Today's Kids are Losing Handwriting Skills: Does it Matter?

Children today are struggling with handwriting skills more than past generations. Kindergarten teachers have noticed the shift, reporting that incoming students find fine motor skills challenging. ...

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...

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...

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. ...

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 ...

25 Children's Obstacle Course Ideas

An obstacle course provides hours of active fun, building your little one's gross motor skills and creativity. Building an obstacle course for kids doesn't have to be a complex endeavor. With a few...

How to Get Kids to Clean Up: Montessori Tips

The first time I walked into a Montessori classroom, I was amazed to see three and four-year-olds cleaning up independently. As a Montessori teacher, I quickly learned that young children are capab...

Harvard Study on Chores: Untangling the Research

In 2016, Julie Lythcott-Haim's TED Talk went viral. The former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University and author of the bestselling book How to Raise an Adult used data from an 80-year Harvard stu...

How to Teach Digital Media Literacy to Your Young Child

Saying "I saw it on YouTube, must be true," sarcastically is a joke my children recently learned from their uncle. While it sounds silly, learning not to trust everything they see online is an esse...

Myopia in Children: Why this Eye Condition is On the Rise?

"Myopia is progressive, irreversible and on the rise," says Sabrina Gaan, Doctor of Optometry. In the 1970s, about 25% of Americans were nearsighted, or had myopia. By 2017, that number rose to nea...

Holiday Activities to Enjoy At Home with Piccalio

Holiday-themed activities are the perfect way to make memories with your little one. From holiday crafts to family photos, and writing a letter to Santa, there are many opportunities. We happen to ...

Our Favorite Christmas Books for Kids

Snuggling up with beautiful Christmas picture books can help the whole family get in the holiday spirit. This list of favorite Christmas books includes a multitude of options including books about ...

A Montessori Teacher Offers a Chore Chart for Kids by Age

When my oldest was about two years old, he'd follow me everywhere. Like most toddlers, he was glued to me. Whether I was washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, or cooking, he wanted to be involved....

How Do I Know if My Child Is Behind in School? Teacher Tips for Parents

Concern about your child's academic performance is natural. You may compare your child to cousins, a friend's child, or siblings to try to gauge their performance. How can you know if your child is...

What Is Gentle Parenting? Discipline Tips and Misconceptions

Gentle parenting has made the rounds in parenting advice articles and news stories over the past ten years. This way of parenting offers many benefits. However, many misconceptions about gentle par...

What Is Montessori Parenting? Tips from a Montessori Teacher

"But I don't want to clean up!" This phrase is familiar to most parents of young children. With a Montessori approach, you can respond to this situation with love while still achieving a positive o...

The 6 Best Montessori Bookshelves (And How to Pick Yours)

When it was time to pick out a book, my toddlers always pulled all the books off the bookshelf. This problem ended when we finally got a Montessori bookshelf. This front facing bookshelf allows tod...

Should Parents Limit Screen Time? A Montessori Approach

As a parent, it can be hard to know how to manage screen time with our kids. Many questions arise such as "How much screen time is too much?" Also, "Does healthy screen time exist, or is all screen...

When Do Kids Learn to Read? How to Boost Skills

As their toddler’s scribbles turn into something that resembles letters, many parents wonder when their kid will learn to read.  Reading opens the door to learning, fun, and independence for childr...

15 Fun Indoor Kids Obstacle Course Ideas

Building a kids obstacle course is the perfect way to get the wiggles out. Whether it's a cold winter day or too rainy to go outside, a DIY obstacle course for kids will save the day. A fantastic o...

What Does Greenguard Gold Certified Mean?

Today, products come with many certifications. One popular certification, especially for children’s furniture and toys, is the Greenguard Certification. However, what does it mean if a product is G...

Top 10 Best Car Seats in 2025 (Your Informative Guide)

One of the most important pieces of baby gear you'll ever buy is a car seat. I remember being pregnant and thinking about driving home from the hospital with my firstborn. It's terrifying to imagin...

Montessori vs. Traditional Education: 5 Main Differences

The Montessori method is a popular education philosophy created by Maria Montessori. Today, people use the method at home or school. Yet, you might wonder, what value do Montessori classrooms offer...

8 Fun Montessori Activities for Kids to Do at Home

We've all been there. You're stuck at home with your little one and they're bored. When kids are bored, they whine, and may even beg for screen time. You can bust boredom and grumbles with Montesso...