The Children's Courtyard Blog

Don’t fear toilet training! Welcoming this “signature achievement of toddlerhood” is easier to master with these incredibly helpful tips from child psychologist Dr. Heather Wittenberg. Find more potty training tips from Dr. Heather here on our blog.  

Don’t dread potty training – celebrate it! Potty training is actually the signature achievement of your toddler’s development. But it’s not simple – it’s a complicated process of mastering physical, emotional, and cognitive milestones. I’ve accumulated some surefire strategies to help along the way, from my experience as a mom (I changed diapers – nonstop […]

Your children are strong. Stronger than you might be led to believe by the headlines screaming about the latest parental panic point. Resilience is the best kind of strength to have: It’s the ability to bend, not break, under pressure – and  emerge stronger for it. Resilience is hugely important. It leads to happier, longer […]

If you’re like me, you want your children to grow up to be kind. To have the morality to know that everyone should be treated equally. That skin color, gender, religion, ability, or any other form of difference should be not only tolerated, but embraced. But if you’re like me, you might also have made this mistake: […]

With a little guidance, your child will be ready for Kindergarten. Follow these tips from Dr. Heather and you both will be ready for the first day. Find more of Dr. Heather’s Kindergarten readiness tips here. Which of these Kindergarten readiness tips will you try with your preschooler first? Tell us in a comment below. […]

When your baby becomes a toddler, the days of a relaxed meal in the high chair are done. Now, all she wants (and needs) is a quick bite, and then she’s off to more important things. To cover her nutritional needs, offer a variety of healthy foods anyway – but don’t force it. Here are […]

Is your child ready to start Kindergarten this fall? As a parent, I know it’s difficult to imagine your little one sitting in a “big kid” classroom in just a few months. Believe me, though, you’ll be amazed at the growth your child will experience before then. Here are my ideas for helping your almost-big-kid […]

Should your child start preschool at 2, 3, or even 4? Is he late-born, early-born, or right in between? Should he be one of the oldest in the class, the youngest, or in the middle? And what impact will this have on his eventual kindergarten start date? If your head is spinning at making this […]

“Shhhh!” We were in the waiting room at the pediatrician’s office, and any peep the 6-month-old made was met by his mama’s “Shhhh!” She looked embarrassed about her baby’s happy – and wonderfully normal – babbling sounds. I couldn’t help encouraging her to support her little babbler. “Oh, he’s so cute! He’s talking up a […]

Babies cycle in and out of sleep continuously for their first three months or so. After that, they usually settle into three fairly dependable naps every day. Until one day, when those naps aren’t so dependable. Your baby’s need for sleep changes over the weeks and months as her brain and body grows. Nap transitions are one […]

What works for you during bath-time? Share in a comment below!

When you drop your little one off with a new child care provider, you don’t have to hold your breath and cross your fingers that everything will turn out OK. Here are some steps to make sure you’re on the right path to developing a great partnership with your child’s caregivers: Do your research. You […]