• By 6 months: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions
• By 9 months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions
• By 12 months: No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving; lack of response to name; and, no babbling or “baby talk”
• By 16 months: No spoken words
• By 18 months: No play of “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll)
• By 24 months: No meaningful two-word phrases that do not involve imitating or repeating
• At any age, any loss of: speech, babbling, or social skills

• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
• Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings, or talking about their own feelings
• Have delayed speech and language skills
• Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Give unrelated answers to questions
• Get upset by minor changes
• Have obsessive interests
• Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
• Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

There are many reasons why parents choose to find a new Pediatrician. Most of the time your search starts when you find out you are pregnant and need to select who your child will see for the next 18 years for medical care. Sometimes it is because you just don’t mesh well with the doctor you chose and you are opting to look for another provider. But in my case, it is because my Pediatrician is retiring. Now it is time to start my search all over again and I’d like to share with you how I am going about this process.

I didn’t start seeing my current Pediatrician until this past year. I had horrible previous experiences at another office with various doctors and was just not happy with the customer service side of care (ex: waiting over an hour for an appointment is just not fun with a toddler). I asked my local mom friends who they see and I was recommended to give my current doctor a try. Her office is literally 5 minutes from my house, I love how she always came into the room with a smile, answered all of my questions, and the big thing was that Capri instantly liked her. She even pretends to be this doctor when she plays doctor’s office at home. Plus, she has been seeing Cam since he was born too, which as you may remember, he was premature so we saw our doctor more often than normal and she helped me through a lot with him.

1. Male versus Female: Capri has always seen a female doctor. It was kind of by chance to be honest, but I feel like anytime she has to see a male doctor due to the female not being available when we were, she did worse at her appointment. This might make a big difference in how your child acts during a checkup too!
2. Wait Times: I understand that doctor’s offices get backed up, but there is no reason for me to wait over an hour for a simple checkup, even worse if my child is sick and miserable. At my current Pediatrician’s office, I have never waited longer than 2 minutes to be seen. That is quite unheard of so I am hoping that our next doctor doesn’t make me wait long or I’ll be moving on.
3. Happiness During Our Appointment: Listen, I know that people have bad days, but if someone is a grump every time I see them and just does not seem to enjoy working with kids, then I am not going to expose my child to that environment. My doctor needs to come in the room smiling, happy to see my child. Or if children are sick, the doctor needs to show sympathy for their illness. Kids react to the moods of others.
4. Answers All of My Questions: I am not one who asks a ton of questions, but if I do, I want the doctor to answer them and not be rushing out of the room because my 15 minutes are up. I am paying them for my appointment, so if I have questions related to my child’s health, then I expect them to be answered right then and there.
5. Has Longevity with the Group: I want my kids to build a relationship with their Pediatrician. I like that they will know who they are going to see when they are sick or just for a checkup, and not see this  person as a stranger to be feared. It is so much easier when I can remind them how great the last visit with the doctor was and that they don’t have to be scared.

