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If you’ve ever tried to stuff a toddler into a car seat as she alternates between her best wet noodle impression and

Chickens or eggs — which came first? That seems to be the crux of the argument when it comes to ADHD. Well,

You’re at the grocery store checkout trying to wrangle several writhing children past stacks and stacks of delectable trans-fats and high fructose

By now, most parents know that early exposure to reading, especially from birth until age 3, is key to helping children develop

From the moment your child is born, you wonder what is going on inside his or her mind. The first few months

Spring lasted about 5 seconds this year, and now we’re experiencing near-scorching temperatures. What’s one to do with the littles when you’re

Though it’s bound to happen in any environment where there are children who don’t always cover their mouths when they sneeze, no

Kindergarten is a whole new world for many children. Those who have attended daycare or preschool have had a taste of what

The mercury is rising (or the digital thermometer numbers) and school will be out soon. This begs the age-old question, “Where are

Before you were a parent, did you ever think you’d have to ask, “How did that stuffed octopus get stuck in the

One of the best ways to potty train your little one is to give positive associations with using the bathroom. To do

Being stuck indoors on dreary, winter days can bring on the blahs in even the most upbeat of us. But spending an

Kids have funny hangups, starting from toddlerhood on up, particularly with food.  Whether it’s texture, color, taste or appearance, food has a

Your child is in preschool.  He shows an interest in reading, interacts with other children, pays attention to the teacher and works

Infants are amazing!  We sometimes think of them as tiny, helpless humans, yet their capacity for learning is unmatched.  Babies grow and

Winter has been particularly cold here in the D.C. Metro area.  While the season conjures up images of playing in the snow,

Sensory development is important to children’s growth.  When children take part in activities that require the senses, their brains learn to process

It might be one of the last things you want to do when you are pregnant – plan to go back to

As adults, we might get a little bored with them, but then again, it’s not about us, right?  It’s about the kids,

We can all remember a time when our parents urged us to go outside and play with our friends. It was a

Virginia (and most of the East Coast) woke up to a frightfully chilly morning today as the temperature has dropped to record

It’s a fear that many parents have, that teachers will not understand their children’s needs. At Sparkles! we acknowledge that concern and

In a previous article, we said a good childcare curriculum should be age appropriate and have activities that support communication, language and

With all the holiday bustle of parties, shopping and the day-to-day, finding time to relax with our kids can be more rare

Feeling Respected, Important, Accepted, Included and Secure The holidays your family chooses to celebrate offer great ways to help your children feel

How many times have you wished someone would understand how you are feeling? No matter our age, we all need to know

When toddlers are learning to walk, they fall. What happens next? They naturally grab onto something close by and try again. However,

Parents, you know what we’re talking about when we say “bedtime battle.” It’s that struggle that happens when children don’t want to

Fresh air, colorful leaves, holidays. What’s not to like about fall? Enjoy the season and some special time with your child —

Many parents are concerned with raising children and are often looking for parenting tips. Some of the best parenting advice focuses on

Nobody said it would be easy. How many times have we heard that before? And how many times, as working parents, have

“Mommy, why do you have to go to work?” Ah, the dreaded question for working parents that leave every day. That question

The perfect parent is something we all strive to be, but what is perfect parenting? When I found out I was pregnant,

As a parent, you have an incredible influence on the type of person your child will become. Early childhood is a critical

August may be vacation time, but it’s also time to think about the new school year. By now, if you have a