Research-based ideas for parents to connect and support your kids' development

Total 44 results for... Cognitive Dev't

Curiosity and Early Motivation for Learning

Infants and toddlers are naturally curious, ready to explore the world around them.  How you respond to their exploration and curiosity will set the tone for future learning.

Is your child motivated in school?

Children have a natural drive toward growing their capability, but sometimes things get in the way. How can we strengthen their resolve to take on difficult topics and tasks, such as homework?

Adolescents & Identity Exploration

Adolescents are trying out a range of personas and roles as they explore their own identity. Supporting their explorations will allow you to know your child more deeply.

Foundational executive skills - time & schedule

Young children live very much in the present moment. But you can plant the seeds for time awareness, which will help as their executive functions mature.

Fantasy, dress-up & play-acting are good for kids!

Besides being lots of fun, imaginary play and dress up have important cognitive and emotional benefits for our kiddos. They deserve not only your full support, but engagement as well!

Fantasy, dress-up & play-acting are good for kids!

Besides being lots of fun, imaginary play and dress up have important cognitive and emotional benefits for our kiddos. They deserve not only your full support, but engagement as well!

Managing Time & Schedule

You may be pleasantly shocked to learn how much your kiddo can actually do their own time-keeping and routine-following.

Adolescents and school

School is an incredibly important environment for adolescents, and there is a lot of big work happening, completely aside from all the academics!

Teen sleep

Bedtime can cause a lot of friction between parents and teens, but they are not necessarily stalling or being irresponsible on purpose. Their natural biorhythms, as well as responsibilities and social life may all be working against them.

Managing Time & Schedule with Adolescents

You may be pleasantly shocked to learn how much your kiddo can actually do their own time-keeping and routine-following.

How to have a good school year

Prep your kiddo with a few simple steps, to start out the new year stronger than ever.

How big is the universe, and other awesome questions

Questions play a big part in cognitive development throughout childhood. And, they can help you and your child experience more awe and connection.

Grappling with Big Life Questions

Questions play a big part in cognitive development throughout childhood and adolescence. And, they can help you and your child experience more awe and connection.

Support Curiosity & Exploration

Questions play a big part in cognitive development throughout childhood. And, they can help you and your child experience more awe and connection.

Paying attention to transitions

Transitions are difficult for most people, and cause anxiety. When small humans feel anxiety, they need to reaffirm their connection with you.

Make Transitions Go More Smoothly

Transitions are difficult for most people, and cause anxiety. When small humans feel anxiety, they need to reaffirm their connection with you.

Teaching about body boundaries & consent

The foundation for consent starts very young, and parents and caregivers have a significant role to play.

Make Transitions Meaningful

Transitions are difficult for most people, and cause anxiety. When small humans feel anxiety, they need to reaffirm their connection with you.

Help form good sleep habits

Good sleep can look very different for different kids and families, and most humans don’t always "sleep through the night.” Support your child in developing lifelong healthy sleep habits.

Develop good sleep habits

Good sleep can look very different for different kids and families, and most humans don’t always "sleep through the night.” Support your child in developing lifelong healthy sleep habits.

Money talks (with your kids)

Money can feel like a sticky topic, but learning about money is an essential skill-building endeavor, that will support your child throughout life.

What to do with unhelpful thoughts?

While it’s important for your child to sometimes feel their negative emotions, research also shows that we have cognitive tools to mitigate them. Read on for ways to navigate this dance.

Encouraging literacy

Reading skills help out in life in profound practical ways, and can also be a source of great enjoyment. No matter your child's pace of learning, here are some ways to work together and encourage literacy.

Lean into routine

Routines sometimes get a bad rap in our adrenaline-seeking culture. But after a time of high stimulation, the security and calming effect of getting back into a routine is exactly what we need.

The power of reflection

The practice of reflecting back (with self-compassion) on how events went, how you felt about them, and what you hope for going forward, is essential to self-esteem and helps make better choices.

Help your child learn better with self-explanation

Self-explanation, otherwise known as re-explaining a concept in your own words, is a powerful way to deepen understanding and comprehension, in school work, and beyond.

Encouraging creativity for life

The real benefits of creativity kids are internal: getting into the flow state, developing flexibility, trusting their inner voice, growing in competency, and realizing their own vision, among others.

Principles for managing screen time

Digital technology has many benefits, as well as many potential negative effects for children's well-being. Engage with your child in proactively managing screens.

Partnering with your child's teacher & school

Your child will learn best if you partner with their teacher to reinforce their learning at home. Read on for strategies.

Go with FLOW

Flow, defined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is an optimum state of deep immersion and engagement in an activity, with big benefits for well-being and performance. Help create the conditions for your child to flow.

Explore the world with the scientific method

Summer is great time for kids to explore the natural world and practice the scientific method at the same time.

Being flexible and taking change in stride

Life doesn't always go according to plan. But there's no need to wallow in regret - we can help our kiddos process these curveballs and bounce back.

Great expectations for your child

Lots of research backs up the notion that kids perform better when we expect more of them... except when we expect too much. Here's how the get the balance right.

Encouraging creativity for life

The real benefits of creativity kids are internal: getting into the flow state, developing flexibility, trusting their inner voice, growing in competency, and realizing their own vision, among others.

For good moods, set good structure

Every activity we do impacts the way we feel. Structure your family's day to achieve balance and wellbeing.

Principles for managing screen time

Digital technology has many benefits, as well as many potential negative effects for children's well-being. Engage with your child in proactively managing screens.

How can you support math at home?

Many people think of math as an isolated (and sometimes disliked) class in school, but your child will benefit greatly from thinking and talking math at home.

Best practices to foster reading

It's a great time of year to prioritize literacy. Here are some ways you can help as a parent.

The many benefits of making gifts together

A collaborative family gift-making session is a special way to spend time, connect, make lasting memories and more.

Partnering with your child's teacher & school

Your child will learn best if you partner with their teacher to reinforce their learning at home. Read on for strategies.

Explore the world with the scientific method

Summer is great time for kids to explore the natural world and practice the scientific method at the same time.

Loss and Making the best of Plan D

Life doesn't always go according to plan. But there's no need to wallow in regret - we can help our kiddos process these curveballs and bounce back.

Structure your family's day for wellbeing

Every activity we do impacts the way we feel. Structure your family's day to achieve balance and wellbeing.

Use this time for FLOW

Kids learn best when they reach flow – a state of deep immersion and engagement in their work or project. The good news is, you can create the conditions for flow at home.

What's YOUR parenting style? Find out!

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