Playing pretend with kids is a great opportunity to bond with children, but imaginative play offers many other benefits. Kid playtime offers opportunities for children to develop social skills, develop empathy, and practice their problem-solving abilities. Types of Pretend Play First off, let’s put an old myth to rest. Playing pretend does not make your child unable to distinguish fantasy or reality. In the rare cases where children do have difficulty making this distinction, the
The power of music has universal appeal. All cultures have some form of music, from the most advanced to those still using stone-age technology. Humanity only developed reading and writing about three thousand years ago, but we were singing and making music millennia beforehand—some of the earliest man-made items ever found were musical instruments. Music Effects on Children The power of music effects children in many ways. As any parent knows, a soft lullaby soothes
Reading should challenge a child to learn without becoming too frustrating. The child should encounter new vocabulary and grammatical constructions without being overwhelmed by them. Knowing how to interpret child reading level scores helps you choose reading material that’s appropriate for your child’s abilities. Child Reading Level Scores Most child reading level scores are expressed as numerical values. For instance, a child with a 5.1 score reads at the beginning of the fifth grade, a
Every kid has a favorite stuffed animal that helps the child feel safe and comfortable. Kids and stuffed animals are a natural pairing, and if you watch them closely, you’ll often see kids mirroring your behavior with their cuddly friends: dressing them, scolding them, and caring for them. Now it seems there’s another reason match up kids and stuffed animals—cuddly toys can help children learn to read. Kids and Stuffed Animal Library Sleepovers We’re not
If you’ve been wondering how to make slime for kids, you’ve probably come across recipes for home-made slime using borax as a key ingredient. Borax isn’t the safest ingredient—it can be toxic if not properly diluted. In March of 2017 an eleven-year-old girl suffered second and third-degree burns on her hands while using Borax to make slime. Does this mean you can’t make slime for kids? Thankfully not. There are plenty of Borax-free slime
The new year is a time for setting goals and making resolutions, so it’s the perfect time to set reading goals for students both in class and at home. Working towards reading goals not only improves your child’s literacy—completing goals provides children with a sense of accomplishment and builds their self-esteem.
Is there anything better than being known as the cool aunt or uncle? We really don’t think there is. You’re the one kids want to be around, to tell their secrets and dreams to, and generally have fun. The bond between you and your nephew or niece will last a lifetime. Being the coolest relative does come with some demands. After all, that level of coolness means you’re sure to give the coolest gifts, right?
Children need good quality sleep for health, growth, and mood—as anyone who’s ever dealt with a sleepy toddler can attest. A regular, consistent childhood bedtime routine helps children relax in the time before bed, and be less likely to resist bedtime—two factors that influence how well they sleep at night. This childhood bedtime routine guide will help you determine how much sleep your child needs, and how to create a bedtime routine you can both
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that we love Christmas books at I See Me. The only things better than Christmas books for kids, in our opinion, are personalized children’s Christmas books. There’s just something magical about the look on a child’s face when he or she realizes they’re part of their own Christmas story. We’re often asked what our favorite Christmas books for kids are. The following are our five favorites. My Very
As children get old enough to understand the celebration, they’ll want to be part of your New Year’s Eve celebrations. With that in mind, we’ve collected five New Year’s Eve activities for families we think you’ll enjoy.
