Category Archives: ACA Blog


Maria Montessori: History And Her Life


Dr. Maria Montessori, born in 1870 in a little town in Italy, became a barrier-busting force of nature long before she developed the Montessori Method of Education for which she is most famous. Raised in a middle-class family during the Victorian era, Maria attended classes at a technical institute for boys at the age of […]

read more

Ways Kids Can Get Involved After School


The school day may end at 3 p.m., but children learn and play all day long. It’s always a struggle to figure out how to fill those late afternoon hours safely and productively, and dual-working parents have the additional difficulty of transportation logistics. Yet, choosing the right after-school program matters. Studies have shown that kids […]

read more

4 Steps To Prepare Your Older Child For A New Sibling


There’s a new baby coming! Everyone in the family is excited–except, perhaps, your older children. Depending on their ages, they may be oblivious to the impending event, excited to have a sibling, or leery of all the attention this new baby seems to be getting even before it’s born. Whatever the case, changes are a-coming. […]

read more

Sharing Is Caring: How To Teach Your Child To Share


When your children are kicking, biting, and pulling each other’s hair over ownership of a plastic toy, it’s hard to imagine that they’ll ever learn to share. But sharing, like so many other valuable skills, can be taught. Check out these three ways to teach your children how to share with grace and gratefulness. Age […]

read more

6 Ways To Ease Separation Anxiety


Whether it’s the first day at daycare or the first day at school, a little crying is expected. Every child experiences some sort of separation anxiety in the early years. In actuality, separation anxiety can start as early as nine months, when babies begin to understand that they aren’t physically connected to their source of […]

read more

5 Tips For A Healthy Parent-Teacher Partnership


Depending on classroom size and grade, teachers may be in charge of tens to hundreds of students every day. Yet every teacher knows that effective communication with the parents of those children is vital, especially when behavioral or academic issues arise. Similarly, every parent knows that working effectively with their child’s learning professional can make […]

read more

7 Steps To Raising An Avid Reader


An avid reader of non-fiction adores learning and accumulating information. An avid reader of fiction is someone who loves story, narrative, and the subtleties of language. Both develop large vocabularies and whip-smart comprehension skills. Yes, children who read often score well on standardized tests in school, but that’s an incidental perk compared to the long-term […]

read more

No Whining Allowed: How To Nip The Habit In The Bud


There will likely come an unwelcome moment when your child’s articulation of the word “Mommy” turns into “Mommeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,” often spoken while he’s contorting, clinging, going limp, or in complete prostration. Diagnosis? Your child has a full-blown case of whining. Although there’s no quick way to eradicate the symptoms, patience and gentle discipline go a long […]

read more

10 Signs That Your Child Is Ready For First Grade


The transition to first grade can be a jarring change for any child. What happened to nap time? Play time? The reading circle? In the grade-school classroom, all that is swept away in exchange for more structure and higher academic expectations. Is your child ready for the leap? Check out these ten signs that they’re […]

read more

6 Fun Everyday Ways To Boost Early Math Skills


Long before your child tackles times tables, he or she must develop the fundamental number, counting, and pattern recognition skills that form the foundation of mathematical learning. Fortifying these skills is crucial, but kill-and-drill isn’t always the way. Chuck those flashcards in favor of these 6 easy ways to boost your child’s early math schools, […]

read more