1. Dance to Music - Plug in your favorite music (we are particularly fond of Choosy music) and dance to encourage active movement. Did you know that Choosy songs can be effective for initiating a discussion about healthy behaviors, signifying transition, or simply allowing children to have fun and be expressive.
2. Table top activities - Head over to Choosy Kids to download tabletop activities like coloring pages, dot-to-dot exercises, and much more! 
3. Create your own play props - Create inexpensive play props that can help encourage active play! Check out the video on how to make an inexpensive 2-liter bat. 
4. Pick berries and learn about healthy choices - Go on a berry hunt and be sure to talk to your child about all of the health benefits associated with eating them. You can even use these berries to make a smoothie. Check out this smoothie blog and recipe from The Choosy Mommy, Be a Choosy Role Model with Fruits and Veggies: Give a Smoothie a Try.
5. Visit the local farmer’s market and snag all of the healthy produce and learn about healthy choices Eating Well Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune, by Choosy blogger Kerry, has a good blog post to read before your farmer’s market visit.
6. Dedicate at least one day every week to family game night  - Board games are a great way to promote family time. Instead of surfing the internet, dust off the board games and begin playing! 
7. Visit a museum  - Seek out a local museum and visit their collection. Interestingly enough, NAEYC recently published an article highlighting the benefits of a museum within a child’s life. Check it out here! 
8. Visit a zoo (or create your own zoo using inexpensive materials for your child) - Be sure to plan a visit to the local zoo! If you don’t live near a zoo, why not dig out all of the stuffed animals and create your own zoo. This can be a great way to introduce new animals to your child (or children). 
9. Create a nature walk - Find a local rail-trail or park and encourage your child to identify objects within nature. You could also act out the movements within the song, “Be Choosy Outside”
10. Practice a new skill (jumping rope, balancing, etc.)  - Our recent blog post discusses all about learning to jump rope. Why not visit the post and encourage your child to learn a new skill. 
11. Plant a garden - Use the late spring and summertime to begin planting and growing your own garden. Remember to water the garden and be sure to let your child participate. Check out this great blog, Gardening for Good, by Choosy blogger Kerry for some ways to get your children involved more.
12. Create an indoor puppet play - Create a shadow box using cardboard (an old shoe box is perfect) and create puppets using paper. Encourage your child to produce a puppet show. If you are also looking for more durable puppets, why not look into purchasing a Choosy puppet this summer? Paint and decorate the box to make it feel as if you are at a theater! 
13. Use yarn to encourage movement and learning - Combining music with deliberate movement has even greater impact on early learning. Grab some yarn and ask your child to draw letters, shapes, and numbers on the floor using the yarn. Join in on the fun to ensure they stay engaged. 
14. Make homemade healthy popsicles - Take a look at some of these super healthy frozen treats! 
15. Start a scrapbook - Begin photographing each event and summer idea you complete for your very own “100 Choosy Summer Ideas” scrapbook 
16. Create a Choosy scavenger hunt - Print off some healthy food options, and scatter the prints throughout the house. Help your child locate each of the items and check them off of your Choosy list! 
17. Play ‘Choosy Says’  - Start off each phrase of the game with “Choosy Says” then ask the child to “touch a nose, point to a knee, or show me how to brush your teeth.” 
18. Make and blow bubbles - Check out this excellent blog post on making your own bubbles and wand! Get creative and make the wands out of pipe cleaners. 
19. Go to the park - Visit the local park and encourage active play! 
20. Sidewalk chalk (ABC’s, 123’s and pictures) - Grab some sidewalk chalk and begin having fun with your ABC’s and 123’s. Don’t forget to encourage imaginative play and let little hands draw to express themselves. 
21. Make dinner together - Encourage your child to help create dinner. Perhaps even ask  children to create their own healthy meal to include as part of the main dinner meal. Remember that there are many benefits of eating dinner together as a family. Read more about this on Choosy blogger Kerry’s post, Family Meals for Healthy Kids.
22. Make playdough - Here’s a great recipe for homemade playdough. Encourage your child to make a variety of shapes, numbers, letters, and objects. Let creativity take control! 
23. Go to an amusement park or local fair - The food there is exciting too!
24. Go camping - This year is also the National Park Services’ 100th birthday! See which national park interests you for camping and explore all day! 
25. Go boating or canoeing - If you don't have a boat, you can rent one. Being out in the water is a whole new experience! 
26. Play hopscotch - You can even use sidewalk chalk or old hula hoops to make it more interesting 
27. Go on a bike ride - Travel on a safe trail or just around the block. Make it a family experience and ask the entire family to participate
28. Play tag - Gather your friends and family and enjoy a friendly game of tag. 
29. Lay in the yard and count stars - How many constellations can you recognize? 
30. Pick wildflowers and give them to a neighbor - This nice gesture could make your neighbor’s day!
