Gina Ogden

build our children's language skills

Simple Ways To Build Our Children’s Language Skills

By / 4 minutes of reading

As parents, we often wonder how to help our toddlers and preschoolers grow into strong communicators. The good news? You don’t need flashcards, fancy toys, or structured lessons to build your child’s language skills. The most valuable tool you have is just simple everyday conversations. When we talk, listen, and engage with our kids, throughout the day, it lays a foundation for vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence in communicating. Let’s look at these simple ways to build our children’s language skills. Did you know that children who are exposed to frequent, rich conversations develop stronger language and literacy skills? This doesn’t …

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help our kids with separation anxiety

Ways to Help our Kids with Separation Anxiety

By / 6 minutes of reading

The first days of preschool, daycare, or kindergarten can be so exciting! But they can also come with a lot of nervousness. Many of our kids experience separation anxiety at drop-off, clinging tightly to a parent, not wanting to be apart. If this sounds familiar, hang in there! Separation anxiety is actually a normal and healthy stage of development. With some patience and consistency, most children quickly learn that school is a safe and happy place for them. Here are some practical ways to help our kids with separation anxiety. Why Separation Anxiety Happens Separation anxiety shows that your little …

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Let's Help Our Young Kids Make New Friends

Let’s Help Our Young Kids Make New Friends

By / 5 minutes of reading

Some of our kids are super friendly and have no trouble making friends. And some of our kids are super shy, and for them, making friends doesn’t come naturally. In this season of starting school or getting into new activities, it can be both exciting and a little scary for our kids, especially when they’re meeting new people. And yet, no matter how shy our kids are, friendship is simply another skill. And like any skill, friendship can be learned, practiced, and encouraged. So let’s look at some ways to help our young kids make new friends. Why Friendships Matter …

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first day traditions to start this year

First Day Traditions to Start This School Year

By / 3 minutes of reading

We are all well aware that August is Back to School Month! Whether your child is stepping into a classroom for the first time or heading into another school year, it’s the perfect opportunity to start some meaningful first-day-of-school traditions. Traditions bring some consistency to the newness of these first days. These small activities can help ease nerves, build excitement, and create memories for your kids to treasure. So let’s look at some simple first day traditions to start this school year. First Day Traditions to Try A Special Breakfast Kick off the day with a breakfast that feels extra …

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Celebrate National Family Fun

Celebrate National Family Fun Month

By / 5 minutes of reading

August is National Family Fun Month! It’s an entire month dedicated to making memories and enjoying time together before the busy school year begins. With schools starting earlier and earlier, we may have missed the beginning of the school year. And with the rest of us scrambling to get ready for school to start, it might not feel like a good time to add in more activities. So let’s look at this within our own realities, and at the same time, remember that it is still summertime. Family fun doesn’t have to be about expensive trips or complicated plans. Often, …

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Celebrate Hooray for Kids Day

Celebrate Hooray for Kids Day with Us

By / 4 minutes of reading

We firmly believe that every child is unique and valuable. Kids are known for their creativity, curiosity, and boundless energy. And we have a special day on the calendar to honor everything that makes our kids who they are. August 4 is Hooray for Kids Day, and it’s a wonderful reminder to pause and recognize all the things that make our kids amazing. Let’s not allow this to be just another one of those silly calendar days. Let’s make it a day to truly celebrate the children in our lives and the incredible value they bring to our families and …

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use everyday errands to sneak in some learning

Use Everyday Errands to Sneak in Some Learning

By / 4 minutes of reading

Many of us parents intend to help our kids continue learning through the summer. We say we’re going to have a daily reading time or go through a fun math workbook. Then the summer activities get going, and we get going. Summer can be such a busy season, and we often find that we might feel like we are always on the go. So why not use our trips to the store and our time in the car for little learning times? If you think about it, everyday errands are full of opportunities to help our kids learn in a …

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understanding big feelings in summertime

Understanding Big Feelings in Summertime

By / 5 minutes of reading

While summer is filled with fun, sunshine, and the freedom to be more spontaneous, it can also be full of tantrums for parents of little ones. The longer days and hotter temperatures add pressure to their physical and mental systems. And summer naturally has less structure and routine, which puts pressure on them emotionally. These things sound really bad, but let’s look at them as opportunities to grow. Summer isn’t going away, so let’s help our kids work through these pressures and learn how to handle them. Tantrums can tend to increase in the summer.  In order to help them …

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host a teddy bear picnic

Host a Teddy Bear Picnic with Your Preschooler

By / 4 minutes of reading

Today is Teddy Bear Picnic Day! It is celebrated each year on July 10th, and it’s the perfect excuse to head outside and create a little magic with your preschooler and their favorite stuffed friend. Whether it’s a full outdoor adventure or a simple backyard snack break, a teddy bear picnic is an easy way to spark our kids’ imaginations and enjoy some special time together. So why not take a few minutes today to host a teddy bear picnic with your preschooler? While this is such a simple activity, it will be such a big deal for your little …

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signs your kids can learn for July 4th

Signs Your Kids Can Learn for July 4th

By / 3 minutes of reading

Tomorrow is the 4th of July! Even though our country is in a state of anxiety and unrest, we can still celebrate with our families. No matter how we feel about current events, we can be there for each other. We can enjoy our people, appreciate our blessings, and remember what is important. And from this day of celebrating freedom, maybe we can take a little inspiration with us to help us continue going forward. We want our kids to learn, listen, and grow no matter what is going on around them as they grow up. Enough heavy stuff, right? …

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