How to Improve at Reading Comprehension: A Parent's Guide

The phrase "Kids today can't read" is a refrain often heard in recent education news.  Children are turning away from reading for pleasure, with only 14% of 13-year-olds reporting they read for fun...

Do Kids Today Have Kindergarten Skills? Teachers Weigh In

Recent reporting highlights concerning news that children today head to the kindergarten classroom without the essential skills they need to succeed. Some blame the recent COVID pandemic, while oth...

Introducing Our New Kids Storage Collection

"Everyone needs storage," Piccalio co-founder, Ali Tavsanoglu said of the inspiration behind Piccalio's new storage collection. Coming this fall, the storage collection will feature four beautiful,...

How Montessori Obedience Theory Changed How I Parent

"Help clean up!" you say cheerfully, and your toddler defiantly says "no!". What if, instead of willfully disobeying you, your child is developmentally unable to do what you ask them to do? Through...

Our Top 10 Favorite STEM Toys for 2 and 3 Year Olds

Play and learning go hand in hand. With STEM toys, your toddler can maximize their learning through hands-on fun. Which STEM toys are best for your 2 or 3-year-old child? Read on to learn our top p...

3 Phrases Montessori Teachers Use to Build a Growth Mindset

"I did it!" my student said with a satisfied grin after reading a word for the first time. Triumphs like this are an everyday occurrence for little ones. I could've responded with "Good job!" Inste...

5 Montessori Discipline Hacks to Try at Home

"But what are we having for dinner!?" my 4-year-old demanded. He was tired, hungry, and about to lose his cool. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "Do you want to help me? You can help chop some cucumb...

Your Baby's Physical Development: A Month by Month Chart

Your baby stands on wobbly legs, arms extended for balance. You squat a few steps away, arms wide open, your heart pounding, just waiting for them to take that first step. One of the greatest joys ...

Piccalio Introduces a Montessori Floor Bed that Grows with Your Child

This fall, Piccalio is honored to show up with a bed that fits elegantly into your home and bedtime routine. bedBED™ is a 2-in-1 toddler floor bed that flips, creating a big kid bed when the time i...

The Best Night Light for Kids and Babies for Peaceful Nights

The soft glow of a kids night light creates the right vibes for bedtime. Plus, low lighting is helpful for managing nightmares, middle-of-the-night breastfeeding, and before-dawn diaper changes. Wh...

The Montessori Method of Teaching Writing: Plus 9 Activities

For young children, learning to read and write is a huge academic undertaking during the first few years of school. While automatic for adults, reading and writing involve many complex skills. From...

Top Toddler Toothbrushes of 2025 for Healthy Teeth

Brushing teeth with little ones is important for oral health from the time their first tooth appears. Unfortunately, sometimes getting your little one to brush their teeth feels like wrestling a cr...

What Are Fine Motor Skills? 18 Montessori Activities to Try

"I'm gonna do it!" your 3-year-old says, insisting they can pour a cup of orange juice. Although the carton isn't very full, their hand wiggles and shakes as they pour. Some of the juice makes it i...

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? A Teacher's Checklist

Entering kindergarten is an exciting milestone. Often considered the first year of "real" school, kindergarten marks the beginning of formal academics, navigating relationships with classmates, and...

The Top 7 Best Baby Sleep Sacks of 2025

Something about snuggling under the covers makes bedtime cozy, but babies can't have loose blankets in their sleep space. Sleep sacks are the perfect alternative. They’re safe for babies and toddle...

How Much Screen Time is Too Much?

"Ok, time for supper!" you call cheerfully and ask your child to turn off the tablet. Your sweet child turns into a monster, screaming, yelling, and crying that they want more screen time. You sigh...

The Answer to “I’m Bored!” (Sometimes, Nothing Is Best)

Feeling bored is almost foreign to parents. We're busy with work, chores, and looking after our kids, with barely a moment for ourselves. For children, being bored is an important rite of passage. ...

W-Sitting: Myths, Facts, and What Parents Should Do

In recent years, w-sitting has been getting a lot of attention from worried parents on social media. While some experts say that w-sitting may create problems for children, others say it's no cause...

Why Do Toddlers Bite and Hit? Experts Explain

My 18-month-old son was sitting on my lap when he shocked me by biting my chin. Over the next few months, he bit me occasionally, usually while playing. My youngest never went through a biting phas...

Piccalio Points: How to Get the Most Out of Our Loyalty Program

At Piccalio, we’re always thinking about how to build something lasting, not just in our products, but in our community. We’re excited to announce Piccalio Points, our new loyalty and referral prog...

Why Kids Love Spinning in Circles

As a child, I remember spinning excessively until the room would spin. Now, as a mom, all I need to feel dizzy is watch my own three children spin around happily. Why do kids love spinning so much?...

What Is Free Range Parenting? (And Could it Cure Anxiety?)

"A child who thinks he can't do anything on his own eventually can't," wrote Lenore Skenazy in a polarizing 2008 New York Sun column. In the column, she wrote about letting her 9-year-old ride the ...

Teaching Your Child How to Wipe: Potty Training 2

So, you're making progress with potty training, and there's only one last skill to master: how to wipe. Many children still request help with wiping long after they go to the bathroom independently...

38 Screen Free Activities for Every Age and Stage

How do you say no to screen time when you're frazzled and trying to make it through the day? As tempting as it is to hand over your phone or turn on the TV, too much screen time isn't good. What ca...

Nature Deficit Disorder: Why Playing Outside is Essential for Your Child's Health

Could spending more time outdoors make your child happier and healthier? Journalist and author Richard Louv argues that people, especially children, need to spend less time indoors and more time in...

Why It’s Important for Parents to Say “No”

Many parents today want to offer their children a different childhood than the one they had. Instead of "Because I said so!" and traditional, discipline-heavy parenting, parents want to build an em...

When Do Kids Develop Impulse Control?

Everyone has made an impulsive decision at some point in their life. Whether you spontaneously pull into the fast food drive-through on the way home or yell at your child in a sudden burst of anger...

Your Guide to Toddler Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a normal developmental milestone for babies and toddlers. I remember leaving my oldest crying at my mother-in-law's house, whom he loves, before heading off to work. Watching ...