Recently a dear friend of mine passed away. It has thrown me for a loop because it was unexpected and she was so young. So how to I process the grief? Many people throw themselves into their work. This only helps to keep the grief at bay. It does not help to feel the grief and move through it. I found that I could focus … Continue reading “Working” through grief – 7 tips
Instead of focusing on what you don’t want your child to do, focus on what you do want them to do.’ Instead of providing a model for an art projects, encourage them to create their own art. Instead of sending children to time out, redirect them with a new activity. Instead of memorization drills, create meaningful learning experiences. Instead of your children competing against each … Continue reading Positive Parenting Tips
Toddlers can take an active role in preparing foods. Based on your childs abilities you can get them involved by pouring, slicing, whisking, squeezing, and garnishing. Here are some ideas: Preparing finger foods by stacking foods. ex: stacking cheese on top of crackers, or cucumbers on top of toast Using a spatula to spread fruit or butter on crackers, toast or bread Stirring together ingredients … Continue reading Ways to Include your Toddler in the Kitchen
Children learn by doing. “Doing” is an active, senses-involved way of learning. Most children are tactile and learn through their senses. So “watching” you do something is using one sense – seeing. Most of us need to get to the “doing” part. Allow children to follow along with you after instructing them. Let them make mistakes. In fact, there are no mistakes because they are … Continue reading Children Learn by Doing
Babies start learning from the minute they are born. Over the course of their first year they learn so much, there are a lot of activities that you can do with infants to help with development. Below are a few activities for ages 9-12 months: A Bath Surprise: While your baby is in the bathtub, show him/her a floating toy. Cover the toy up with the wash cloth and … Continue reading Activities for Babies: 9-12 Months
We all know that children love stuffed animals and usually have a collection of them. How about having a stuff animal circus? Make a tent (drap a sheet over a table) where the animals can perform circus acts. You can even use a pillowcase at the doorway to create a “curtain”. Use the stuffed animals for story telling. Have them help act out a story that … Continue reading Toddler Play Ideas: Stuffed Animals
Babies start learning from the minute they are born. Over the course of their first year they learn so much, there are a lot of activities that you can do with infants to help with development. Below are a few activities for ages 6-9 months: The Napkin Game: Place a dinner napkin partially covering your face. Take the napkin off and say “Peek-a-boo”. Do this several times before trying … Continue reading Activities for Babies: 6-9 Months
We are cleaning Becca’s room and she finds an aspirator and asks “What’s this?”. Remember like daddy did when you had a stuffy nose, it is to clean your nose. She replied “I use my finger.” As she demonstrated her technique. Angela DiCicco, written in Feb 1991 Continue reading Heartwarmer
Fall has long been a season of celebration. Harvest parties have been in existence for centuries. Why not have a party this year using suggestions from “The Penny Whistle Halloween Book” by Meredith Brokaw and Annie Gilbar? We’ve excerpted a few of our favorite ideas. PUMPKIN DECORATIONS Hollow out and fill with dried flowers, leaves, and branches. Make a “family” by using pumpkins of different sizes. As … Continue reading Kids Korner: Harvest Time
Pumping: Pump 3-4 hours after you last nursed the baby. Wash your hands. Use clean equipment. Adjust the pump setting on low to start. Then, increase it to your comfort level. Wet the horn with water or a few drops of breast milk. Center your nipple in the horn, don’t let the nipple rub. Pull the plunger gently about half way out for the first … Continue reading How to Pump and Store Breast Milk
ART with Angela DiCicco, The Italian Grandmama's Guide 