Parent Education

Two major studies confirmed the value of play vs. teaching reading skills to young children. Both compared children who learned to read at 5 with those who learned at 7 and spent their early years in play-based activities. Those who read at 5 had no advantage. Those who learned to read later had better comprehension by age 11, because their early play experiences improved their language development.

Dumb, dumb, stupid, dumb. Tubby time is now all-out war at my house. Why? Because I brilliantly said, "Yes!" to my oldest child, who begged and pleaded and carried on with a full week campaign to paleeeeeeeeeeeease let him shoot a water gun in the bathtub. Now he feels that he is entitled to this water play at every single bath. This also means that now we suffer big fat temper tantrums when I say, "No!"

There is a balance somewhere that allows for parental peace of mind on one side, and the wild child's freedom to explore and express on the other. I have yet to find that balance. Every day feels like a tug of war between my rules of sanity, safety and good manners versus my 4-year-old's Kung Fu nation and ceaseless demands for snacks and PBS.But that balance is somewhere. I just know it. And until further notice, I will keep looking for it!