Latest Posts
#51: The Benefits of Play with Dr. Stephanie Goloway
Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #51: The Benefits of Play with Dr. Stephanie Goloway What are the benefits of play, besides entertaining your child? Our guest today says there's lots more going on when you simply play and interact with your...
#39: What Happens When Your Child Puts on a Costume? Developmental Play!
Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #39: What Happens When Your Child Puts on a Costume? Developmental Play! with Ann McKitrick It's that time of year when kids like to wear their Halloween costume any chance they get and I say, let 'em! It seems like just a...
#34: What Grandparents Need to Know
Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #34: What Grandparents Need to Know Grandparents, aunties, uncles, extended family all play an important role in your baby's life. Babies have a way of bringing a new dimension to families and learning what works for your...
#32: Birthday Party Planning for Babies and Toddlers with Kim Morrison
Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #32: Birthday Party Planning for Babies and Toddlers with Kim Morrison, The Hygge Gathering It's an amazing milestone ~ you all made it through the first year! Now it's time to do some birthday party planning....
#28: Exploring Parenting Styles: RIE with Erica Orosco Cruz
Parenting in the First 3 Years Podcast #28: Exploring Parenting Styles: RIE with Erica Orosco Cruz Finding your own personal parenting style when you first have a baby takes time. There are so many people and approaches to glean from as you find what...
Why your toddler needs to play with puzzles
Why should you get some puzzles for your toddler? Play is essential for toddlers - it's how they figure things out. They need opportunities to play with good toys and materials and use their imagination. Puzzles fit the bill! They provide lots of learning - from...
Can toddlers write?
Can toddlers write? As soon as your little one becomes interested, you can give them some big paper and a marker to get them started. Learning to make a mark on the page is actually an important part of early literacy, which begins in the first three years of life....
How to make playdough with your child
Making playdough with toddlers. We had a tray on the shelf with all the playdough ingredients and made a fresh batch about every 2 weeks. When I was a teacher, our class loved making playdough. We pull out the tray of ingredients and the kids would take turns dumping...
How to choose toys for babies
We've got a closet full of toys upstairs in the kids room. When the grandkids are here, they spend LOTS of time playing up there! In fact, sometimes when we're FaceTiming now, I'll walk up there and we'll "visit" the toys and they get so excited! 😂 If you were here,...
Who is that baby? Mirror fun
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Toddler Fun With Boxes
Are you looking for fun activities you can do at home with your toddler? Learn about how you can use shipping boxes to create fun activities for your toddler.
Playing Peekaboo With Your Child
Do you have a young child and wonder why they love to play Peekaboo? Read about why they love to play this popular game and how it helps with their development.
How You Can Organize Fun Activities for Your Kids at Home
Are you looking for ways that you can organize and create fun activities for your kids while at home? Learn about some fun activities that we think will help!
How to Create Fun Learning Activities with Tape
Have you ever wondered how you can create fun learning activities for your kids with items around the house? Learn about how a roll of tape is all you need!
What happens when a child puts on a costume?
What's going on in that little mind? If you are one who joins the celebration of this holiday, you’ve probably got a costume for your child and depending on their age, they either tolerate being dressed up (or not!) or love putting it on and instantly becoming the...
5 important things that happen in the first two years
The all-important first two years Your child's early learning and development has far-reaching implications for the future of the economy, the political climate and international relations. Crazy to think that what you do each day as a parent has that kind of...
3 Things That Every Parent Does Naturally
Even people who say they have "no clue what to do with babies" will instinctively do exactly what's necessary to enhance development as they singsong talk, make faces and gaze at their face as they hold them. We act differently with infants than we do with adults or...
“Loose Parts” Play: Problem solving and creativity with everyday stuff
Every moment your baby is awake they are learning something. You know this already. But when it comes to “teaching” your baby, it’s easy to put learning into categories — when you go to the park, she’s learning about trees and flowers, when you read a book, she’s...
4 Easy ways to encourage pretend play
Cadence loves to pretend to be “Grump Cera”, a baby dinosaur from the movie Land Before Time and she’s got it down! For over a year she's focused on this one character, honing her dinosaur skills as she plays. Note how she holds her body, kicks her foot slightly about...
Lining up blocks… what does this tell us?
Block Play! Last week we got to hang out with Megan, Josh, and the grandkids! We live far apart so when we spend time together, it’s really special. And of course, since I love all things child development, it’s fun to see how the kids have grown, what they like to...
Make Playdough Together
Best Playdough Recipe Ever Everybody loves playdough, especially me. It’s a universal soother for toddlers through grownups! It lends itself to great conversation and imaginative play (everybody makes playdough snakes and slithers them around the table…) Make a fresh...
20 Developmentally-Appropriate Activities for Your 6-9 Month Old
Your baby is constantly growing and learning. At 6-9 months, you baby has a whole host of new skills! Learn 20 developmentally appropriate activities for you and your 6-9 month old to enjoy together.
12 Fun Activities for your 3-6 Month Old
Racking your brain for how to play with your 3-6 month old? Learn 12 fun activities to do with your baby!
20 Ways to Play with a 0-3 Month Old
We all know 0-3 month olds pretty much eat, sleep, and poop. But what do we do with them when they’re awake? Learn 20 ways to play with your 0-3 month old.
Six Key Elements of Meaningful Play
You know it’s important for your child to play, but what exactly should the play consist of? Learn six key elements of meaningful play and how you can help enrich your child’s playtime.
The Significance of Creative Movement for Kids
Creative movement is an excellent tool for engaging children. Learn how and why creative movement should be used at home and in school.
The Power of Mirror Play
Learn how mirrors can have a powerful impact on a child’s development.
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About ann
I’m a child development specialist, parent coach and teacher trainer. I’ve cared for countless babies in child development programs, plus 3 kids, 3 grand babies and 5 foster babies! I LOVE babies and would come hold yours if I could. ❤️
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