It is 2017… Happy New Year!!! 8 Successful Habits You Can Learn from Toddlers

January 3, 2017

Every toddler embodies the traits of success. In the way they carry themselves and live life, there are a lot of habits we can learn from young kids that will help us grow, no matter how old we get as adults. That means learning to let go of some bad habits, and reprogramming ourselves to go back to basics.
You might be surprised to learn many of the amazing, successful habits you once had as a child. From speaking your mind to asking for help, you can learn a lot from the “you” that existed long before the “real world” burdened you with self-doubt, perfectionism, and day jobs. Here are eight successful habits you can learn from a toddler!

1. Express Yourself
Toddlers are not afraid to express themselves, in almost any way, shape, or form. They do what comes to mind without thinking about judgment from others.
This doesn’t mean you should say everything that comes to mind all of the time; however, learning to speak your mind more often and put less weight on what others think is a trait you’ll find in most of the world’s most successful people.

2. Take More Risks
If you ever watch a toddler run and play, you probably came close to an anxiety attack. That’s because they take risks at every turn. As adults, we can learn from this. Not to run around care-free, throwing caution to the wind, but to take more risks in life.
It’s the things we don’t do in life that we regret, so don’t be afraid of new adventures simply because you’re afraid to fail. Your three-year-old self wouldn’t.

3. Have Fun Exercising
Kids don’t exercise; they have fun. As adults, we’re constantly told we need to exercise. The problem is, the vast majority of us hate the idea of traditional exercising (i.e. going to a gym). So instead of finding a fun way to exercise, we don’t exercise at all.
Think like a child and write down some activities you enjoy that could also help you be more active. It may be a matter of just going on a walk. Don’t think about losing weight at first; simply get out and have fun.

4. Always Be Curious and Learning
How often do you find yourself learning new things for the sake of learning new things? “Not anymore,” you may be thinking.
One of the best ways to grow personally and professionally is to have a curious mind and learn as much as possible. You’ll find that opening yourself up to new lessons and experiences can make you a better and happier person.

5. Have Faith
If there’s one habit to take away from a child, it’s faith. Not religious faith, but faith that everything will be okay. That’s not to say you can simply be an eternal optimist and life will get better; however, being positive is a habit that can pay dividends in all parts of life.

6. Learn to Forgive Quickly
There is no doubt that toddlers can get really, really angry. But unlike adults, who can hold grudges for a lifetime, toddlers forgive quickly and move on to being curious and having fun. They usually don’t waste too much time on negative emotions.
If there’s one habit you take away from all of this, it should be this one. Yes, get your feelings off of your chest. Scream and cry if you have to, but forgive people and move on. You gain nothing by holding things in, being passive aggressive, or vengeful toward others.

7. Don’t Let “Time” Hold You Back
“I just don’t have time for that,” is something you probably say ten or more times a day. And yet, you have time to read this article, keep up with half a dozen TV shows, and spend nearly an hour each day checking Facebook. Just Facebook!
How often do you hear a child say they don’t have time for something? If they want to do something, they simply start doing it. Stop overthinking “time” as a setback and simply start doing the things you actually want to do with your life.

8. Ask for Help When You Need It
We all want to be strong and make it on our own without feeling indebted to others. But does not asking for help when you need it make you strong? You might’ve started believing the story that if you ask for help it’s a sign of weakness. You do that to your detriment. You might just end up in a weaker position because you failed to ask for the help that you needed.
Children can often be hard headed, but they know when to ask for help. People want to help. Swallow your pride and simply ask for it. You’ll probably end up much better for it.
If you have a children in your life you most likely sit in awe from time to time at the fearlessness and wonder they bring to the world. It’s time to inject a bit of that into your own life as well. Apply each of these lessons and you may just start building quite a few habits necessary for success!

Article Credit: Inc.com John Boitnott, Journalist

December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month

December 8, 2016

In recent years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has created a robust toy safety system, by requiring testing by independent, third party testing laboratories around the world; enforcing stringent lead and phthalates limits for toys; imposing some of the most stringent toy standards in the world; and stopping violative and dangerous toys at the ports and in the marketplace before they reach children’s hands. These combined efforts continue to foster the confidence of American families as they prepare to shop for toys this holiday season.
Safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season:
Balloons
Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than eight years old. Discard broken balloons immediately.
Small balls and other toys with small parts
For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
Scooters and other riding toys
Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times and they should be sized to fit.
Magnets
High-powered magnet sets are dangerous and should be kept away from children. Whether marketed for children or adults, building and play sets with small magnets should also be kept away from small children.
Once gifts are open:
Immediately discard plastic wrapping or other toy packaging before the wrapping and packaging become dangerous play things.
Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
Battery charging should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any mechanism to prevent overcharging.
Toy Safety Guides
The CPSC provides free safety alerts, guides, posters, brochures, handbooks and other materials which you can use to help spread consumer product safety information in your community.
Choking Hazard: Plastic Film on Toys and Other Children’s Products »
Strings and Straps on Toys Can Strangle Young Children »
Ingested Magnets Can Cause Serious Intestinal Injuries »
Balloons Can be Suffocation Danger to Kids »
Caps for Toy Guns »
Electric Toy Safety »
Child Safety Protection Act Fact Sheet »
CPSC Warns Consumers of Dangers with Toy Chest Lids »
Button Battery Safety Quiz »
Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2014/Global-System-of-Toy-Safety-Works-to-Keep-Kids-Safe-This-Holiday-Season-Recalls-Down-Port-Seizures-Up-/

10 Things Every Parent Should Know about Play

November 28, 2016

10 Things Every Parent Should Know about Play

by Laurel Bongiorno

1. Children learn through their play.

Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop:

cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store

physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground

new vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs

social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash

literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant

2. Play is healthy.

Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.

3. Play reduces stress.

Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.

4. Play is more than meets the eye.

Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-–to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.

5. Make time for play.

As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.

6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand.

They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab.

7. Play outside.

Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.

8. There’s a lot to learn about play.

There’s a lot written on children and play. Here are some NAEYC articles and books about play. David Elkind’s The Power of Play (Da Capo, 2007 reprint) is also a great resource.

9. Trust your own playful instincts.

Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.

10. Play is a child’s context for learning.

Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.

Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, is the director of Champlain College’s graduate program in early childhood education, with specializations in teaching and administration, in Burlington, Vermont. She has taught preschool, directed early childhood programs, and studied parents’ perceptions of preschoolers’ learning through play.

© National Association for the Education of Young Children — Promoting excellence in early childhood education