A wedding’s young ring bearer has an enormous responsibility. He has to walk down the aisle carrying the rings, making sure they get to the bride and groom safely. It might not seem like a big deal to an adult, but to a child of four or five, this is a huge—and somewhat scary—event. It’s customary to reward ring bearers with gifts, but what to get them? They’re a little young for sentimental gifts, but
It’s a day that’s been coming since birth: your child’s first day of school. This is a symbolic rite of passage—only big kids go to school, after all—and your child may be excited, scared, or both. You might feel the same way. Basic Supplies Whether your little scholar is heading for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, or Grade One, he or she is going to need school supplies. The school should have a list of items you’ll need,
New parents receive plenty of advice. Family, friends, neighbors, doctors, and yes, complete strangers all have their opinions on parenting newborn babies, whether you asked for advice or not. At I See Me, we believe one piece of advice is absolutely indispensable: enjoy your new baby. Those first few months of life are precious, so experience them to their fullest. They also don’t last long—before you know it the little one’s already six months old,
Growing up in a society obsessed with physical beauty and good looks is difficult, whether or not a child’s appearance matches cultural expectations (and few people do). Social pressures surrounding appearance can leave children thinking their only worth lies in their looks, whether they’re considered “pretty” or not by the world at large. Building a sense of sense and inner worth prevents children from believing beauty is skin deep. The need for self-worth is what
Television shows have their place in a child’s life, but sitting in front of the TV doesn’t bring you closer together as a family. Instead of watching more TV, why not make some memories with these seven fun family bonding activities? Games Night When was the last time you pulled out the board games for a night of dice-rolling and laughter? A weekly games night can quickly become a beloved family tradition that teaches children
As parents, we want our kids to be happy. We also want them to be kind, grateful, and helpful. Fortunately, happiness and caring go hand-in-hand—in fact, the more people help others the happier they become. That isn’t just fanciful idealism—scientists have discovered helping others activates the brain’s reward system. Our brains, in other words, are wired to help each other. With that in mind, it’s important to encourage acts of kindness for kids. Here are
Even young children love to hear their own names—it’s one reason I See Me’s customized board books are so popular. We wondered, however, why children seem to focus on their names so intently. What, exactly, happens in a child’s brain when she hears her name? The first thing we discovered is that, while it’s relatively easy to use magnetic resonance imaging to map an adult or older child’s brain, it’s more difficult with infants. The
Coloring books are enjoyed a surge of popularity right now. An activity once considered only for children has been embraced by adults looking for a calming, stress-reducing hobby. Oddly, the interest in coloring for grown-ups means we’ve begun to shed some light on how coloring books relieve stress & positively affect children. Once you learn to draw within the lines a coloring book is a gateway to relaxation. Researchers wanted to know why the seemingly
“I love you” may just be the most powerful expression in the world, especially to children. Kids, even the most confident ones, need to know their parents love them, and finding new and fun ways to say I love you can quickly become a family game. Here’s nine little ways to say I love you to help get you started—your family’s sure to some up with their own, special ways of expressing affection. Lunchbox Notes
Kids are hardwired to explore their environment and discover new things—it’s an important and exciting part of growing up. At a young age, everything’s new; to an adult a stuffed toy is just one among millions, but to a child it’s magically unique. As kids get older, of course, some things lose their newness, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t love getting unique, unusual, and imaginative gifts. Here’s five alternatives to yet another stuffed
