Frederick's Child Magazine

If the options at your child’s school cafeteria are lacking, it may be time to take matters into your own hands. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), making sure kids eat right is critical for brain development, growth, bone growth, skin, teeth, eyes, the digestive system and immune health. Many snacks marketed toward children are unhealthy—loaded with added sugars …

The performing and visual arts present unique opportunities and challenges, posing both an important step in developing children’s creativity and a way for parents to accidentally fall into toxic “stage parent” tendencies. What does navigating this look like? We tapped David Katzner, president and general partner at the National Parenting Center, for advice. The Basic Steps “During the elementary school …

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards Hop, Waddle, Stomp! Toss the soft, colorful ball, choose a matching puzzle piece and waddle across the room to unite the baby animals with their families. Variant rules allow you to adapt the complexity of play. $19.99, ages 2+, amazon.com Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic Podcast A weekly 5-minute podcast featuring …

Some of the most dramatic brain development occurs during the first three years of a child’s life. During this critical time children are acquiring their ability to think, speak, learn, and reason. According to the US Department of Education, the best way to nurture these young minds is to read aloud to them—even as an infant. Research has shown that …