“Two-year-olds are also beginning to understand the concept of context around this age," Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatrician, author of The Working Mom Blueprint, and founder of Modern Mommy Doc, tells Verywell Family. You’ll want to avoid toys with small parts, sharp edges or corners, and/or are made with materials that cannot be put in their mouth. We carefully considered toy safety, design, material, ease of cleaning, and value when reviewing products....

Look for toys that will add educational value to your child’s playtime and hone in on any of their interests to keep it entertaining. We carefully considered toy safety, design, ease of use, ease of cleaning, value, and age recommendations when reviewing products. Here are the best educational toys for toddlers on the market. The Mega Bloks First Builders Bag is our top pick because this set of blocks provides endless playtime possibilities....

Registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, notes that organic means food is grown without synthetic pesticides, but it can still contain organic pesticides. However, research suggests that environmental contamination is likely present for both organic and conventional methods. Both organic and traditional baby foods on the market are regulated for safety and contain ingredients that are GRAS, or “Generally Recognized as Safe,” to consume by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)....

Math Terms From A to Z A is for addend: An addend is one of the numbers that will be added in an addition problem. In the problem 3 + 5 = 8, 3 and 5 are addends. B is for brackets: Brackets are symbols used in algebra that are square [ ], round ( ), curly { }, or angled < >. They are used to offset pieces of complicated equations so your child will go through the correct order of operations to solve the problem....

Pregnancy is full of joys and positives, but one of the downsides, especially as we near and enter the third trimester, is finding a comfortable sleeping position. As a belly sleeper myself, this was particularly difficult both times around, and I relied heavily on my pregnancy pillow for comfort. We’ve compiled a list of the top seven pregnancy pillows out there to help you ease some of those aches and pains that come after a long day on your feet....

It’s also important to find toys that will begin to strengthen their social and collaboration skills. Justin Schreiber, DO, MPH, Co-Chair of the School Health Committee and Member of the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells Verywell Family that the best toys for this age group will help kids “build on growing fine motor skills and their ability to play and interact with others.” Not to mention, they should be fun to play with, durable, and easy to clean....

Possible Cognitive Benefits of Breastfeeding Many experts believe that breastfeeding can contribute to the intelligence, memory, judgment, and problem-solving ability of a child as he grows, but does it? Will your baby really be smarter if you breastfeed? Breastfeeding and Long-Term Cognitive Benefits A study published in Pediatrics in March 2017 reports that there are no long-term cognitive benefits of breastfeeding. The study followed almost 7500 full-term babies until the age of five....

According to a new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine, there was a significant increase in the rate of type 2 diabetes among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. New cases increased in 2020 by 77% compared to 2018 through 2019. This new study looks at why there was such a vast increase in cases. As parents, you might be wondering what you need to know about your child potentially developing type 2 diabetes, and how you can prevent it....

More: Teachers, Here’s What Parents Want You to Know Right Now

More: 75 Names that Mean Snow, Ice or Winter for Your Little One Fall-inspired baby names are often based around lots of trees and flowers. Nature always plays a big part in seasonal names, but many fall names kick it up a notch. Because of this, you have a lot more options for gender-swapping. A name like Birch fits well for anyone. Another place to look for fall-inspired names is the calendar or astrological charts....

Bean bag chairs are fun seating alternatives that can be used for lounging, gaming, virtual learning, or just relaxing. With seemingly endless options when it comes to sizes, shapes, and materials, the right chair can be stylish and useful. We tested out the Three Posts Teen Large Bean Bag Sofa to see if this was a good fit for children and families. With three kids at home—ages 10, 7, and 3—we are spending more time lounging, playing, and relaxing indoors....

Marking the Milestone While some middle schools organize an official graduation ceremony for their graduating students, other schools may do something a bit more informal, for instance, a school assembly for students and teachers. Some schools may not recognize the end of middle school, leaving the event up to parents and families to decide how to celebrate. Whatever your student’s circumstances, graduation from middle school is an important milestone. For starters, middle school isn’t exactly a picnic....

Lack of Communication Communication is one of the most important aspects of a nanny-parent relationship. You may love your nanny because she is a people pleaser, non-confrontational and a peacekeeper with your children, but these characteristics may be problematic in terms of communication issues A nanny-parent relationship involves people with different backgrounds coming together with a shared goal of successfully raising children. Disappointment and resentment are likely to happen if there isn’t constant and open communication....

Many times you will be able to get a pump with no cost to you. You can use this guide to look at some of the different features. While you may not get a choice of breast pump, you will know what some of the options look like. Though some mothers choose to purchase a pump in addition to the pump paid for with insurance because it allows them to more easily maintain a pump at home and a pump at work....

When you think about scouting, you probably think of Boy Scouts of America or Girls Scouts of the USA. As the best-known scouting organizations in the United States, they have a lot to offer children and are widely available in most communities. But there are more scouting options than you may realize. Following is an overview of the top six scouting organizations in the U.S. This list will help you determine which organization is the best option for your child....

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