Important for Development? || Golden Reflections Blog
Sensory play is often associated with getting messy and parents having to clean up messy kids, toddlers, or houses. But it’s much more than that! Learn more and get some great ideas for sensory play for your kids!
12 || A Moving School Experience: Classroom Ideas for Kids With Sensory Needs ||
Guest contributors: Dr. Jane Humphries and Kari Rains
These classroom strategies and ideas offer teachers practical and easy additions and adjustments to use throughout the school day. You’ll find ideas for the school desk area, adjustments to manage space, and overall opportunities to move throughout the day.
13 || The Power of Food and How to Expand Your Kids’ Palate || Prescribe Nutrition
Learn how to get picky eaters to eat outside the box…of the mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and bunny crackers box that is.
14 || Using Sensory Play to Connect With Your Child || Mama OT
Sensory play is fun and good for your child’s development. But what if we told you sensory play is also good for the development of your relationship with your child? Learn more here!
15 || Executive Functioning and Cognitive Skills || Tools to Grow
Learn all about these important skills that help children think, act, and solve problems. You’ll also find strategies and tips for supporting children who struggle with cognitive skills.
16 || Tips for Maximizing Your Next Visit to the Pediatrician || Seattle Mama Doc
Wellness visits and check-ups add great value to prevention. So much better than having to do the hard work of reversing problematic changes. And it’s not just about vitamins and shots. This is about communication with your pediatrician.
17 || Visual Motor Integration || Sugar Aunts
Visual Motor Integration is a skill needed for many functional tasks like handwriting and pencil use, scissor use clothing management, and many more. How does Visual Motor Integration develop in kids? Learn more here!
18 || Calming Strategies for Kids || Yogapeutics
Learn about 7 things you did for your baby that your “big kid” still needs to help calm and self-regulate.
19 || Inspiration for Following Your Child’s Lead || Meri Cherry
Let loose with a fun art project and watch how your kids take the lead!
What are the best child development tips you’ve learned as a parent or in your career as a child development professional? We’d love to hear them! Share below in the comments!
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