child development

Is your little one more interested in eating her board books than listening to your lovely narration? Don't fret, tasting books is practically a prerequisite for learning to read. But if you'd like to take it beyond this to really engage her in reading, consider these 7 mom-recommended strategies for encouraging a toddler's interest in books and language.

1. Stick to Short Sessions

Most toddlers simply don’t have the attention span for long stories. To ensure reading doesn't become a chore for your child, begin with very brief sessions. As Louise G. suggests: “Start with 2 minutes of pointing and teaching words and gradually extend the time to 5 minutes.”

2. Don't Force Sitting

Does your son want to wiggle and dance while you read? Many moms, including Sandra M., say you should allow toddlers to move and play during story time. “I agree with letting him play while you read. He will probably wander back and forth to see pictures, especially if it's a book that he likes. Jamie F. concurs: “The goal here is not to finish a book or even make them sit still! It is to expose them to idea of reading.”

3. Touch-Friendly Books

From turning pages to pulling flaps and patting the bunny, toddlers love hands-on reading sessions. As Stacy G. advises: “Find a book that is 'active': has buttons to push to make noises, has pictures that 'pop out,' or has different textures that your child can feel." Since toddlers tend to play (and chew) roughly, moms like LadyJane B. suggest investing in sturdy board or cloth books.

4. Verbal Engagement

Asking questions, imitating sounds, narrating in silly voices and reading rhyming stories can also ramp up story time's fun factor. JuLeah W. recommends posing simple questions to your child: “Ask on each page, ‘Where is the duck?’ or ‘What color is that truck?’...‘Can you find the ball on this page?’ It will be more fun for him if he can play that kind of role.” And Lakisha J. suggests: “Naming the objects, and making the sounds that the object or animal makes, is so much fun, and will help your son to engage in the process of reading.”

5. Visuals Toddlers Love

If you're having trouble finding a book that really gets your toddler excited, keep in mind that most toddlers love looking at bright colors and animals. As Michelle W. recalls: "I found that books with pictures of animals were big hits with the kids in my class at day care (infant and toddler room)." And as moms like Michelle H. share, most babies love looking at other babies, so books that feature babies' and children's faces are often very absorbing.

6. Try Different Times

"Will he let you read while he's busy doing something else?" asks Sylvia H. " Or when he's in the bath? Or at bedtime when he's almost asleep?" Try reading to your child at various times of day to see when he's most receptive to listening. As Mary S. suggests: “Don't limit reading to your children to bedtime. Visit a library and pull out some books, get comfy and read, look at the pictures, etc."

7. Model Behavior

“Let him see you reading your own books,” recommends Stacey G. “Children love to mimic their parents.” Similarly, Ellie H. suggests enthusiastically reading your children's books aloud while they're playing nearby: “I pulled the oldest trick in the book. I played with the books and read them!...Pretty soon, my kids were putting down the other toy and coming over to check things out.”

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It isn't necessarily a parenting failure if your child isn't potty trained by age three. Many moms and pediatric physicians agree that while three is a reasonable target date, all is not lost if your child doesn't hit that bullseye.

"Just like learning to walk, talk, or a ride a bike, it will happen when the toddler is ready, and you can't rush it," says Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann on the Healthy Children website. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the editor-in-chief of the book The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate The Major Developmental Milestones. "As a general rule of thumb, children are developmentally ready to use the potty around the age of 3. However, remember that children develop at different rates and that not all children are ready at the age of 3."

As moms will tell it, this can be especially true of boys.

Just ask the ones who are in the potty training trenches. Joy B. recently shared on Circle of Moms that her 3 year-old son has no interest in giving up his diapers: "My son is 3 (he'll be 4 in October) and still flat out refuses to go on the toilet. He'll sit on it, read on it, sing and say his ABC's on it but he won't go," she shares. "My niece was trained by the time she was 2 but my nephews....one was 4 and the other was 4 and a half, so I think with boys in general, they take longer to learn."

Courtney C. tells a similar story: "My son is 3 and a half, he just recently got consistent with the potty. It'll happen when he's ready and not a moment sooner," she writes.

