A–Z Glossary

Inhibitory Control

A child’s developing ability to pause, manage urges, and choose behavior during emotionally or socially demanding moments.

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Object Permanence and Early Thinking

Object Permanence and Early Thinking

What Object Permanence Means Object permanence refers to the understanding that an object or person continues to exist when it cannot currently be seen, heard, or touched. For an infant, this is a major shift from responding primarily to immediate sensory information toward maintaining an internal representation of something that is absent from the current […]

How kids handle disagreements

How kids handle disagreements

Why disagreements are part of normal development Children are learning how to be separate people while still staying connected to others. That developmental task creates friction. A child may want the same toy, the same seat, the same turn, or the same attention as someone else, and the resulting disagreement is often a first lesson […]

Teaching independent thinking kids

Teaching independent thinking kids

What independent thinking really means Independent thinking means a child can pause, gather information, and form a reasoned view rather than simply copying the loudest voice or the first answer. It includes judgment, not just confidence. A child who thinks independently can say, in age-appropriate ways, “I am not sure yet,” “Why do you think […]

Walking to school alone: readiness and safety planning

Walking to school alone: readiness and safety planning

Start with readiness, not a birthday Walking to school alone requires more than knowing the way. A child must sustain attention, inhibit impulses, interpret moving traffic, follow rules even when peers do not, and solve small problems without panicking. These executive function skills mature at different rates, so age is only a rough guide. Look […]

Screen use during family time and tech free zones

Screen use during family time and tech free zones

Why family time is neurologically valuable Family time is not just pleasant background for childhood; it is a repeated neurodevelopmental learning environment. During meals, play, reading, chores, and bedtime, children practice joint attention, emotional labeling, impulse control, conversational turn-taking, and recovery from frustration. These skills are shaped through responsive interaction: the caregiver notices a cue, […]