Phil Father And Family Activities™ I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: These kids of ours, they love to play! And that includes, of course, the traditional Dad style rough-and-tumble play that men are famous for, but it also includes dramatic play where the dad takes on a role—such as in a make-believe game—and … Read more
By Patrick Mitchell “But Da-a-a-a-a-d…why do I ha-a-ve to go…?” I don’t want to go…why can’t I just stay here alone and play with my friends. D-a-a-a-a-a-a-d…why-y-y-y?” Most parents talk too much when their kids whine, says Carolyn Crowder, Ph.D., author of Whining: 3 Steps to Stopping it Before the Tears and Tantrums Start. … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell Father involvement is vital to children’s academic, social, and emotional development—especially in the early years. Parents who acknowledge, and act on, this research-driven reality can give their preschool child a running start in school and in life. One terrific way dads can become deeply involved in their preschool child’s development is by … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell Preschool children are much more competent, insightful, thoughtful, and curious than parents give them credit for, says Developmental Psychologist Michael Lamb, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Cambridge University and pre-eminent father involvement and child development researcher for a quarter of a century. Lucky, though, is the child whose parents recognize their … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell Alex, pick up your bowl and put it on the table. Good job. Help me? Sure, you can help me. Please take your shirt and put it in the laundry. You’re a good helper. Thank you. Children love doing chores. Okay, perhaps I should clarify: Toddlers and pre-school children love to … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell This post I’d like to share my perspective on taking small children to coffee shops and other public places to show them the world while you simultaneously work or read the newspaper. If you have a toddler, or if you’ve ever had a toddler, you’ll understand how glad I was to discover that … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell This month’s recipe comes to you from The Down To Earth Dad’s kitchen in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a city with a French name (which is quite fitting because these crepes originate in France!) You’ll need a round griddle (the likes of an omelet pan will do, if you have one), or a … Read more
by Patrick Mitchell A simple change in our family’s nightly routine made for fun times recently when my wife and oldest daughter left the house to attend a concert in a nearby city, leaving my teenage son and I to look after the twin toddlers. The usual nightly routine would have involved my wife and … Read more
Crock Pot Porker This hearty recipe is perfect for the cold days of Winter that lie ahead. Your kids will most likely ask for seconds, so you may want to double the recipe. In The Down To Earth Dad’s kitchen, we like to serve this meal with hot corn bread (butter, honey, and jam on … Read more
Father and Family Activities™ This month’s father and family activity involves seizing unexpected free moments in your day or week—holes in your To-Do list, if you will—and spending those moments with your children. Dads are busy creatures, but occasionally we get windows of opportunity to chill out, and some of that “chill time” can be … Read more