31. Bake cookies on a rainy day - Have a favorite cookie? Learn how to make it at home during a rainy day. You could even take some cookies to your friends and neighbors. Sharing is caring!
32. Fly a kite on a windy day - Make sure you are in an open field so your kite doesn’t get caught in a tree or on power lines!
33. Act out a favorite TV show or movie - Then record it into a movie to show everyone. Remember to share it on Choosy Kids social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) or email it to us.
34. Try a new seasonal fruit or vegetable from your local farmer’s market - You can try these fun summer snacks with the things you buy!
35. Play in the sandbox and build sandcastles - This is a great hands-on activity that allows for children to understand how sand moves. Add some water and see what happens then!
36. Go to a playground and make a new friend - All it takes is saying, “Hi, my name is _______.” 
37. Play in the rain - A little rain never hurt anyone. But stay inside if it is storming. 
38. Make homemade ice cream - Use fresh berries to create your own homemade ice cream. Here’s a great recipe for the foundation of ice cream.  
39. Go swimming - Learning to swim is great for everyone. Check out these blog posts about swimming: From Water We Come and Back to Water We Go and Helping Your Child Thrive at the Pool: It’s a Year-Round Event!
40. Go fishing - Learn about the different fish that are in the water. Remember, catch and release unless you are planning a meal. 
41. Go to a baseball game - Baseball tickets can be very inexpensive, especially for minor league teams. Put on your favorite ball cap and enjoy the sun!
42. Play kickball - Gather up a group of kids and play kickball (just like baseball but kicking a big ball!)
43. Tie dye t-shirts - Make your family matching tie dye t-shirts. They won't exactly match but that is half of the fun! 
44. Paint the sidewalk with water - Use sponges and other absorbent objects to paint the sidewalk in water. 
45. Go on a picnic - Be sure to pack plenty of fruits and veggies! 
46. Play flashlight tag - For even more fun use a variety of colored lights. Or cover the flashlight with colored tissue paper to change the light’s color. 
47. Read about a local historical fact in your town and visit it - Perhaps a trip to the museum can help locate other artifacts. 
48. Take pictures of everywhere you go - Don’t forget to add them to your “100 Choosy Summer Ideas” scrapbook and share them with us on Facebook and Twitter. Use #100ChoosyIdeas.
49. Wash your vehicles together - What could be more fun than playing outside with soap and water and finishing a chore? 
50. Set up a lemonade stand and donate your profit to a local charity - If you need any help deciding a local charity, use Guide Star’s directory for a comprehensive list. 
51. Have a watermelon seed spitting contest - Did you know in Texas, watermelon seed spitting is actually a big sport? 
52. Make a fort - Building forts is a great outdoor and indoor activity. Check out this cool post from Built by Kids about building the perfect fort. 
53. Plan a RAOK - Throughout the summer, take some time to encourage your child to help others. Participate in a random act of kindness (RAOK) at least once a month. This could be as simple as helping you around the house, or helping the neighbors in some way. 
54. Make your own bird feeder - Homemade bird feeders can be as elaborate as you’d like, but we prefer this cool inexpensive bird feeder.  
55. Make your own pizza - Cooking together can be one of the most enjoyable moments! Check out some of these healthy pizza recipes! 
56. Make a homemade movie - Use your cell phone or small recording camera to begin taking footage. Then, depending on your computer, search for movie making software (usually a free version is installed with your Windows computer and on a Mac).  Add special effects and titles to make the movie special to your family. 
57. Use washable markers to decorate windows - If there is a rainy day, and you have to stay in, why not decorate the windows while you wait for the sun to return? Here are some great markers designed just for this. 
58. Conduct a safe science experiment - Kids are naturally curious and are scientists at an early age! This summer try some of these kid-friendly science experiments. The Color Symphony is definitely a favorite!  
59. Participate in a craft workshop - The Home Depot, Lowes, and AC Moore usually always offer local workshops to help encourage children to dabble in the arts. If these are a little pricey, why not check out the local library for even more fun! 
60. Create your own bowling arena inside - Use old water bottles and a paper ball (or any lightweight ball) to create your own indoor bowling arena our Choosy Blogger, Molly Luke, has shared some great indoor activities. 
61. Have a camp out in your backyard 
62. Mommy and me or Daddy and me date in which the child gets to plan for the day
63. Create your own post office and deliver/write letters to one another.
64. Alphabet “I Spy” in which you try to take a picture of objects that start with every letter of the alphabet and put them in a journal 
65. Put on a magic show - Amaze everyone with your skills. Here are some fun magic tricks for kids. 
66. Put together a puzzle - Depending on the age of your children (or child) put together a summertime puzzle and use inexpensive puzzle glue to keep the puzzle together. 
67. Join the local library reading program - Reading is a wonderful way to learn more about things you are doing or places you will be going. Try to check out books that expand upon what you are doing at home too (like some of these ideas!)
