Category Archive:
Social/emotional needs

Using A Child’s Positive Psychology

using a child's positive psychology

Children under the age of seven are in a developmental period for creating social relationships. Children want to connect and develop bonds of trust, respect and love with the people around them. Children are designed to want to connect positively with the adults in their lives. Children are naturally motivated to love. Unfortunately, the dynamics […]


The Myth Of Sharing

myth of sharing

Parents, picture this scene: Your folks stop by to visit with two people you don’t know, but are close to your age. Your dad says, “Give me your car keys, please. John saw your new car and he wants to take it for a spin. I know you’d want to share. Oh, and Sue wants […]


Imagination In The Young Child

imagination in the young child

Imagination is the ability to visualize something that is not physically present. Infants have little if any imagination. If the familiar is gone, distress and tears usually follow. A new situation, such as being left alone, can be painful to the child until the child learns that this situation is safe or parents return. Experiences, […]


The Child Has Time Sensitive Opportunities For Growth

child has time sensitive opportunities for growth

“No.” If we could have one word to associate with a two-year-old, it would be the word “no”. When a two-year-old realizes that he or she has the power to decide by saying a simple yes or no, we can observe a time-sensitive period in a child’s development. Establishing independence around age two, and exerting […]


The Child Is Always Becoming

the child is always becoming

Whether we know it or not, each of us is on a continuum of growth. Not being open to growth and change, though, can make us falter on our journey through life. We all know people who have eddied out of the flow of life. They appear stuck in a routine and can’t seem to […]


The Child’s Love Of Place

child's love of place

“Education should be a social and human endeavor of interest to all.” ~Maria Montessori “We want to go see Ms. Maren,” was the request of three of my former preschool students. Their mother, Pat, made arrangements for the boys to visit after school. The day arrived, and the boys came through the door, gave me […]


A Child’s Natural Love For The Adult

child's natural love of the adult

In my kitchen at the back of the drawer that holds the hotpads, is a green oven mitt. Worn, with a few holes in it, the mitt is visible every time I open the drawer. Its mate, regrettably, was lost in a move. The mitt’s been around for almost 30 years. It is my hope […]


Five Dangerous Behaviors

five dangerous behaviors

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi We have all experienced the person. The person with the negative attitude whose dark cloud metastasizes throughout a relationship, family, business or community, bringing discord, disorder and disaster. In order to maintain harmonious relationships, Stephen Covey in The 8th Habit says […]


Watch My Interview

This event is in full swing! Click here to watch my 20 minute interview. Over the next two weeks there will be interviews with lots of great folks.  Join in! Dr. Laura Markham Lori Petro Tracy Cutchlow Maren Schmidt Jessica Martin-Weber Amy Bryant Karen Young Kim Payne Claire Heffron and Lauren Drobnjak Jane Nelsen Liz Barker-Aquino […]


Gardening: Teaching Children to Love The Earth

gardening teaching children to love the earth

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.Cicero (106 BC –43 BC) The look of wonder in a young child’s eyes reigns eternal, as the magic of a bean sprouting in a paper cup reveals itself. The bean emerging green from the earth begins a youngster’s understanding of a law […]