Prenatal

Parenting in the Gray Area: Navigating the Blurry Lines of Child Behavior

Parents often struggle to distinguish between normal variations in behavior and actual behavioral problems. In truth, the line between what is considered normal and abnormal behavior is often blurred—more a matter of degree and expectations than a clear-cut difference. This is partly because “normal” behavior depends on a child’s developmental stage, which can vary widely […]

Building Strong Families

Strong families provide children with a safe and supportive environment where they can be themselves and discover who they are. Feeling secure and loved gives children the confidence to explore, take risks, and learn new things. With the reassurance of family support, they’re better equipped to handle challenges and bounce back from setbacks.     […]

Healthy Communication Skills Start at Home

  How you communicate shapes your child’s relationships with others. As a parent, you model verbal, nonverbal, and listening skills every day—through your words, tone, and actions.       How Kids Learn to Communicate   Children learn by watching and listening. A simple “Good job!” or a nod teaches them how to express themselves. […]

How To Play With Your Newborn

  Play is vital for newborn development and well-being, helping babies discover and interact with their environment.   It fosters brain connections and promotes growth.   Movement-based play enhances muscle strength and motor skills.   Verbal interactions during play boost language understanding and vocabulary.   Playing together strengthens the bond between you and your baby, […]

Can You Spoil Your Infant?

  The short answer is “No”, you can’t spoil your infant.     There’s a reason babies cry as much as they do; it’s their main (and mostly) only way they can communicate their needs. Babies cry for a number of reasons; they’re hungry, tired, overstimulated, and sometimes babies just cry even if you’ve done […]

So, Your Child Learned How to Lie

Children typically learn how to lie around two years old; it’s at this point that they have learned that you can’t watch them every second of the day, which they will take full advantage of. As children get older they learn how to mask their facial expressions and tone of voice in order to better […]

What To Do When Your Toddler is Toddlering

I don’t think that there is a single parent out there that has not felt a profound love for their toddler while also feeling like wanting to rip their hair out, out of frustration. Even the sweetest of the sweetest toddlers often know how to press our buttons as they explore and test the boundaries […]

Benefits of Creating Books with Your Child: Creating Memories and Enhancing Skills

When you create books with your child, you are not just crafting stories; you’re weaving a tapestry of personal narratives that enrich your child’s life. Creating books with your child not only fills their home library with cherished tales but also nurtures their language, social-emotional and self-expression skills.   The Benefits of Creating Books with […]

Prenatal Support With The Sparkler App

While you may know that Sparkler offers free developmental screens for children 0-5 years old and over 2000 off screen play activities for children, but did you know that Sparkler also offers expecting families prenatal support and tips?   From the first Trimester expectant parents can engage in an abundance of prenatal activities and learn […]