68. Play pretend market - Set up a local market in the backyard with pretend food or even real food to help learn about different fruit and veggies. Ask the child questions about each product to encourage imagination and learning.
69. Visit your local fire department and police station (you could even take them the cookies you baked!) - Perhaps this could be part of your monthly ROAK? 
70. Create a rock garden - Find all shapes and sizes of rocks and plant them in a sunny or shady place. You could even paint or color with chalk on the rocks. 
71. Have a tea party - You can make this fancy and fun! Hot or iced tea works (you could even make your own sun tea)
72. Have a spoon race - You don’t have to just use eggs! Put a spoon in your mouth and slowly balance whatever object you have on the end of the spoon. 
73. Outside Tic-Tac-Toe - Make an outdoor tic-tac-toe board with chalk, rope, tree branches, etc. and encourage tossing with a bean bag, rock, ball, etc. 3 in a row wins!
74. Play outdoor scrabble - Grab some copy paper and using a marker spell out each of your family’s name. Put only one letter per sheet of paper. Then scatter the letters throughout the yard and work together to put the names back in order. 
75. Nature prints - Use watercolor and items found in nature to make some cool prints. 
76. Car race ramps - Make your own racing ramp out of cardboard to race toy cars or other items to the finish line. 
77. Make your own sand decorations - Find some small jars and gather up sand, rocks, flowers, etc. to create your own sand jar.
78. DIY Aquarium - Grab a mason jar, some aquarium ornaments (or create your own using craft foam) , and some glue. Place and glue all ornaments inside on the lid of the jar , then attach the lid back to the jar for a neat looking glass aquarium. If you prefer not to use a glass mason jar, find or reuse a plastic container. 
79. Learn origami - This involves paper and patience. Check out this website for some kid-friendly ideas.
80. Create a nature checklist - Find what lives in your backyard by creating a checklist and scoping out some wildlife.
81. Make paper dolls and play pretend - You can even find scraps of material to make their clothes!
82. Make your own holiday cards - Save money and have fun by creating homemade holiday cards. 
83. Popsicle stick heroes - Use popsicle sticks to put together your own hero. 
84. Sponge paint - Cut shapes out of dish sponges and dip them in paint. 
85. Have a summer cleanup of old toys - Donate the toys that you gather to a local shelter, church or charity.
86. Create your own activity booklet - Visit choosykids.com to download some activity sheets. Simply staple 7 or more sheets together and create a weekly activity booklet. 
87. Hoopla game - Set up empty water bottles and create small hoops (can use pool noodles) and encourage the child to make the noodle on the water bottle 
88. Play dress up - Get out some fun adult clothes, holiday costumes, fancy dresses and suits, etc., and just dress up! 
89. Penny match-up. Use some coins and tape to the back of a sheet of paper, then encourage the child to match the correct coins in order to win the ones matched. 
90. Make your own desktop organizers - Do this by using party cups or play pots and decorate them to your liking. This is also a great gift for someone’s office away from home.
91. Create your own countdown calendar - If you are going on vacation or somewhere special, print out a calendar to countdown the days. Use stickers, markers, dobbers, etc. to mark off the days 
92. Create a table-top football game - Print out or make your own characters to participate in  your very own football game. You will need to create your gameboard and have each side have a character. In order to advance their character, ask the child a question that helps to encourage active learning. If they get the question right, they get to move one space (or ten yards). One question could be, “ What color is Choosy?”  or “Name three fruits.” Encourage your child to ask you questions as well. 
93. Print off the Choosy activity calendar - Check them out on ChoosyKids.com!
94. Make a magnet - Buy a pack of inexpensive magnet sheets, and print off (or handmake) your own fruit or vegetable magnets. For even more fun, you can print off some family photos and make your own family magnet portrait for the refrigerator. 
95. Create your own learning game -  You will need a variety of cardstock colors . Cut a variety of shapes out of cardstock , and help your child organize and sort all of the pieces by color and shape. 
96. Make your own paint brushes using  cotton balls and clothes pins - Instead of using paintbrushes, you can just clip a cotton ball onto a clothes pin. Makes a great dobber!
97. Make a paper plate mask - Use whatever craft supplies you have to decorate a paper plate. Cut out eye and mouth holes and punch to holes in the side for the string to tie around the head. 
98. Make paper plate animals - Grab some extra paper plates and some watercolor paints to create your own paper plate animals. Use extra scraps to create the ears and any other accessories. For some extra pizzazz, use paste on wiggly eyes to add extra life to your animal. 
99. Create your own storybook - Open up your child’s imagination by writing out a story that they tell you. Then create pictures for the book together.
100. Play wastebasket basketball - Crumble up that junk mail into a ball and set up a wastebasket a few feet away. You can even put some masking tape on the floor for shooting lines.

