Signs of anxiety in children vary by child, and you might be surprised at some of its symptoms. The most obvious sign of anxiety in children, according to AnxiousTodders.com, is fears and phobias. They can range from being afraid of the dark to fears about bugs or birds, of monsters —or even of being flushed down the toilet.

Other signs of childhood anxiety include rigidity in routine and/or sensitivity to noises and/or clothing. If your child doesn’t want to get his or her hands dirty and/or insists upon rituals such as having food cut up in certain ways or stuffed animals lined up in bed the exact same way each night, these could also be signs of childhood anxiety.

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If you want to give your child the gift of a lifetime, help him or her develop a positive sense of self. This will help your child to feel loved and become happy and productive. Here are five tips on how to encourage your child’s self esteem, the first two of them from Parents.com.

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Studies often show that children who enjoy reading perform better in school. So, take your preschooler to the library as often as you can, and get your child his or her own library card as soon as it’s realistic. Ask your librarian for help finding books that will appeal to your child, and also give your child the freedom to choose his or her own books.

Read to your child at bedtime, at the library and more. Let your child read to you, as well. Even if he or she can’t really read yet, it’s likely your child will enjoy telling you the story of a well-loved book. Also give your child space to store favorite books that he or she can return to, repeatedly. Finally, let your child “catch” you reading—and enjoying the experience. You can find more tips to encourage the love of reading in your preschooler at ReadBrightly.com.

Now, here are three recommendations for books preschoolers will love.

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If you’ve been feeling cooped up after a long winter, you’re probably really looking forward to enjoying fun activities with your family in the spring. Here are just three of the many entertaining options, with plenty of them free or available at a low cost. Enjoy!

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Your toddler is curious – which is great, because his or her curiosity fuels learning. But, it’s crucial to protect your child as he or she explores the world to prevent injury. To help, Parents.com has identify 25 danger zones in a typical home, providing solutions to protect your little ones.

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When you give your preschooler a foundation in math, you are setting the stage for success in school, especially important since math is becoming increasingly important in elementary school curriculums. Fortunately, math readiness skills can be presented in a fun way, which means you can tap into your child’s enthusiasm for exploring the world around him or her. Here are five things you can do at home to help your child understand math.

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“Gross motor skills are the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling and other activities.” (HealthOfChildren.com)

Motor skills, overall, are physical activities that involve muscle movement. There are two types: gross motor skills, which use arms and/or legs, or the whole body, such as when you run, jump or crawl. Fine motor skills involve smaller actions, such as holding a crayon with a thumb and finger. This post looks at the first type only.

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“I believe wholeheartedly that a child’s academic success is greatly enhanced when teachers and parents are partners in the process.” (Scholastic.com)

“The experts have been polled, and the results are in: a positive parent-teacher relationship contributes to your child’s school success.” (PBS.org)

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Horizon is proud to be a 21st Century Community Learning Center – and here is background information about what that means, along with success metrics that highlight why we’re proud to be part of this progressive educational endeavor.

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“Working parents have it tough. I have no earthly idea how it’s possible to work 40+ hours a week, run errands, go to PTA meetings, put Band-Aids on boo-boos and prepare dinner for hungry families. But mom and dad are superhuman – and manage to fit more activity into one day than seems remotely reasonable.”

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