Ready Set Grow Connecticut Kids

Despite a parent’s best efforts, separation and divorce are difficult for children to experience. There are, however, several things you can do that will help your child deal with these big life changes.

Be consistent

During this time, it is important that your child’s daily life and routine remain the same. While you must be sympathetic to how your child is feeling, you should also maintain order in the home. The rules and expectations you had for your child before the separation or divorce should still be in (more…)

The first day of school is a significant milestone for every parent and their child. On the first day of school, many children are naturally nervous and may be apprehensive about their first day. It is important to acknowledge that these feelings are normal to your child along with any excitement they may feel. Making your child’s first day of school a happy one easily can be accomplished with a little planning and preparation.

If your child has never been to school before, it is important to (more…)

Proper nutrition is essential for the developing brain. Poor nutrition can impair brain structures and mental development, and even lead to long-lasting effects on your child’s brain. Ensuring your child gets proper nutrition on daily basis is important for keeping the brain healthy.

Fruits and Vegetables – Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamins have numerous important roles for brain functioning, and antioxidants help protect nerve cells against damage caused by free radicals.

Fish – Fish and seafood contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that promote nerve cell generation and protect brain against stress. Fish and (more…)

The subject of vaccinations is one that can fill parents to be with fear. There are a lot of stories out there that tell of a link between autism and vaccines. But there has never been a proven link between these. You may still wonder when it is safe to vaccinate your kids, and there is an easy answer to that.

It is safe to vaccinate your kids when they are babies. It is better to not get combo vaccinations just to be (more…)

A great way to help your child to make friends is by joining a play group. These groups are usually small, help children learn to get along with one another, and offer them the opportunity to participate in new and different activities. They also help support building independence and friendships, and offer a fun outlet for both parents and children alike.

Generally, play groups are formed casually and parents discuss their goals for the group, (more…)

Fun bedtime routines your child will love involve positive time with you. Make the child the focus and keep it fun and they will look forward to bed. Do not make bedtime a chore, make it fun for you and your child. Choose something fun, then choose something that will relax the child and let them fall asleep in a relax and comfortable way.

One way to encourage the beginning routine of bedtime is to (more…)

You’ve read everything about what your child should eat and you’ve been scouring your Satellitestarinternet.com web connection nightly to read message boards about good parenting but here are a few simple things you can do now that your child will thank you for in the future:
Don’t be a Short Order Cook – If your child refuses to eat a certain food, fine…don’t force them. But make sure they understand you only cook one meal for the family and don’t make them anything special (more…)

As parents, dealing with picky eaters can be frustrating, for both you and your child. Thankfully, there are ways you can avoid this common mealtime battle. Two of the biggest and most helpful tips I was given when my oldest was just a baby, was to (1) set a positive example yourself and (2) serve very small portions at a time. So, let’s just assume your child doesn’t like peas. Instead of piling on the macaroni and cheese and forgoing the peas, try (more…)

Parents generally know what foods are healthy and what foods are not. As an adult, it may seem like a privilege or an earned reward to grab an unhealthy snack or to indulge in a favorite fast food treat. Unfortunately, our actions as parents are carefully scrutinized and imitated by our children. The old adage “do as I say, not as I do” is not an effective way to teach a child healthy eating habits. Parents have an amazing opportunity to teach (more…)

Before we begin, let me reiterate that if your child isn’t reading by the time they enter kindergarten, there’s no need to be alarmed. Every individual learns at their own rate, and it may be mid-kindergarten or even 1^st grade before it clicks. That doesn’t mean you can’t introduce your children to the love of reading at an early age, though.Storytime is a great way to bond with your child while introducing them to basic ideas like characters, plot, and language. Watching adults read is also the easiest way for children to learn the basic mechanics of reading, such as the fact that words go from left to right and front to back and that the top of the pictures matches the top of the page. If your child is especially interested, you can start teaching them about sounds and letters and the relation between the two of themthis is the basic idea of phonics. (more…)