• Try making your own trail mix with different nuts and dried fruits to substitute snacking on chips. 
• Avocado is a great topper for toast in the morning (or any other time!). 
• Replace mayonnaise with plain yogurt, just add a bit of lemon juice and a few choice herbs such as chives or rosemary. (This is a great dip as well!)
• Top salads with flaxseed, or add a spoonful to smoothies.

• Fruits! Make a yummy smoothie instead of buying a carton of ice cream.
• Honey is great sweetener and has added effects of immune support. 
• Maple syrup (the real stuff) contains minerals and antioxidants, but it is still sugar so use sparingly. It’s great for fall flavors in treats. 
• While fruit juice is natural sugar, keep in mind that a glass of orange juice probably amounts to four or five oranges. You wouldn’t eat that many oranges in one sitting, and it is possible to overdo natural sugars.
• Buy plain yogurt and add your own sweetness with fruit, honey, or maple syrup. That way you know just how much is in each serving.

• This Is My Body
• I'm The Boss
• When I Move My Parts

About the Author: Hello! I have been teaching for about 10 years now, ages Pre-K through 8th grade…needless to say, I am a life-long learner and always looking for new thing to challenge my body and brain to do in a classroom! Outside of the classroom, family comes first! My husband Dan, baby Marshall and basset hound Penelope enjoy my naturally caffeinated personality on a regular basis. The whole family enjoys traveling, and I personally have a goal of visiting all 7 continents! 2 more to go! 

1. Make sure you purchase sunglasses that are durable and protect against UV rays instead of just pretend plastic sunglasses. Look for sunglasses that are shatterproof and block 100% of the UV rays.
2. Let children choose their own pair. Choosy picked a purple pair and wears them constantly! There are sunglasses with super heroes, princesses, animals, prints and of course, come in multiple shapes, sizes and colors. 
3. The bigger, the better. Big sunglasses are stylish now for moms, and they are for children too. The more sunglass lens and frame there is, the more the skin is protected around the eyes. But make sure the sunglasses are comfortable and stay on your child’s face. There are super comfortable straps available to put on sunglasses to keep them from falling off little faces.
4. Wearing sunglasses is a learned “habit”. My 1 year old will put on and take off his sunglasses repeatedly, but I always make sure I offer them, tell him how cool he looks in them, and never force him to wear them. I did the same with my 3 year old and now she wears her sunglasses whenever we are outside without me even prompting her. Her “sunnies” are stylish, comfortable and fun to her, but to me they are protecting her sight for years to come. 
5. Sunglasses aren’t just for the summer time. Remember to protect you and your children’s eyes in the winter too as the reflections beating off of the snow can be even more harmful to eyes than when the sun reflects off of water. My 3 year old likes to wear big snow goggles in the winter time as they help keep her face 100% covered in the cold.

