Lying is a skill we learn very early on as humans. However, it’s not the end of the world when your toddler starts fibbing. In fact, you shouldn’t even be overly concerned. There are all sorts of reasons kids don’t tell the truth, and none of them are as nefarious as parents might think.
Research has shown that, at the earliest, kids don’t start understanding the difference between fiction and reality until the age of 3. Lots of educators and experts assert that they don’t fully understand the difference until they are 6 years old. So what’s a parent to do before, during, and after this stage? Here are some tips.
Whether they end up in team sports or whether they are navigating a group project at school, being a team player and valuing good teamwork are skills that every child can benefit from
Social emotional learning (SEL) is “the process in which children acquire emotional intelligence, develop empathy for others, and learn problem-solving skills.”
If it’s going to be something every parent has to teach their child, there’s no sense in kicking the can down the road. Let’s roll up our sleeves and talk about what we can do to teach our kids how to share.
So what do you do when your child is the one dealing with a bully? Back-to-school bliss can quickly transform into misery if they’re struggling with another kid harassing them. Here’s what you need to know to help them through it.
Like so many other things in life, gratitude is learned. Humans aren’t naturally grateful — without some guidance, we’ll stay selfish as long as we can. And be honest … you probably just thought of someone in your life who could say “thank you” a bit more often.
One of the most exhausting battles parents fight is the one over sleep. To make things worse, the middle of the night or the end of a long day isn’t the time we want to think strategically about how to overcome a conflict with a toddler. And after days and days of sleepless nights, no amount of caffeine during the day will help, either.
At the end of the day, acknowledge that you are doing your very best as a parent. Vague societal standards shouldn’t be the measuring sticks we use to define parental success. Whether that’s a 30-minute check-in at the end of each day or an hours-long activity once a week, look at what your children need and do your best to make sure everyone feels valued and loved.
The hope we have for every child at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse® is that they grow up to feel powerful! That means feeling secure in themselves, making positive life choices, learning to think critically, expressing and acknowledging their feelings and thoughts, and leading full lives.
So how do we raise girls to be powerful when all of this junk is getting in their way? Start early!
