Brought to you by:   

Child Development

Winning Strategies for Little Athletes

Child Development August 24, 2021 10:00 am By Leah Bowen and Holly Brochmann

Many parents introduce their children to competitive sports at an early age, as they offer physical benefits and can teach children important lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, and more. But while sports are mostly intended for fun among kids so young, these competitions can also produce some BIG emotions when things do not go their way. A Feel Better Book for Little Sports by Leah Bowman and Holly Brochmann helps kids navigate their first years of competitive sports by addressing all the great aspects of playing, while also offering tips on how to manage the not so fun side of sports. Here’s an excerpt from the Reader’s Note. Sports are terrific in so many ways. Whether a child has attended a sibling’s sporting events or simply experienced their family watching a favorite team play on TV, they learn very early on that sports equal excitement. Children also quickly figure out that winning is “good” and losing is “bad.” But with a little guidance, kids can discover that there’s so much more to sports than winning and losing. ...with a little guidance, kids can discover that there’s so much more to sports than winning and losing. Your brain gets a boost from all that moving. Adults know that physical activity can help improve your mood, but let your child know that, too! Sports are a great way to teach them about endorphins and how movement can help lower stress, enhance clear thinking, improve confidence, and even help you sleep better. You can still be tough at the same time! It’s also important to teach children that feelings and behaviors are not mutually exclusive. Showing grace and kindness (helping a person from the other team up from the ground) does not mean that you are not a tough or competitive player. You can be both! A good way to teach this is to demonstrate through example. Cheer on your child’s team and talk through the strategy and methods for winning the game. But also model friendly, supportive behaviors toward the opposing team. It’s okay to be proud of what you’ve done. Winning is fun and it feels good. It’s ok to celebrate! Just teach your child to celebrate respectfully. There’s a big difference between saying, “We won!” and “You lost!” But what happens when things don’t go your way? Losing or not performing your best is inevitable. This is especially tough for really young kids whose caregivers have been working to boost their confidence. Competitive sports often give children their first experience with loss, and tempers can happen as a result of those feelings of frustration and disappointment. You do not need to discount those feelings--it IS disappointing when you lose! Sometimes the best thing you can do is acknowledge your child’s feelings and just show that you get it. Above all BE A GOOD SPORT! Unsportsmanlike conduct happens at all levels of sports, and kids will witness this. But they’ll also see acts of kindness--an NFL player helping a player from

Read More
Winning Strategies for Little Athletes 2021-08-23T18:19:01-04:00

Easing Transitions with Your Toddler

Child Development November 19, 2020 10:00 am By Carol Zeavin and Rhona Silverbush

Toddlers live in the moment. They like what they like and they don’t like change. They fight any and all limits. They hang on to control, because in reality they have so little of it. Making any transition—from leaving the playground to getting into the bathtub—can be stressful for child and caregiver alike. Magination Press’s Terrific Toddlers series, written by Carol Zeavin and Rhona Silverbush, covers the day-to-day dramas most experienced by toddlers and the adults who care for them. This revolutionary and unique series is the first ever to handle the topics in carefully researched, developmentally appropriate ways for toddlers. Here’s an adapted excerpt from the Note to Parents and Caregivers in Terrific Toddlers’ Time to Go!, providing tips to ease transitions with your toddler. Give a head’s up when possible. It’s helpful to signal to toddlers that their current activity is coming to an end. You can use "toddler-time" phrases like “after one more song,” or you can use a term like “five more minutes.” (“Five more minutes works” in this context, but not in a situation when you are leaving and your toddler needs a more concrete understanding of when you’ll be returning.) Toddlers don’t know how long five more minutes is, so your five minutes can be as long as you need it to be... The important thing is to give the signal that it’s almost time to switch gears. Have a routine. Have a “first this, then that” routine which can guide them through a transition. For example, when getting ready to go to the park, your routine could be “first put on shoes, then have a snack.” That’s the routine to get ready to leave for the park. Toddlers can express their need for control by learning to do parts of the routine themselves. Use transitional objects. These are the things they’ve been playing with and don’t want to leave behind. For example, your toddler is playing with a toy train and doesn’t want to leave it to get in the bathtub. Encourage your toddler to “drive” the train into the bathroom. Carrying along a transitional object can help ease your toddler’s transition. Be matter of fact. Be patient but firm. Tell them you wish they could keep playing, because you do, for their sake. Label what is happening (“You really like the playground, but now it’s time to go"), so they can understand themselves and feel understood. Give a choice... Offer two choices, both of which are okay with you. “Do you want to carry your shovel or should I?" "You can walk or I will carry you.” They can choose, exercising their control, and you can achieve the transition you need. ...and then go. Endless negotiations will not get the job done and toddlers feel more secure when a grown up actually takes charge (in a benevolent way, of course…). Take a breath. Explain that since they are having a hard time, you will help them—and pick them up and go. Battles

Read More
Easing Transitions with Your Toddler 2020-11-18T21:27:48-05:00

Five Ways to Reassure Your Toddler About the Arrival of a New Baby

Child Development November 5, 2020 10:00 am By Carol Zeavin and Rhona Silverbush

For toddlers, having a new baby is a real shock. They are confused about the little intruder—angry sometimes, genuinely in love other times. It’s a complicated time. Magination Press’s Terrific Toddlers series, written by Carol Zeavin and Rhona Silverbush, covers the day-to-day dramas most experienced by toddlers and the adults who care for them. This revolutionary and unique series is the first ever to handle the topics in carefully researched, developmentally appropriate ways for toddlers. Here’s a excerpt from the Note to Parents and Caregivers in Terrific Toddlers' New Baby!, providing tips to reassure your toddler about your new arrival. Keep it Simple The most important thing you can do is recognize and validate your toddler’s fears and mixed feelings. Answer their questions briefly and matter-of-factly. Try not to tell them too early that the baby is coming. Instead when until they notice Mommy’s belly growing, simply tell them that a baby is growing inside. Use “toddler time” such as “when the leaves turn pretty colors” or “after Grandma visits” to describe when the baby will arrive. Wait until just a couple of weeks before the baby is due to give logistical details about what will happen around the birth—where they will be, and who will take care of them during the birth. Let Them Help Toddlers love being helpful! Give them simple jobs, like fetching a blanket or a diaper. Including them in baby-related activities will help them feel like they are an important part of their newly-structured family. Expect Aggression Attempts at hitting, biting, and grabbing things are normal. While protecting the baby, it’s important to respect and validate your toddler’s anger by giving it an outlet. Encouraging your child stomp their feet or make other appropriate expressions of anger have been shown to healthily reduce the upset and show your toddler that you don’t think their feelings are “bad.” Labeling their feelings also helps: “It’s okay to be angry” or “You’re really mad.” Expect Regression Toddlers with a new baby may wish to be a baby again, too, and they need to know that it’s okay with you. If they regress a bit—lose ground on potty training or want to be cuddled like a baby—indulge them for as long as they need. This reassurance will calm their fears of losing both you and their baby self, and it shows you understand them. Give Them Some One-on-One Time They used to have you all to themselves. They still need your whole-hearted and whole-bodied attention. Find games you can play together, an outing, a story time—just Mommy and/or Daddy and toddler. The most important thing you can do is recognize and validate your toddler’s fears and mixed feelings. Reassure them as often as they show you they need, that they are still your baby and you will always be their Mommy and Daddy. To learn more about the books in the Terrific Toddler's series, click here.

Read More
Five Ways to Reassure Your Toddler About the Arrival of a New Baby 2020-11-11T20:20:25-05:00