Amber R. thinks parents just shouldn't feel so much pressure to have a child potty trained by a predetermined age: "For the life of me, I will never understand why there is such pressure to have a kid potty trained by three. I understand that that is the general age, and that it's okay to train when they are three, but only if they are ready and willing at three," she posts in a community for moms of toddlers. "It will come. Don't stress. I have six kids. One trained at almost four, another trained at 21 months. It's fine."

So agrees pediatrician and parenting guru T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., who authored Toilet Training The Brazelton Way and is regularly featured in the New York Times Health Section, where he addresses pediatric medical questions posed by readers.

In his book (excerpted in the Best Nanny Newsletter), Brazelton discussed the importance of getting the child to buy into potty training, explaining, "I would urge that we keep in mind the child's own role in his (or her) toilet training."

In his private practice, Brazelton studied the potty training progress of nearly 1,200 families that were willing to take a "waiting-and-watching" approach, allowing their child to indicate when he or she was ready.

Brazelton says the incidence of constipation (which may be a response to the pressure to potty train before ready) was reduced in younger children, and that when parents followed the child's cue rather than forcing potty compliance, very few (1% ) of the five year-olds studied were still wetting the bed.

Brazelton concludes that it was "more effective to wait until the child showed signs of readiness for toilet training and readiness to feel that it would be his (or her) own achievement."

Making potty training "his own achievement" by using a potty chart is how Regina B. was able to train her son in 2009.

For a while the chart had only a few stickers, but this quickly changed when "he figured out what got him treats like going to McDonalds for lunch or a small toy." And as he did better, she increased the number of stickers (one for each successful visit to the potty) that he had to earn in order to get a treat.

And as Brazleton's research indicated, she reports a natural and peaceful transition out out diapers: "He never seemed to notice that it was taking longer to get one. After a while we just stopped, after he was going potty without even asking to put up a sticker or get a treat."

Image Source: Todd Morris via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

As the kindergarten year draws to a close, many parents are left worried their child isn’t fully prepared to take on 1st grade. Perhaps your daughter seriously struggled with learning letters or other concepts, or your son has a summer birthday doesn’t have the same emotional maturity of his peers. While current research doesn’t suggest that retaining children gives them an advantage, anecdotal evidence of retention success stories abound. So what’s a mom to do? There’s no easy decision, but many Circle of Moms members who have been through the experience have shared several points of view to consider.

Why Do Moms Support Kindergarten Retention?

Many Circle of Moms members support kindergarten rentention both for children who are behind academically or are socially immature. As Meghan H. shares, the extra year can offer a great confidence boost to children who struggled with kindergarten concepts the first year, and can reinvigorate their excitement about school and learning: “He is so excited when he 'gets' something and comes home and says he finished all his work. He is learning so much that he didn't learn last year and I think he would have drowned under the more strict schedule of 1st grade.” Indeed, moms like Amy regret not holding their child back for that very reason: “I wish we had had my daughter repeat kindergarten. I actually asked for her to repeat and was told no. She struggled so much in grade 1 and it took a huge toll on her self-esteem."

Other Circle of Moms members, including Jane H., are glad they retained their children for maturity reasons: “My 14 year-old son we held back because his social skills were lacking and he was the absolute youngest in his class. He was a little bored to repeat kindergarten academically but socially it was the best thing we ever did."

Marcia O. agrees: "I had my youngest son repeat kindergarten because he was fine academically but he wasn't mature enough. And that was the best thing for him. If I had to, I would do it the same all over again."

And while kids may at first feel bad about repeating the grade, as moms like Lisa F. argues, the stigma associated with repeating a grade is far worse as children get older: “Better to have him repeat kindergarten now and be fully and adequately prepared for first grade than have to be held back later on. At this age, kids don't realize the stigma of being held back like they do when they're older.”

The Case Against Rentention

Not all moms are in favor of retention, however. Despite the many successful rentention tales Circle of Moms members are sharing, current research doesn’t suggest that retaining children actually gives them an academic advantage.

As a result, many argue that the best response to delayed academic progress is not a second year in kindergarten, but rather summer tutoring and extra help on weak areas during the 1st year.