• Viruses are the usual culprits for runny noses: They are also associated with low-grade fevers, cough, and the general blahs we get with the common cold. We can catch them any time of the year and you will typically have more than one family member with symptoms around the same time. We pick up these "bugs" from others who have been ill and they can be on surfaces in public areas. 
• Tip to steer clear of viruses: Hand washing is the best way to try to prevent these illnesses any time of the year. Check out the Choosy Kids song ‘My Hands Need Washed’ to help with hand washing!
• Don't forget to cover a cough or sneeze, get rest, and drink fluids while you have a cold. If your children are active and pretty much their typical selves when they have a cold, it's a good sign they're doing fine and no need for any other treatment. For worsening or persistent symptoms then perhaps a call or visit to your healthcare provider is warranted. 
• Unfortunately, your body may be allergic: Allergies are sometimes a bit of a challenge to figure out but the good news is that most are mild annoyances and self limited. Some are easy to detect. If you walk into a room where there is a pet and suddenly sneeze and have itchy, watery eyes when starting to pet the animal, you are likely displaying allergy symptoms. Most allergies from environmental causes make our bodies release histamine and other chemicals. These most often cause an itching reaction such as itchy, watery eyes and/or nose, hives on our skin or a scratchy throat. Many people sneeze a lot when they have allergy flares.  A tendency to allergies may be inherited, though family members may be allergic to different things or have varying severity of their symptoms. A seasonal pattern tends to occur with "hayfever" and so noting when the symptoms occur may help to solve the puzzle. If the symptoms include fever or difficulty breathing, especially if the onset is sudden and severe, professional care is urgently warranted. For mild symptoms, avoiding the cause if you know it is helpful. For more specific treatments I recommend you talk to you healthcare provider.
• It’s just in the air: Sometimes our runny noses may be caused by the environment but not necessarily be allergies. When they air is very dry and dusty, our bodies need to keep our noses moist and clean. So then we may have the need to sneeze, have watery noses or mild congestion, maybe some coughs and even watery eyes. Sometimes we have very low humidity inside our homes, especially in winter. Do you ever walk around shocking each other or having staticky hair? Well that dry air will cause our noses to make more mucus and secrete moisture. During this time, we really don't feel sick, we just have a stuffy nose. Humidifier and vaporizers can help as well as drinking lots of fluids.

Routine is Important for Any Age

No matter what age your children are, developing a daily routine can help keep their life organized and help eliminate chaos from yours. Children like routines that are predictable, regular and consistent. And since young children don’t understand time in minutes and hours, it is better to have a routine in place so they understand what event happens next.

Routines can also help children during difficult times of the day like when they first wake up in the morning, nap time, or bedtime. When children know what to expect when they wake up, there will be less arguments and they will learn to complete tasks before they can start other plans for the day.

And same with nap time and bedtime. By doing the bedtime routine prior to sleeping, they will feel more comfortable and prepared to calm their bodies and mind for sleep.

Implement a Routine

It is never too late to implement a routine, especially if a big life event is about to happen for the child – like going to school. No matter if this is your child’s first year going or their 12^th, going from summer time to school time can be a hard transition. Implement a routine that you can keep on track with year-round (this is where I need to improve). Here are some easy routines that children can follow every day, regardless if they are going to school or not, to help with their day.

• When your child wakes up in the morning, make it a routine to go to the bathroom first and use the toilet. Wash their hands next and brush their teeth while they are still at the sink. When they are finished with their teeth, have them move on to face washing and brushing their hair.
• Don’t let them hangout all morning in their pajamas. After they are finished in the bathroom, have them change into their clothes for the day. When you get them changing out of their pajamas and into other clothes, it is a trigger action to confirm that their day is starting.
• Many children wake up very hungry. 8-10 hours of sleep is a long time without eating for anyone, especially a young child. Have them eat a nutritious breakfast right after the bathroom routine.
• At this point, children might be ready to be on their way to school. If your child is still in pre-school or a half day school program and starts in the afternoon, now might be a good time to encourage free play or do something fun together.
• When your child gets home from school, have a routine in place to make the transition from school environment to home environment easier. If that means putting their backpacks in a certain place and going over paperwork together on the couch then do that. Maybe it is finding a healthy snack and going on a walk outside together. Whatever it is, ease the transition because school can be very stressful for children of any age.
• And finally, the bedtime routine, which can be the hardest of all. Children are busy little people. Getting them to calm down and relax their mind and bodies after a long day can be so hard. Start bath time at the same time every evening. After the bath is over, implement a routine: pajamas, teeth, book, then bed for example. Or if your children are movers like mine, bed time yoga is fabulous! You could also go over what will happen tomorrow in your routine so that your child knows what the plan is. 

I hope that this school year is wonderful for your children and you, the parent. This time goes so fast so it is important that we make the best of it!

What are your daily routines like when your children go to school? At what age did you start a routine? How much does your routine change from school to summer time?