Why children ask ‘why?’ – and how to stop it from driving you crazy

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‘Building a foundation for life-long learning’ is a common phrase to find in school mission statements, yet student motivation is an ongoing concern in public education: children’s engagement with learning actually decreases as time spent in traditional school increases. For parents of preschoolers, this news may be surprising.  After all, our young children have an…

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The six skills children REALLY need to succeed as adults

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Have you heard of Gitanjali Rao? She’s from Colorado, and she was named America’s Top Young Scientist in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017 – at age 11. She’s a brilliant kid. Her award-winning project was an inexpensive device that detects the presence of lead in tap water faster than currently used…

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When a crying child is a sign of good parenting

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A father in a yellow t-shirt gently embraces and comforts a small child with curly hair who is wearing a light green shirt.

Key Takeaways Children have meltdowns over small things because they process accumulated stress, making minor incidents trigger big emotional reactions. What’s the difference between suppressing emotions and reappraising? Suppression hides feelings while reappraisal acknowledges and manages them. Parents say “you’re ok” when children cry because adults feel uncomfortable with crying and want to stop pain,…

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The ultimate holiday gift giving guide

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It’s that time of year again: Black Friday (the day when we spend more than $6 billion (and $2 billion of that on smartphones) is past, and the end-of-year holidays are on the way. Everywhere you turn there are suggestions and promotions for the best gift you can buy for your loved ones: a simple…

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