by Dr. Damon Korb Child development experts are often asked, “Which parenting style works best?” As you might expect, there is simply not a one-size fits all answer to this question. Children are different. Their temperaments are different. Temperament is a term used to describe a child’s innate and enduring behavioral and emotional tendencies. It includes traits like adaptability, activity level, mood, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. Temperament drives a child’s interactions with the world and shapes their personality. Given the diversity of children and their behaviors, one woul ..read more

By Cecilia Clark Summertime is full of outdoor fun and adventures. As parents, we want to encourage this because exercise and physical play are important building blocks in discovering the world and developing healthy habits. However, with climate change pushing temps upwards, it’s important to know how to keep your children safe and cool. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infants and children up to 4 years old are among those at the greatest risk for heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. A child’s body temperature rises much fa ..read more

by Leanne Davies Getting a new pet is an exciting time for any household, but for families with children, it’s a particularly important moment. Having a furry companion can do wonders for a child’s development, with the benefits impacting their emotional wellbeing, social skills, and confidence. Let’s take a look at the key benefits of pets for child development. Photo by Mario Beqollari on Unsplash1. Pets can provide emotional support Researchers have found that kids often mention pets when they’re asked who they’d turn to for help with a problem. Naturally, pets can’t give children any direc ..read more

This week Museum employee Terence Tang shares what growing up in the ‘70s was like for him and how he parents his teens today. Terence Tang Senior Exhibit Designer Parent to two teens Two things I learned from my parents: “I grew up in the ‘70s when chores were a necessity and allowance didn’t exist. At an early age, I was fascinated with car window wipers and squeegees. They were magical in removing water and made windows nice and clean. At around 4 years old, I recall drawing on the dew-covered windows with my fingers and then palms. That was the beginning of my first paid job. My mother wou ..read more

Today we hear from Museum employee Jenni Martin who reflects on a profound lesson her parents taught her and how she now uses this skill in parenting and in life. While parenting challenges may be different from when she was raised, Jenni still applies one of the same rules that guided her parents. Let’s learn more. Jenni Martin Director of Strategic Initiatives & CCLI Parent of a college student Things I learned from my parents: “My parents taught me so many wonderful things — it’s hard to choose! But, I think that one of the most important lessons that they taught, which I practice and c ..read more

Museum Employees Share Personal Experiences in Four-Part Series We’re kicking off a behind-the-scenes series featuring Museum staff sharing what they learned from their parents and how their parenting styles are similar and different.  Parenting has changed significantly over the years with many societal factors having shaped these differences. I’ve provided some context on a few of the big changes. Then we’ll ask my colleagues what they learned from their parents and how their parenting styles are similar and different.   A plethora of information The amount of and access to in ..read more

by Craig Scott It’s no secret that spending time outdoors is beneficial for children’s development. Not only does it give them a chance to form better social bonds with their friends, but it also provides many advantages for their physical and mental well-being. However, in a world that’s becoming increasingly obsessed with technology, children today are better acquainted with the latest gadgets than any generation prior. And whilst these devices do have many uses and will benefit children in different ways, one downside of this improved access to the many gizmos on offer is that it’s harder f ..read more

by Oliver Williams Many see gardening as a hobby for adults but there’s lots for kids to learn from getting green-fingered. Here are four ways that gardening with preschoolers and elementary school kids could help to nurture your child’s creativity and support their development. 1. Gardening can be used as sensory play Gardening is a very tactile activity that engages the senses. Kids can feel the different textures of leaves, petals and soil, smell various scents of flowers, and foliage and see a variety of colours and shapes in planters and flowerbeds. They can also engage their taste buds i ..read more

By Cecilia Clark  As human beings, we’re lucky. Every day we get to make a choice about our attitude, our outlook and what we want to do with our lives. Just as New Year resolutions offer the opportunity to make improvements on a large scale – goal-setting can happen throughout the year for all ages. Helping kids learn how to set and achieve goals is a valuable skill to hone early in life.  To help young children get familiar with personal commitments and set goals, you’ll want to set them up to succeed. That means keeping things simple and positive. Dr. Kathleen-Pearson, a clinical ..read more

Specially written for CDM.org by: Ruthie Jianna Cathy Li and Farah Lalani discussed how leveraging game-based learning can enrich a child’s education. Of course, this strategy doesn’t solely hinge on technology adoption. Home learning settings can just as seamlessly integrate creative activities and play. In our post ‘The Importance of Play’, we shared how play urges your child to go beyond what they know. Interacting with different environments or situations enables them to develop essential life skills. Emotional coping, planning, and problem-solving are necessary for expressing clear ideas ..read more