Early mornings can feel like a rush for parents and children but a few simple steps can ease the stress.
1. Prepare the night before. Limit clothing choices to weather-appropriate options and let your child choose in advance.
2. Use stories & activities. Read books or do crafts to help children understand routines and concepts (like dressing for the weather).
3. Make a visual schedule. Use drawings or playdough scenes to show the sequence from evening to the next day.
4. Focus on fun, not pick-up time. Talk about the exciting play and activities ahead.
5. Create a gift. Help your child make a card or small artwork for a friend or teacher.
6. Keep drop-offs quick. Trust the educators, say goodbye warmly, and let your child settle in.
These little rituals strengthen your bond and make morning goodbyes smoother. If your child greets you happily at pick-up, it is a good sign, they have been safe, engaged, and having fun.
For BC families, this link offers more details, or contact [email protected] for a workshop/mentor session.

Title: Why Doesn’t My Child Listen? The Hidden Gap Between Hearing and Understanding. Have you ever given a child a simple instruction, such as “Please put on your shoes,” only to find them playing with blocks two minutes later? You might wonder:

Are they ignoring me?
The truth is, in early childhood, “not listening” is often not about stubbornness. It’s about how the brain develops and processes language.
​
Listening Is More Than Hearing
When we say “listen,” we often mean “hear my words and act right away.” But for a young child, this process involves multiple steps:

1. Hearing the sounds
2. Understanding the meaning
3. Deciding what to do
4. Physically carrying it out

Even a small delay at any stage can make it seem like the child is not listening.
Why Children Sometimes Do Not Respond

• Developmental readiness — Processing speed increases with age.
• Overload — Too many instructions at once can overwhelm a child.
• Distraction — Their focus might be deeply engaged elsewhere.
• Emotional state — Stress, fatigue, or excitement can affect responsiveness.

Four Ways to Support Listening Skills

1. Get eye-level — Helps children know you’re speaking to them.
2. Use fewer words — Keep instructions short and clear.
3. Pause for processing — Give them 5–10 seconds before repeating.
4. Add visual cues — Pointing, showing, or demonstrating — to support comprehension.

Final Thought:
When we shift our perspective from “They’re not listening” to “They might need help understanding”, we create more patience, connection, and cooperation.
💡 Want to learn more strategies and try them out with real examples?
Join my upcoming workshop: “Why Doesn’t My Child Listen?”
📅 Aug 29, 2025| ⏰ 12 Pm-1 PM | 📍 online (RSVP for registration <<[email protected]>>.
ECE participants will receive a one-hour certificate approved by the BC ECE Registry for FREE!

By Zahra Rahbari
​This post features picture books for young children. You can often find read-aloud videos online and, of course, at your local library. Take your time to explore the links on this page, learn about each book’s history, the author and illustrator, and the creative process behind the art. Discovering the stories behind the stories can be just as delightful as reading the books themselves. And remember to share these insights with your young ones.

​Here is the list:

Fiction Books

Kindness
Since kindness is a very important concept for young children to learn, I started off the list with the books on compassion, kindness and empathy toward self as well as others.

Beer, S. (2019). Kindness Makes Us Strong. Hardie Grant Publishing.
Brooks, F. & Ferraro, M. (2020). All About Friends. Usborne Publishing.
Cook, J. (2013). Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying. Boys Town Press.
George, K., (2023). I Am a Meadow Mermaid. Tundra Books
Mayer, M. (2023). Just for You. Random House Books for Young Readers.
Zietlow Miller, P. (2018). Be Kind. Roaring Books Press.


Non-Fiction Books
Brunelle, L. (2024). Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of A Whale Fall. Neal Porter Books. 
Hevron, A. (2024). City of Leafcutter Ants: A Sustainable Society of Millions. Neal Porter Books. 
Hodge, D. (2004). Ants. Kids Can Press.
Rocco, H. (2023). Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough. G. P. Putnam’s Sons. 

Wordless Picture-Books
These books that are open to interpretation provide a great opportunity for you to talk about the pages, stories and illustrations with your child. Remember, "a picture is worth a thousand words".
Cole, H. (2012). Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. Scholastic Press.
Lehman, B. (2008). Trainstop. Clarion Books.
​Stevenson, D. (2014). The farmer and the clown. Beach Lane Books.
Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. ​​Clarion Books

Books with No Pictures
Novak, B. J. (2014). The Book with No Pictures. Dial Books.

We all want to say goodbye to messy diapers, but before starting potty learning, both the caregiver and child need to be ready.
Step 1: Are You Ready?Ask yourself:

• Do I have the patience and time for a process that may take 2–4 months?
  
• Is this a stable period for our family (no big moves, new baby, or major changes)?
  

Step 2: Is Your Child Ready?Signs include:

• Tells you when they pee/poop.
  
• Dislikes wet diapers.
  
• Wakes from naps dry.
  
• Can pull pants up/down.
  
• Is generally happy and settled.
  

Before You Start

• Encourage independence (dressing/undressing).
  
• Show wet vs. dry.
  
• Model bathroom use.
  

Tips to Avoid Power Struggles

• Keep potty books nearby for fun.
  
• Use a fun alarm sound and escort them to the potty.
  
• Offer choices (“hop or jump to the potty?”) instead of yes/no questions.
  

Stage 1: Getting Familiar

• Use diapers or pull-ups at first.
  
• Keep potty time short (5–8 min).
  
• Gradually move to training underwear after several dry days.
  

Stage 2: Building Routine

• Start with 30–45 min intervals (adjust as needed).
  
• Most children with typical development master potty learning within 3–4 months.
  

Ready to start?
Go for it—and share your success stories with other caregivers!