Moms also express concern that if their children are held back for social immaturity reasons, they won't be challenged academically. This is Nonie F. situation. Her daughter's teacher was worried that she wasn't going to be mature enough for first grade. "My only concern with this was that academically she's right on with the rest of her classmates and I didn't want her to get "bored" with doing the same thing next year (she's usually the first one done with her work and then starts talking/disrupting)."

Furthermore, even at the kindergarten stage, children may encounter negative comments or stigma about repeating a grade.

Making the Decision

Ultimately, kindergarten retention is a deeply personal decision. Circle of Moms members who have been through the experience encourage both seeking teacher input and also trusting your gut feeling. As Tracy J. advised: "Speak to his teacher and let her help to assess the concern. You do not want your son to become frustrated and have negative feelings towards school. And listen to your gut, it is usually correct." Jessica F. concurs: "Talk to his teachers and get their opinions but ultimately I would likely go with my gut instinct."

Explaining Retention to Your Child

If you do decide to have your child repeat kindergarten, realize that your child will take cues from you and others on how to perceive the decision. As Amanda K. shares: “We did have to explain to our son that he was a very smart child and that it was our decision for him to stay back another year and get better before he moved on though.” Similarly, Crissy R. shares: "I told her doing kindergarten again is not a bad thing at all it just means she has more time to study and practice.” Above all, keep things positive, Diedre S. advised: “Model for her how to respond to (or ignore) negative comments as needed, and tell her how proud you are of her.”

What do you think about a second year in kindergarten?

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Do your preschooler’s playdates devolve into grabby toy tug-of-wars? Try these 5 strategies suggested by Circle of Moms members for reducing toy squabbles and teaching young children to share.

1. Set a Good Example

As Circle of Moms members like Andrea C. suggest, modeling good sharing behavior is key to teaching a child to share: “Try playing with him at home and offer to share what you have with him. If you both have something to play with, you can tell him ‘I’ll share my toy with you and you can share your toy with me.’ Give him your toy and see if he gives you his (at the same time)."

2. Praise Positive Behavior

Praising generosity can also encourage sharing. Heather S. explains: “Instead of punishing when he doesn’t share, reward him when he does. Make a big deal out of it. 'Ooh' and 'aah' over him for sharing. He’ll catch on eventually that it is a good thing to share…Give him good attention for good things he does and he will reward you with better behavior.”

3. Be Time-Sensitive and Realistic

Young children often worry that sharing means their toys are gone forever. As a result, try imposing time limits on how long shared toys can be played with. Preschool teacher Vanessa A. also advises that parents' sharing expectations should be realistic: “If he only has a small piece of cake, is it realistic to expect him to give some of it away? If it’s his brand-new toy that he's just opened up, or if it’s a toy that demands he be actively involved, can he just drop what he's doing and give it to someone else?”

4. Make Some Toys Share-Free

It’s natural for children to begin developing a sense of ownership. Many Circle of Moms members, including Angie D., encourage letting children have some share-free toys: “Maybe you could try telling your 4 year old she can pick a couple toys of hers that are off limits to the little one but she has to share the rest of them.” Savannah R. agrees: “My oldest son has a blankie that he doesn't have to share and my little one has a stuffed puppy that he doesn’t have to share. It seems to make them happier, knowing that they do have something that is ‘just theirs’ and they don't mind sharing the rest of the toys as much."

5. Enforce Consequences

If a child continues refusing to share, many moms recommend enforcing consequences, and in particular, taking away the toy in question. As mother of one Charlotte D. shared: “If he doesn’t want to share his toys when friends come over to play I just take everything away and tell him, ‘If you and your friends can play nicely together you can have your toys back.’ It works every time.”

As I was reading through some Circle of Moms conversations this week, I was struck by a great question posed by Amy K.: "How do I punish bad behavior without hurting feelings?” That’s a complicated question, and I’m hoping this article will help.

New Stages, New Behaviors

Did you know that your child shifts the way he or she looks at things after each developmental change?

When your daughter emerges from a developmental cycle she seems like a “new child.” She has a new set of skills and fresh eyes to see the world. She also seems to have a deep need to re-look at the rules and boundaries you thought were already mastered.

