Sass and Sippy Cups

Praise and Compliments: Appreciating the Whole Child Everyone loves a good compliment.   Even if you’re one of those I-don’t-give-a-shit-what-anyone-thinks type of people, it feels good to hear that someone appreciates you.   But think about this: Do you like being complimented only on one aspect of yourself (looks, smarts, work ethic, etc.)?  Of course not. We are more than just our physical appearance, intelligence, or talents. The same goes for kids.   Kids love being praised for what they do, but adults often only verbally recognize a few positive attributes.   As a child, I was the stereotypical nerd.   I always got good grades and was an early reader. I was a scrawny, awkward little thing with old lady glasses that took up half my face. I very rarely received praise for anything other than my intelligence. So as I got older and school became more challenging, I started to question my self-image.   As if being a preteen and...

Sensory Play Now that my little munchkin is officially a toddler, I decided to try and fix my terrible time management skills and find a schedule that might work for the two of us and keep me sane in the process. (HAHAHAHA!!! A schedule? For my clingy, teething little monkey? What a joke... I'm lucky if I can get a shower in without her screaming her little head off.)  The crazy thing that happened when I checked Google for ideas was that when I typed in"toddler" it was immediately followed by the word "worksheets" in my recommended searches. Yes, you read that correctly.... WORKSHEETS SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE?!?!!! When was the last time you saw a toddler (ages 12 months to just under 3 years) be able to hold a pencil/crayon correctly, let alone write/circle/color in the lines on a WORKSHEET?!?! Kids this age learn best through sensory experiences (things they experience with their senses).  It is super important to their developmen...