March 29, 2022
From our partners at VROOM, here’s a fun activity to try in your next visit with a 3-year-old: Make a face and ask your patient to try and guess what you’re feeling—like sad, tired, excited, surprised or scared. Then take turns and ask your patient to make a face while you guess what they are feeling.…
Read moreMarch 22, 2022
Caregivers may have noticed their baby’s developing memory – like crying when they see the doctor or remembering hand movements to their favorite song or game. In your visits, you can build on this by asking the baby to follow simple directions, like touching their toes, giving a high five, or making an animal sound.…
Read moreMarch 15, 2022
Learning to feed themselves is important for babies’ regulation and fine motor skills. Being able to stop when they’re done allows babies to control how much they eat – and learn their bodies’ own signs of fullness. Feeding can exercise the small muscles in a baby’s hand and assist in learning the pincer grasp –…
Read moreMarch 8, 2022
Many new parents are thrilled to hear their baby’s first coos and noises! Encourage them to respond back as if they are having a conversation with an adult. They can respond by imitating the noise the baby made, or by saying something like, “tell me more.” Then they can pause and wait for the baby…
Read moreMarch 1, 2022
For many families, getting out the door to school each morning can be a source of stress and conflict. For preschoolers, you can help parents promote autonomy and self-regulation skills by suggesting that they create a simple picture schedule of the morning activities to empower their child to be “in charge” of their own behavior.…
Read moreFebruary 22, 2022
Time-outs are an often misunderstood and misused technique for discipline. Here are a few quick ways to explain time-outs to caregivers: It’s a pause or body break, not a punishment. It’s meant to interrupt physically aggressive behavior only. It’s short: 30-60 seconds. Time-outs are not a replacement for caregiver soothing. Learning to pause and calm…
Read more