I know you’ve experienced it. One day you correct her and she accepts it like it’s nothing, and the next day she collapses into a crying puddle on the floor. You begin to realize that something has changed and the way you’re dealing with her is producing more tears than changes. You begin wondering what to do.

Some parents think, “Maybe I should get louder?” Or, “Maybe I should be firmer?” Some even think, “Maybe I should use more punishment?” Don’t get me wrong; there are probably some situations where that line of thinking may be valuable. Usually, however, that line of thinking only causes things to get emotionally more intense, instead of better.

Time for a Parenting Upgrade?

Just like a computer gets an upgrade when you install a new program, parents need to upgrade their parenting when their child gains a new perspective. Here are three well-known times when a child’s perspective changes.

• When a child moves from the terrific 2’s to being a three year-old, most parents wipe their brow and say, “I’m glad that’s over!” What they don’t realize is that 3 is a lot more complex!
• Most children are pretty compliant during the preschool years. It may not feel that way, but for the most part your child realizes that you’re the boss and what you say goes. And then comes the age of negotiating! Parents can begin to feel as if they’ve lost all control.
• Then there’s the moment when you see your child openly testing your boundaries and blatantly defying you. Most parents tend to rush toward a heavy punishment to stop that from ever happening again.

Would you treat all three scenarios the same? If so, consider a change of perspective to match your child’s new perspective—a parenting upgrade, if you will.

Adjusting Your Responses

I believe parenting methods need to include who your child is yet to become. Using the same parenting methods you used before your child morphed into a “new child” doesn’t allow that to happen. It makes her feel as if she’s still a “baby,” so she tends to act that way. She doesn’t begin taking responsibility or mastering the rules you’ve laid out for her.

A way to remedy that, or get a parenting upgrade, is to slowly begin letting your child experience the results of her choices, as long as the situation is completely safe. When she learns from the results of her choices, it can be far more of a teaching than your words could be. Don’t get me wrong. I’m in no way saying not to use boundaries, rules and consequences. What I am offering is a blend of the two.

During a family meeting create a list of situations you deal with and assign a consequence to them. Then post the list on the refrigerator. When you think learning from a choice isn’t enough, add a consequence from the list. You can say, “Sweetie, you did (fill in the blank). What does it say will happen on our list? I love you and my job is to teach you, and I will never stop doing my job.”

As this is all unfolding you get to show your love, support, empathy. I think that’s a great upgrade for the whole family.

Sharon Silver is a parenting educator and the founder of Proactive Parenting. She's also the author of Stop Reacting and Start Responding: 108 Ways to Discipline Consciously and Become the Parent You Want to Be.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

Congrats, mama! Your son has cracked his first grin, started teething, tried finger foods, and may have even said his first word and started sleeping through the night…in other words, you’ve made it through the first year! Time to celebrate everything you’ve helped your son accomplish so far, and to get excited for the next year’s big developments. Happy birthday to you both!

Tips for a Boy's First Birthday Party

• Planning the Party
  For the first birthday party, it's perfectly fine to skip an elaborate party in favor of a simple celebration. As Circle of Moms member Brandy S. wisely shared, "Try to remember that the first two or three birthdays are more for the parents and family." Since a child may quickly become over-stimulated, "try to keep the 'party' part brief."
• Choosing a Theme
  Animals, trains, favorite colors—choosing a theme can make it easier to plan a boy's first birthday party. Many moms suggest picking a favorite book, character or movie. "I did Cars (the movies) for my son’s 1st birthday," shared Hannah G. "He went bananas." Or, skip a theme and just decorate with bright colors!
• Selecting a Location
  Wondering where to hold your son's first birthday party? Kid-friendly ideas from Circle of Moms members include your backyard, a children's museum, a local park, or even a zoo.
• Taking Photos and Creating Keepsakes
  First birthday parties make for adorable snapshots, so have your camera ready. But photos aren’t the only potential keepsakes, as Amberlee F. shared: "For our little guy's first birthday I got a '1st birthday' shirt...I'm going to let him wear it and eat his cake, then have everyone from the party sign it, then frame it.

