Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
Sensory play isn’t just about using your senses as there are so many other things you can do with it. As children play, they use their senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, and sometimes taste) to explore and discover the world around them. Children engage with a variety of materials, textures, colors, sounds, and smells, which…
Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15th. This is a wonderful time to choose books to celebrate the many different Hispanic cultures with your family. If you have young children learning to read (ages 4-6), try the I Can Read series of Reina Ramos by Emma Otheguy. Some titles include Reina Ramos Meets a Big Puppy,…
For pre-teens, especially those entering middle school, the first weeks of September can be demanding. Back to school brings a fresh start for academic success — a chance for your child to make significant headway towards good grades. It also means reconnecting with friends they haven’t seen for two months and navigating the squalls of…
While suicide is a leading cause of death for children and adults, spotting warning signs isn’t always easy. The hope of Suicide Prevention week is to bring much needed attention, especially in the era of post COVID-19, to the importance of recognizing verbal, behavioral and emotional warning signs of the risk of suicide. While nothing…
Navigating the stressors of school can be tricky. Here are some parenting tips to help smooth this transition. Look for clues: Think about what may have been challenging for your children last year. Did they have difficulty forming friendships, focusing on a math assignment, or participating in class? Was there any bullying? Look back for…
The time has arrived when your little one is ready to head to kindergarten – congratulations! While this is a day you may have been looking forward to, part of you might also have been dreading it. It is understandable to have mixed emotions as you send your child off to school for the first…
I’ve been working with Kinship Caregivers for more than ten years through parenting programs like Parenting the Second Time Around (PASTA), and now in collaboration with Hope for Youth’s Kinship Caregiver Program. My task is to provide services such as facilitating Support Groups for grandparents and other kinship caregivers, present PASTA classes, and coordinate monthly…
How often do young people spend quality time with the older generation? Research shows that human needs go beyond merely food and shelter. Without opportunities for socializing and human connection, health suffers. The pandemic hit the elderly quite hard, causing feelings of tremendous isolation and loneliness. Karl Pillemer, PhD., Human Development Professor at Cornell University,…
Play benefits children in each domain of development like nothing else does. It helps children learn about the world, develop the skills they need to interact with others, manage their emotions, and it promotes curiosity and learning. Research on play tells us that play is essential for children’s well-being. In fact, “play is so important…
The National Center for Health Statistics defines a “Blended Family” as a family that consists of one or more children living with a biological or adoptive parent and an unrelated stepparent who are married to one another. As a result of the change(s) in their family structure (i.e. the new marriage), these families face many…