As parents and children prepare to go back to school, there’s a special cohort of kindergarteners heading to elementary school – “COVID Babies.” These 5-year-olds were born during a time of face masks, social distancing and isolation, among other preventative measures and circumstances, that undeniably affected the development of these babies and toddlers when their […]
Summer is here! School is out, summer programs and camps are underway, and routines are shifting for children, families, and educators everywhere. That’s why the summer is the perfect time to support families in continuing to nurture children’s emotional intelligence skills. We’ve created this guide to foster the home-school connection and keep children’s emotional intelligence […]
I often say that play is a child’s “work” – it is an essential part of a child’s life for their overall health, learning, and well-being through which they process their lived experiences and the world around them. Play provides children with a treasure trove of learning opportunities, and the toys they reach for and […]
Moving from the familiar, what’s known, to the unfamiliar, what’s new and not yet known, involves change – resulting in growth. Growth is a constant battle of gain and loss – a kind of tug of war between losing what feels familiar and secure as we open ourselves up to new experiences that drive us […]
What do we want most for our children? We want them to be content, successful in learning and in life, and become the best versions of themselves through the growth of character and moral development. To support our children in developing a positive sense of self, the ability to be caring, compassionate and empathetic with […]
It’s holiday time – full of music, lights, food, family and friends! The holidays present a whole host of opportunities… and challenges. It’s a time full of opportunities to engage, connect, and share with family members and friends, or perhaps just to enjoy being with oneself, which can provide us with feelings of excitement, happiness, […]
With Black Friday this week, many parents are searching for the perfect gifts for their children. Toys and books are a great way to celebrate this joyful season, and Housman Institute Founder, Dr. Donna Housman, recently had one of her six ECSELent Adventures children’s books featured in the New York Post’s “32 best Christmas gifts […]
Every year as the leaves fall to the ground in the chilly November air, I’m reminded of how much storybooks meant to me throughout my own childhood. They were an outlet that helped me begin to understand, cope with, and manage my emotions, both big and small. Now, as a clinical psychologist with over 35 […]
There is no faster time of brain development than from zero to three, and some of the most formative experiences that have lifelong consequences occur in early childhood. Because of this period of expedited development, babies’ and young children’s needs vary during these early years. That’s why I’m going to focus on age-by-age information during […]
Holiday season is expected to be the most joyous time of the year–filled with laughter and cherished moments. Let’s take the ‘h’ in “holiday” and consider what feelings we think of during this time. We typically think of happiness as the first emotional response when contemplating the holiday season. Other positive ‘h’ feelings we think […]
As a parent, you want to give the best to your children – the best food, the best toys, the best environment, and the best childcare. With the growth of full-time working parents, the demand for childcare is rising and even exceeds the supply of providers nationwide1. Selecting the right childcare center can be a challenging […]
The back-to-school season is upon us! Children all over are transitioning from summer schedules to meeting their teachers, making new friends, reuniting with classmates, learning about classroom rules, and getting used to a lot of new routines. ⬇️Be sure to read to the bottom, to get the downloadable Back to School Kit. It has worksheets, templates […]
Two researchers, Tom Kane and Sean Reardon, a professor of education and economics at Harvard and a professor of education and sociology at Stanford, respectively, recently wrote Parents Don’t Understand How Far Behind Their Kids Are in School. The two gentlemen are part of a team of researchers from Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, and the […]
Infants’ and toddlers’ mental health has suffered significantly over the past several years. Emotions are universally babies’ first language and way of experiencing the world. As such, we have an opportunity to respond empathically to infants and young children and to connect with them in order to support their emotional well-being. Related: The Ultimate Guide […]
Play is a child’s work. ~Dr. Donna Housman Play is the Key to Children’s Socialization, Learning, and Brain Development Happy Summertime! We all wait for this special season to kick-back, relax and spend more time with the children in our lives. To many, it may seem like it’s just one big continuation of what young […]
It’s hard to believe that we are entering the third year of Covid-19. It is also hard to get our heads around the fact that children under five have spent half their lives growing through the stress and uncertainty this relentless storm has wrought. What can we do to make sure that they are on […]