8 Great Gift Ideas for a One-Year-Old Boy

We've rounded up great ideas for age-appropriate toys for one-year-olds from Circle of Moms members, and included the list below. (And don't forget: if friends and family are asking what to gift, feel free to tell them what your son needs in the way of clothing or gear. At this age, your child won't care that he got new socks for his birthday.)

1. Balls
   Easy to grab and fun to throw, balls can delight one-year-olds for hours. "My son is fascinated by wheels and balls," shared Natasha D. of her soon-to-be one-year-old. "They keep him occupied for ages."
2. Ball Poppers
   As Mary Theresa G. shared, ball poppers are also very exciting: "The greatest gift someone bought my daughter was the Playskool Busy Basics Ball popper. She got it for her 1st birthday." Just be sure to request a model that you won't mind listening to!
3. Blocks
   Building and toppling towers is a total thrill at age one. Opt for large, soft blocks made of cardboard or foam.
4. Shape Sorters, Nesting Toys and Puzzles
   As Cindy M. notes, toys with pieces that fit together make great gifts for one-year-olds: "Try wooden puzzles. For the first little while your baby might chuck the pieces everywhere…But before you know it they are putting the pieces together."
5. Push Toys
   From mini-lawn mowers to grocery carts and vacuums, colorful push toys can help one-year-olds develop their gross motor skills. Australian mom Jessica A. especially recommends the Fisher-Price Stride-to-Ride Lion.
6. Washable Crayons
   Fat, washable crayons are perfect for encouraging creativity without overwhelming a one-year-old. Worried about a mess? Try bath crayons and finger paints that easily wipe off surfaces.
7. Musical Toys
   "She loves her musical toys," shared Michelle W. From drums to xylophones to homemade shakers, musical toys are great entertainment at this age.
8. Books
   When in doubt, books are always a good gift for children. Over 50 Circle of Moms members have weighed in with recommendations for great books for babies and toddlers.

Looking Toward the 2nd Year

As you gear up for your son's 2nd year, Circle of Moms is ready with helpful resources on common challenges and milestones you may face:

• Potty Training 101
• What to do if Your Toddler is a Picky Eater
• How to Handle Toddler Hitting
• Introducing Cow's Milk
• Front-Facing Car Seats
• Fun iPhone apps for Kids

Here's to another great year!

Image Source: PhotographLayne via Flickr/Creative Commons

Grab the camera! Witnessing one of your baby's major development milestones like rolling, sitting and walking is an incredibly exciting and proud moment. But many of us also feel relief: Circle of Moms conversations reveal a lot of nervous concern over whether our particular child is developing normally. Read on to get some in-the-trenches insights into the real range of development patterns for three of Baby's early developmental milestones.

Rolling

As mother and pediatric physical therapist Kendra G. shares, babies generally start rolling at 3–7 months: "My son rolled over around 3 months, but many babies don't roll until 6 months or later and that is totally normal...They almost always learn to roll tummy to back first. Just make sure you are giving the baby lots of tummy time so he/she has an opportunity to learn."

Kendra's not the only mom who suggests increasing tummy time to encourage your child to begin rolling. As Angie B., a mother of one son, shared: "He wasn't really all that interested…until we started giving him a significant amount of tummy time during the day. His arms got stronger fast and he started rolling around like crazy!"

After mastering the tummy-to-back direction, Jane M., a mother of three children, recommended the opposite of "tummy time": "Try putting her on her back during the day so she can practice and master rolling back over or onto her side."

Sitting

Babies begin sitting with and then without assistance at varying times, as Australian mom Renae K. explained: "Normal range for sitting unassisted is five to nine months." Dawn S.'s only child, for example, began sitting relatively early: "My daughter has been sitting up perfectly since she was five months old." In contrast, English mom Gemma R.'s children fell on the other end of the spectrum: "None of my four children sat up unaided before they were 9 months."

Don't be alarmed if your child shows little interest in sitting; some children simply prefer moving around. As Olivia J., a mother of two in Philadelphia, related, "My son can crawl and stand up holding onto furniture. He can barely sit though...He shows no interest in sitting and would rather be crawling."

