When I Can’t Sit Still
It’s hard for me to sit still. I may fidget, squirm, or even get up and move around. I know it can be frustrating for you, but please understand that I’m not doing it to annoy you. My body has…
Connecting Military Families Across the World
By Julia Yeary, LCSW, ACSW, IMH-E® I wish I had Babies on the Homefront when I was a home visitor. I don’t know how many times a parent would bring up something their child was doing and I would promise, “Next time I will bring…
When I Don’t Get Along With Other Kids
Now that I’m a little older, I’ve probably started playing near other children my age, either at school, play groups, or with my own siblings. Being around other children helps me to start learning my social skills, but at first,…
When You Take Me Outside
When you decide to start taking me on outside adventures is up to you! Some parents like to wait until I’m a little older, and some parents are ready to start taking me outside with them as soon as I…
Learning Through Touch
All of the things in my world are a new adventure for me, and I learn so much about them by touching and feeling them. I’ll be most interested in objects that have different textures and colors, and when I’m…
Young Children and Screentime
Even though there are screens almost everywhere (TV, tablets, and phones), I really shouldn’t watch any screens until I turn 18 months old. Even then, I shouldn’t watch very much – and, you should watch things with me and talk…
Keep Me Interested
Since I’m so little, it can seem like it’s really hard to keep me interested in the things you are doing and saying. Don’t give up! I have a hard time focusing on one thing for even short amounts of…
Give Me Objects To Sort
As I learn more and more about the things around me, I’ll start noticing when objects have things in common. This is an important skill for me – not only does it teach me new words when I learn to…
Give Me Interesting Things to Play With
Since I learn so much by interacting with the things around me, make sure I have objects that I can play with that will keep me interested and challenge me. My toys don’t have to be fancy or expensive -…
I’m Moving Faster and Faster
Once I feel comfortable walking, my next step will be running! I’ll be trying to move around a lot and fast. That means it’s really easy for me to accidently hurt myself even after I’ve learned how to walk. Take…
When I Do Things You Don’t Want Me To Do
As I start moving around and exploring more, I might touch things that you don’t want me too, or touch something more roughly than you would like. Whether I’m reaching for your earrings, pulling your hair, or tugging on one…
I Learn When I Play Pretend
When I was really little, I probably played with toys mostly by touching and tasting them. Now that I’ve learned more about the objects in my world, I can start using them to play pretend. You might see me pick…
Let’s Play Copy Cat!
Now that I can see things more clearly, I learn so much by paying attention to the things around me and to you as well! You can teach me that my sounds and actions have meaning by playing copycat with…
I’m Learning From Everything I See
Even though you may not notice, I’m learning so much from watching you! What you do and say are so interesting to me, and I’ll try to do and say the same things. No one’s perfect, so don’t feel bad…