Teach. Play. Love. Parenting Advice for the Early Years

Sibling relationships can be complicated—camaraderie and closeness sometimes mixed with moments of intense competition and conflict. From understanding the root causes of sibling rivalry to promoting cooperation and empathy, Rachel & Claire will navigate the intricacies of sibling relationships and explore effective strategies to foster harmony among the children in your home. Get parenting advice from Rachel and Claire! You can leave them a voicemail by calling 617-673-8881 and your question may be answered in a future episode of Teach. Play. Love. You can also send them an email at [email protected].

Raising children on your own can feel overwhelming. In addition to caring for your children, it's also vital to take care of yourself. Learn how to turn to family, friends, and even strangers for support, how to use Prime Times to build connections with your children and find reassurance in your parenting. Join Rachel and Claire as they speak candidly about their own experiences with solo parenting and remind listeners that they can find joy in the journey of solo parenting. Get parenting advice from Rachel and Claire! You can leave them a voicemail by calling 617-673-8881 and your question may be answered in a future episode of Teach. Play. Love. You can also send them an email at [email protected].

Establishing a consistent routine can not only benefit your child, but also make your life as a parent or caregiver much easier. By providing predictability and structure, routines can help everyone in the family feel more confident and prepared for each day. Be sure to give children enough time to get used to new routines and once they do, you'll see your child's independence and happiness grow! Join Rachel and Claire as they discuss the importance of routines and share tips and tricks to implement simple routines to help your children through each day.

Whether you're coming inside after fun at the playground, going from playtime to bath and bed, or even just leaving the house to go to school, transitions can cause an array of complicated feelings for our children. Learn strategies to help them through these tough moments and make the day a bit easier for everyone! Transitions can be challenging moments for children and can lead to a range of complex emotions. In this episode, Rachel and Claire offer helpful strategies to support children during transitions and make the day a little easier for parents and caregivers. Whether it's establishing routines, offering choices, or incorporating enjoyable activities, you'll learn how to approach transitions with patience, empathy, and a bit of fun.

One of the key ways we can help our children grow in life is to let them fail. While it can be difficult as a parent to see your children struggle, we know we won't always be by their side to help when things get tough. Developing a child's resilience can help them prepare to tackle future challenges. We want them to have the confidence to handle anything life throws their way. Join Rachel and Claire as they discuss why it's important to let your children experience failure and strategies to help them build a growth mindset that will last them for life.

While creative art activities may seem like something that is "just for fun," they are actually key elements to child development. Remember to let your child take charge of the artistic process! Your job is to provide the rich environment and materials. Then allow your child to take the creative lead. In this episode, Rachel and Claire discuss the importance of art, how engaging with art helps children with school readiness, and how to set up a playful and joyful art experience for your child.

While separation anxiety can be tough for both parents and children, it's reassuring to know it happens because we love each other so very much. Establishing daily routines and rituals – paired with patience and grace -- will help your child trust the process. And YOU can find comfort in knowing that your child is in good hands, even on the most difficult days.

At what age should a child understand the concept of sharing, and how do we give them tools to develop this important life skill? Join our early childhood experts Rachel Robertson and Claire Goss as they share developmentally appropriate expectations around taking turns and sharing, how to practice and model sharing with your child, and when it's actually okay not to share.

Curiosity is an important skill that enhances cognitive and social-emotional development, gives your child confidence, and contributes to their love of learning. If your child is asking you a question, instead of answering, try responding with, "what do you think?" or "let's find out." Minimizing direction and instruction will help your child build that curious mindset. Learn from our early childhood experts, Rachel Robertson and Claire Goss, about the simple strategies to make time in your day to encourage curiosity.

Small developmental milestones, such as stranger awareness and imaginative play, give children the chance to think, process, wonder, and act on their curiosity. These minor, often overlooked, milestones can signify growth in cognitive, social, emotional,language, and motor skills. Learn from our early childhood experts, Rachel Robertson and Claire Goss, about just how important these milestones are and how they play a huge role in your child's early life.