Walking

Children may begin walking at anywhere from 8–18 months. Alison M., a mother of three children, outlined the general time frames: "Average walking time is 11–15 months, with 8–18 months being 'normal.'" Many children, including Kelly F.'s only son, begin walking by holding onto furniture, or by walking behind a push toy: "He pulls himself up while holding onto furniture and walks along the furniture or while playing with his lion push toy."

Children can also skip intermediary steps, as Melbourne mom Anita R. explained: "Some babies skip the in-betweens like crawling or walking with support and just get up and walk." Nerman E. witnessed that phenomenon first-hand: "My first son sat until he was 14 months old...didn't want to crawl or anything. Then one day he got up and walked to the kitchen. You can imagine my amazement."

The Bottom Line on Milestones

Above all, relax! As Karen B. wisely advises, your baby will reach each milestone at her own pace: "Babies/children are wonderfully unique and will reach milestones when the time is right for them."

Looking for more information on developmental milestones?

With communities on everything from babies and infants to children with developmental delays, Circle of Moms is a great place to discuss important moments and milestones in your baby's life. Try joining the community based on your child's month and year of birth to connect with moms currently going through the same challenges and exciting developments. And If you haven't already, record your child's milestones on his or her Child Page and share your wonderful news with friends and family.

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When you're deep in the throes of the kicking-and-screaming chaos of a two-year-old's meltdown, it's easy to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and even embarrassed. But tantrums are a natural part of child development, and one that nearly all children experience. And luckily, since countless Circle of Moms members have offered encouragement and ideas for surviving toddler tantrums and reducing their frequency, good advice is at hand.

Avoid Common Triggers Like Hunger and Fatigue

As Ontario mom Syvia H. found when her daughter began throwing tantrums, avoiding common triggers like tiredness and hunger can reduce the frequency of outbursts: "In my experience, the single biggest triggers are being hungry and being tired. So making sure she gets enough sleep and eats at regular (and not too long) intervals goes a long way toward reducing the number of meltdowns."

Ignore the Tantrum

Simply ignoring outbursts is the strategy most often recommended by Circle of Moms members. Jess L., a mother of one daughter, explains: "The point of the tantrum is to get your attention, and when it doesn't work they usually stop...We just pretended [the tantrums] weren't happening...As soon as she was calm I would go back and offer to carry on with whatever we were doing."

Ignoring a tantrum doesn't mean ignoring safety, however. Kate D., a mother to a 2-year-old boy, advises: "When she starts to cry and tantrum, you do need to keep her safe and make sure that she isn't going to hurt herself or anyone else." By hovering nearby, you can easily jump in to restrain your child if she's getting dangerously out of control.

Distract or Redirect Your Child

Distracting your toddler can also help dissolve a tantrum. "If she's frustrated at something she trying to do but can't, I try to show her how to figure it out or distract her with something else," shares Joy V., a mother of one. Kristi S. uses distractions, "such as a toy or a book," while Jennifer C. recommends singing: "Sing a song! Kids love songs…'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' always works, or the 'Wheels on the Bus'...It gets them out of that fit moment and wanting to interact!"

Reward Positive Behavior

In addition to handling the tantrum when it occurs, Circle of Moms members like Samantha J. emphasized that rewarding positive behavior is also important in reducing negative behavior: "Remember to thank and praise your child heaps for using manners, playing nicely by themselves, etc. ...It's easy for us as parents to forget that our kids don't just know when we are happy with their behavior."

Offer Alternative Ways to Communicate

Since toddler outbursts are often caused by frustration over communication, teaching alternative communication skills can eliminate the impulse to throw a tantrum. "I'm trying to teach my son to clap his hands when he's mad", shared Heather B., a mother of one. "It gives him something to do instead of a tantrum and I give him attention when he does this. It helps him realize he can communicate more effectively until he can verbalize it." And New Mexico mother Jessica W. found sign language helped her son: "We taught some simple sign language to our youngest...it has helped reduce frustration. He can tell us without words what he needs or wants."

Interested in discussing tantrums further? Got a great tip we missed?

