Providing researched based educational resources to meet the needs of Long Islanders
By Cristina F. Toscano 5 Fun Recipes to Cook WITH your Toddler Cooking with your little one is a great way to bond while establishing healthy eating habits. It can be a fun rainy day activity, a learning experience, and a teaching moment-all in one! Here are some ideas for easy meals you can create…
By Dinah Torres Castro Music can play an important part in boosting resilience and mental health. Let’s take a look at some other benefits that music can provide as children experience music in their everyday activities. The Environmental Rating Scales Institute tells us that children can gain language skills, fine motor skills, social skills, balance…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Early in the preschool years, children begin to show an interest in what printed words “say”, and often express an interest in creating words on paper so that they can “say “ things in writing too. Although parents of preschoolers are bombarded with messages to read to children early and often,…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Leaving your little one at a preschool or early childhood program for the first time can cause uncomfortable feelings of separation anxiety for both you and your child. Remind yourself that as painful as separation anxiety may be, it represents a big step in your child’s development. It means that your…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA “It doesn’t matter what I ask – she never obeys me.” “He’s impossible! I hate it that every day ends with me yelling and him crying.” “The simplest thing turns into a contest, and no one wins.” Sound familiar? What parent hasn’t been frustrated by trying to solicit cooperation from a…
By Dinah Torres Castro Most parents will agree that raising a responsible child is one of their top goals. Part of creating responsibility is allowing your child to make good decisions. Giving choices to young children is the first step to helping them make good decisions. Here is where parents need to be smart about…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA You know that good reading skills can help your child throughout life, and that you can help develop a love for reading by reading aloud with your child. But how do you select the best books? Good books for preschoolers should be enjoyable, but they should also stimulate curiosity and imagination,…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Everyone Benefits When Preschoolers Get to Bed on Time Three and a half year old Emma hates to go to bed. Her parents adore her, but hate the bedtime battles. Even after Emma is peacefully asleep, her parents are still on edge, their plans to spend time enjoying each other’s company…
By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S. In the nature of my work, I meet with parents of young children. There’s never a question that they all want their little ones to grow up to be confident, competent, caring, conscientious, and nurturing adults. Parents are the best role models for these traits, and children learn through observation…
By Nancy Olsen-Harbich, MA Does the thought of getting out of bed and trying to get your child ready to leave the house make you want to crawl deeper under the covers each morning? Children need lots of time and a routine to follow each morning, or chaos can accompany the Cornflakes, and bad tempers…