As a teacher, my sole responsibility is to raise good students. And when I say “good students,” I mean to raise them well. I want them to know the difference between good and bad, be kind, and know that they are responsible for their behavior.
But raising a child who is ready to succeed in the modern world involves much more than just academic lessons. It requires nurturing the biological, physical, and emotional foundations that allow them to thrive and survive in the future. By focusing on these developmental building blocks early on, you can set your child on a path toward long-term success.
- Mindful Screen Time: It is best to avoid all screen time for children under the age of two. For children aged three to five, it is recommended to limit usage to no more than two hours per day to ensure they have enough time for active, developmental play.
- The Importance of Bilateral Crawling: Ensure your toddler spends time crawling in a bilateral pattern, right foot, left hand; and left foot, right hand. This specific movement is a vital first step in developing the corpus callosum, which is critical for hemispheric transcension.
- Early Brain Nourishment: Since 80% of the brain is developed by age three, your engagement during these early years is crucial. Singing, reading aloud, cooing, and frequent caressing help develop the gray matter in the brain that lays the foundation for future cognitive success.
- Balance as a Memory Precursor: By age four, check your child’s balance; they should be able to stand on one foot for a count of ten and walk heel-to-toe for six feet. Balance and memory are inextricably linked—which is why losing balance in old age is often tied to memory loss—so building a simple balance beam for daily practice is a critical skill for their development.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Because 73% of the brain is composed of water, your child must stay hydrated to keep their brain functioning at its peak. Additionally, it is wise to restrict food dyes and sugary foods, as these are known to be particularly detrimental to children struggling with ADHD.
- Building Laterality: By age five, ask your child to raise their right hand to check for laterality. If they do not respond immediately, you can place a small red dot on their right hand each morning and consistently remind them by saying, “RED, RIGHT,” throughout the day.
- Developing Eye Convergence: Have your child practice throwing and catching a ball or, for toddlers, rolling a ball to them on the floor. This activity builds the convergence of the eyes, which is absolutely critical for reading. When you visit the eye doctor, specifically ask if they have checked for convergence deficiency; while it only affects 5% of children, it is a frequent cause of reading problems.
- The Power of Narrative: Read to your child every day and engage them by asking questions about the story. You can further build their comprehension skills by making puppets to act out the plot and having your child draw a picture of what happened when the story ends.
To bring these skills together into a cohesive behavioral framework, we strongly suggest reading Mrs. No No’s Storybook by Susan W. Owens. Using the “Mrs. No No” puppet as a gentle, consistent guide allows you to model respect and self-regulation effectively, reinforcing all the positive habits you are working to build at home.
Mrs. No No’s Storybook by Susan W. Owens is a comprehensive behavioral management and character-building resource designed specifically for early childhood educators. By using “Mrs. No No” as a gentle, consistent, and non-confrontational guide, this book helps young children learn to make better behavioral choices.
Rather than relying on traditional disciplinary methods, the program focuses on helping children develop an internal conscience through visual feedback and rhythmic reinforcement. Complemented by a series of “Raps for Respect” that address values such as honesty, diligence, and cooperation, the book serves as a practical guide for fostering self-esteem and creating a calm, respectful classroom environment where children feel empowered to self-correct.
Head to Amazon to purchase your copy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPPJX6DR