Whether you need to vent over public tantrums, want to discuss toddler developmental stages, or debate discipline methods, Circle of Moms has friendly community where you can share the challenges of parenting with fellow moms.

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Got a kid who's slow to talk or read? Language-based learning disabilities affect 15-20 percent of the population and are a commonly-discussed topic here on Circle of Moms, where moms frequently swap ideas for helping kids who struggle with writing, reading, speaking and spelling. Here we’ve rounded up some of their words of wisdom:

1. Learn the Difference between "Disorder" and "Delay"

A language-based learning disorder is not the same as a language delay. As Geralyn C. shares, a child with a language-based learning disorder processes information in a different way than others, and “requires direct 1:1 speech-language therapy by a highly qualified speech-language therapist.” Important to note: a language disorder does not indicate low intelligence. In fact, according the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASLHA) “most people diagnosed with learning disabilities have average to superior intelligence.”

2. Watch for Common Signs

My eldest daughter has dyslexia,” shared Morag S. “I knew around 4 that she was. She never understood her letters, she'd get the alphabet all mixed up... anything that involved letters just eluded her completely.” If your preschooler is simply writing her letters backwards, Circle of Moms members stressed that you probably don’t have anything to worry about—memorizing letter shapes correctly takes some time. But watch for other common signs of language-based learning disabilities, including difficulties with expressing ideas with age-appropriate vocabulary, learning new vocabulary, properly pronouncing words, identifying which sounds and letters correspond, following directions, and telling left from right. (Note: The ASLHA website has a full list of common symptoms.)

3. Get Professionals Involved ASAP

“Early intervention is the key,” emphasizes Sharalyn S. If you suspect your child has a language-based learning disorder, have a speech-language pathologist (SLP) evaluate her speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities as soon as possible.

Similarly, Geralyn C. strongly suggested trying to identify the disorder before age seven: “The window for developing language is birth to 7 years. That is NOT to say that you cannot make a difference after 7 but I am a huge advocate for early intervention during those critical years.”

As Charlotte M. shared, an added benefit to early intervention is that you'll feel more in control: “I have found that getting an accurate diagnosis and developing a good therapy plan helped me to feel better about my daughters' numerous diagnoses. Information is power!”

4. Combine Therapy and At-Home Work

Circle of Moms members like Terra K., whose two boys both had language-based difficulties, encourage communicating with your child’s speech-language therapist about what they’re working on with your child: “If you and the teacher are on the same page, and she is getting constant reminders at both home and school, she will pick up on it much faster."

5. Be an Advocate for Your Child

You are your child’s best advocate. As Andrea D. counseled: “Remember to be proactive and not reactive when dealing with your child's education. Don't listen to teachers who have a wait-and-see attitude. You know your child, and you will be the best advocate. Also constantly let her know that people learn in different ways and no way is better than the other.”

We had to pause when we read that 80% of children under the age of 5 who use the Internet are on their way to becoming as addicted to it as we are: in other words, once kids this age go online, most of them return to it at least once a week.

The finding, from a new study on children's media consumption conducted by The Joan Ganz Cooney Center (Cooney is the creator of Sesame Street), and written by Aviva Lucas Gutnick, Michael Robb, Lori Takeuchi and Jennifer Kotler, also found that kids still spend more time watching TV than they do surfing the web.

The headline was put into perspective for us when we read that much of what kids this age are doing online is essentially the same as what they do when they're sitting in front of the TV: watching videos. So it's not like they're busy bidding up a collector's edition of Thomas trains on eBay or checking their Facebook feeds while we're scrambling to get dinner ready...or at least not yet. Some of these savvy tots, about 36%, are multitasking just like we grown-ups do, watching TV and surfing the web at the same time. So their more active participation in the wider world of the Internet is probably not far off.

Are you surprised, or does it all make sense to you given what you allow your own kids to do and what you see among friends?

via Mashable

Editor's Note: Story updated at 12:58pm PST to reflect correction to statistic: Original story read as if 80% of kids overall were using the Internet, rather than 80% of kids under 5 who use the Internet do so more than once a week.
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Image Source: Via the Joan Ganz Cooney Center