Triad Moms on Main Highlights Ways to Explore Through Movement and Play

Coretta Walker, project manager with Ready for School, Ready for Life, wrote a blog post for Triad Moms on Main highlighting ways to take your child outside to Explore Through Movement and Play this summer. Her suggestions include having “tummy time” outside, going for a walk or blowing bubbles. Read the full blog post here.

 

Triad Moms on Main Features Basics on Blog

Megan LeFaivre, literacy coordinator for Ready for School, Ready for Life, wrote a blog post for Triad Moms on Main highlighting the five Basics and their importance in preparing children for school and for life.

LeFaivre wrote: “Children learn new things every day, starting on the day they are born. In fact, research shows that 80% of a child’s brain growth happens before the age of three. A good foundation in these early years can be critical in helping a child succeed both when their formal education begins and later in life. While this may seem a bit overwhelming, there are Basic things parents and caregivers can do with babies and toddlers to help lay the groundwork for success.”

Read the full blog post here.

WFMY Focuses on Creating Routines

Mia Gray of Greensboro Day School recently spoke to WFMY about how creating a routine for your child can help Maximize Love, Manage Stress. She also offered suggestions on creating a routine for infants and toddlers. Her tips included following infants natural schedules for the first few months and setting consistent bedtimes for toddlers. Watch the segment here.

Triad Moms on Main Highlights Role of Music in Child Development

Babies and young children love listening to music, but did you know it’s one of the key ways they learn as well? Babies and young children understand the emotion and meaning behind sounds before they understand the meaning behind words, so music is an incredible tool for connecting and bonding with your child and for learning about the world.

Maryrose Nelson with Voices Together wrote a great blog post for Triad Moms On Main about how you can Talk, Sing and Point to connect with your child and help with their learning and development.

Read the blog post here.

The Importance of Outside Play

Certified Parks and Recreation Specialist Shelli Scott spoke to WFMY about the importance of outside play and nature exploration for young children, even during the winter months. She also offered suggestions of fun things parents and children can do outside during the winter. Check out her interview here.

The Importance of Singing to Young Children

Maryrose Nelson, a board-certified music therapist with Voices Together, spoke to WFMY about the importance of singing to young children. For example, babies understand emotion and sound before they understand the meaning of words, so music can be a great way to bond with your young child. She also talked about using songs to help create routines, such as singing the same song while getting your baby dressed every morning. Watch the full interview here.

How to Read and Discuss Stories with Infants

Pam Bacot with Reach Out and Read Carolinas spoke to WFMY News 2 about how to Read and Discuss Stories with infants. Her tips include:

  • Find interactive books to read. Tactile books with flaps, mirrors, textures, and sounds help keep babies engaged.
  • Do a “picture walk” and simply talk about the pictures you see and or make up any story you want.
  • Incorporate reading into your child’s bedtime routine. Reading before bed gives your baby a chance to calm down and connect with you.

See the full segment here.

Triad Moms on Main Highlights Ways to Count, Group and Compare

In a blog post for Triad Moms on Main, Ariel Everett with Greensboro Day School wrote about ways to Count, Group and Compare with young children to help build early math skills. Included in her tips are:

  • At the grocery store, count the produce as you place it into bags. For example, you can say, “we need four red and three green apples.” Count each color individually as you place them into the bag. Then, after you get home, you can discuss how many there are in total.
  • Include your child in on cooking and baking. You can give them tasks where they help scoop a certain amount of ingredients into the bowl. Make sure you count aloud with them!
  • Explore what happens when you add or take away items from a group. For example, at snack time ask your child: “You have three crackers. How many will you have if you eat one?”

For more tips, read the blog post here.

Triad Moms on Main Spotlight Explore Through Movement and Play

In a blog post for Triad Moms on Main, Shelli Scott wrote about ways parents can take advantage of the nice spring and summer weather to get outside and Explore Through Movement and Play with their infants and toddlers. Included in her tips are:

  • Create nature art: Everyday objects found outside can be turned into a unique piece of art. Grab some paper and glue and have your child make different patterns or even a self-portrait by gluing common items, like leaves and sticks to the paper. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind keepsake too!
  • Stargaze or cloud watch: Let your child’s imagination run with a simple activity of stargazing or watching clouds. You’ll be surprised what they come up with! If your child sees an animal in the clouds, ask some open ended questions to get a conversation flowing: What do you think it ate for lunch today? Where do you think it came from? What is it doing now?

Read the full blog post and all of her suggestions here.

Triad Moms on Main Focus on “Basic” Ways to Reduce Stress

Heather Adams, the director of engagement and literacy initiatives for Ready for School, Ready for Life, wrote a blog post for Triad Moms on Main on ways parents can use The Basics to help reduce both their child’s stress and their own. Her tips include:

  • Have a routine. Settle into a consistent schedule for daily activities like feeding, naps, bathing, reading and bedtime.
  • Go easy on yourself. Life can feel overwhelming and we all make mistakes. Focus on the big picture and be gentle with yourself when things don’t go as planned.

Read the full blog post and see all of Heather’s tips here.

WFMY Highlights the Importance of Play

Shelli Scott, the youth program specialist with the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department, talked to the Good Morning Show about the importance of play in the growth and development of young children. She also provides suggestions on easy ways parents can play and interact with babies to help stimulate their minds and bodies. The segment can be seen here.

Guilford Basics