Early Signs of Learning Problems

April 27, 2026 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

Great Schools: Preschoolers’ normal behavior ranges from very civilized to utterly silly to something akin to wild animals. How can you observe such complicated little creatures — who don’t usually read or do math — and know which of them will have learning issues in the future?

Steven Curtis: One of the first things you want to look at is whether a kid can listen to stories and comprehend language. Most learning disabilities are language-related, so this is the best place to start.

Another early indicator is the lack of ability to distinguish phonemes — the basic sounds that make up words. If kids have trouble understanding these differences, then they’re at risk.

A lisp is one of those things that is common but is also a red flag. If kids have lisps, it might be because they’ve had frequent ear infections — so they literally can’t hear. If it goes on for too long, they can have trouble differentiating sounds. So when kids have speech issues, you should always have their ears checked. It could be the tip of the iceberg. It could be a motor issue, or it could be a cognitive problem— due to not understanding certain sounds.

Teaching Math Concepts to Your Preschooler

April 16, 2026 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

Great Schools.com has a great article on what your child should be learning about math in preschool.

For this post I will just extract the things you, as a parent, can do at home to reinforce math learning in preschool. Have fun and teach at the same time!

Show how math relates to daily life. Involve them in measuring ingredients when you cook or in figuring out if a container is big enough to hold their toy cars and trucks.
Play board games using dice or play money. Help your child count out the spaces to move his piece on the board. Play simple card games like Go Fish.
Count things at home and on the street: cars, books, toys, silverware. Count objects in book illustrations.
Call attention to different patterns and shapes: plaids, polka dots, paisleys, and triangular and rectangular shapes in the sidewalk.
Use terms such as above, beneath, level, larger, smaller, and equal, and words such as horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, and parallel, to describe things you see. You might ask your child to bring you the smallest cookie or to find the book beneath the large table in the living room.
Take your child to the supermarket with you and involve her in comparing prices.
When you balance your checkbook or pay bills, explain to your child what you are doing.
Take your child to the bank with you and let him watch you count money from the ATM.
Weigh and measure your child and make a chart to record her growth.
Buy a set of hardwood blocks for your children to build with (look for a secondhand one if new ones are too pricey). The educational benefits of blocks are unlimited; they will be one of the best investments you make.

Read the entire article at: GreatSchools.com

Stammering

February 28, 2026 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

The mom of a 3 year old wrote the following letter to ask about stammering.

“Kensei is now attending a playschool and really enjoying his time there. However, since Monday, he has been saying that his teacher was angry with him. We decided to check with the teacher yesterday and was told that he stammers (more than other kids)when he talks and the teacher was trying to correct him – spot on. I understand that kids at his aged sometimes stammer as their minds process words faster than they can utter. I noticed he does that occasionally when he talks and thought it is normal. Your advice? ”

When I research a question, I look for the most reliable information. This time the British Stammering Association had a site full of good resources to answer these and many other questions about stammering.

About 1 in 20 children between the ages of 2-4 have difficulties with fluent speech. Most children out-grow this problem in a few weeks to months. If it persists longer than about 6 months or if the child is becoming overly anxious or self-conscious, find a good speech therapist. The earlier therapy starts the better the outcome.

Here is the help sheet for parents concerning stammering. Help for Stammering

Making Purees for Deceptively Delicious Recipes

February 25, 2026 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

You begin by making purees, a few at a time. Divide each into potions and freeze them for use in the recipes.

For apples, berries, cantaloupe, cherries and pineapple, just wash, cut the fruit and puree in a food processor or blender for about 2 minutes. (Instead of fresh berries, cherries, or pineapple, you can use frozen or canned without syrup.) [Read more…]

Deliciously Deceptive

February 2, 2026 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

While I was on home leave in December, I found a book full of great ideas for getting children to eat their veggies. Yes, there is help for those of you with children who would love the t-shirt our son got for Christmas one year. It said, “Vegetables are UGLY!” Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, Dr. Seuss books, and stuffed toys were on sale for $5.00 each. I couldn’t resist! I could get $5.00 worth of good ideas out of any cookbook. But this one is worth a lot more to me and moms who can’t get their kids to eat their vegetables.

Jessica starts her book with, “I had tried everything, and yet all my efforts to feed my family were being undermined by a powerful force: vegetables. Mealtimes were reduced to a constant pushing and pulling, with me forever begging my kids to eat their vegetables, and them protesting unhappily. Instead of laughing and having fun with my family, I was irritated and stressed as I labored to coerce them to eat food they found ‘disgusting.’ I couldn’t take it any more. I just wanted a little peace around the dinner table.”
[Read more…]