If there is one thing to know about doing chores with your toddler, it’s this: You need to plan for it to take twice as long while looking half as good. Even if that makes the Type A side of you bristle, there are benefits to involving your little ones in household chores.
If you had asked someone this time last year to explain “social distancing,” what would they have said? As we all know, adults weren’t the only ones who had to make adjustments when the pandemic began: Kids around the world were thrust into remote schooling situations, moved playdates exclusively to video calls, and were encouraged to wear face masks in public.
Think back to your typical class schedule when you were growing up. In the course of a single day, you probably learned about science, math, art, history, language—and more. So, when you hear about the relatively new emphasis on STEAM learning, you may wonder how that’s unlike the diversified studies from years past.
By our nature, humans must be problem solvers: From our very first moments on earth, we have to figure our way around challenges, be willing to change course, and must absorb feedback from experiences. But, that’s not to say problem solving always comes easily to adults—let alone children.
I’m not a baby-feeding expert. I only have one baby so far, and he’s only nine months old, so we’re still trying things out. Here's what I've found so far.