As parents, we’re often very conscious of our baby’s milestones and development</a>; marking down their first smile, when they finally slept through the night, and that first wobbly-leg attempt at standing. But what if that little one you’ve nurtured, cuddled, and read to over the months has yet to utter their first words? What if instead, they opt for nonverbal communication techniques to let you know their needs?

What is nonverbal communication exactly? Well, if your child has been communicating to you with hand gestures, pointing, body language, eye contact, and other cues that are not actual words, they are communicating nonverbally.

If this is the case, and your child isn’t speaking as much as you think they should, or at all, read on for a speech and language milestone checklist and tips on how to know when to reach out to your child’s doctor for guidance.

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It’s one of those things that can sneak up on a parent when they least expect it; your child is going through puberty. Your son is growing up, and your first sign it’s happening? A strong whiff of unpleasant body odor as he runs past. Wasn’t it just yesterday that you were cuddling up and nuzzling in to take in that sweet baby smell? Not so much anymore, as your baby boy starts to look, sound, … and smell, like a man.

So, when do boys hit puberty, and how can you help your not-so-little-anymore son navigate this tumultuous time in his life — while also trying to make it through unscathed yourself?

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Kindergarten graduation marks the end of a young child’s first year of school. While there are many milestones to celebrate in a young person’s life, making it through a tumultuous school year on the heels of a global pandemic is one that deserves special recognition. Our kids have proven resilient, caring, and kind over the last year. Let’s make their end-of-year accolades extra special this year by giving meaningful kindergarten graduation gifts.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains middle childhood — between the ages of 6 and 8 — as a time when children begin to see themselves as separate from their families. Children begin to gain a sense of independence as they navigate the world and begin to develop friendships. Physical, social, and mental skills develop rapidly during this age range.

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When I started my period, one of my best friends gave me a gift — a small cloth wallet called Uncle Vinnie’s Tampon Case. She had two older sisters, who knew the trials and tribulations of going to the bathroom at school to change a pad or tampon without trying to draw too much attention to yourself. We all had periods — well, most of us — but we were supposed to pretend like we didn’t, for the sake of … who? Teachers? Boys? Literally everyone?

I still have that tampon case. I love how it was brash and loud and announced exactly what it was, instead of trying to be discreet, and once I had a daughter of my own, I had half a thought to hand it down to her.

But I didn’t need to. In 21st-century internet-age America, she’s got way better options.

Periods have changed. There’s less shame, better products, even menstrual pride!

Case in point …

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With the new school year already underway, many parents are trying to provide some sense of normalcy for our kids as they navigate virtual learning. Some children are afraid to physically go back to school, while teachers are put in the unenviable position of building a community and teaching 25 kids online.

In this new virtual environment, kids will miss out on some of the milestones that they would have celebrated in school — annual photos, class parties, academic achievements. But these are things that are still important to note and acknowledge. Here are some ways you can mark your kids’ school milestones and find ways to make their year feel more “normal.”

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My boy will turn 4 this summer, and he has only recently begun sleeping through the night. Considering that I once believed he’d naturally begin sleeping through on his own at six months, I’ve been waiting a while for this huge milestone.

But here’s the catch: he sleeps all the way through the night IF, and only if, either my husband or me is in the bed with him all night long.

The post I Still Lay Down With My Preschooler Until He Falls Asleep appeared first on Mom.com.

Have you been struggling with how much independence to give your child and when? It really is the hardest thing to do — letting go as our children grow up. It starts with first words and steps, but soon they’re sleeping over at friend’s houses, riding their bike around the neighborhood, and wanting to walk to school alone. This makes my helicopter mom heart stop just a little bit. Luckily for me, we’ve never been close enough to any school for it to even be an option I’ve had to seriously entertain.

When I was 7 years old, I walked to school with my little brother, but without my mom. Or so I thought. I found out years later that while my mom did let us walk that route alone (it was only 3 blocks in the suburbs), she was actually following us — just far enough back so that we didn’t see her. She gave us the gift of independence.

According to Dr. Sears, maybe my mom was on to something. “Strike a balance between pushing and protecting. Both are necessary,” Dr. Sears wrote on AskDrSears.com. “If you don’t encourage your child to try, his skills don’t improve, and you’ve lost a valuable confidence builder. If you don’t protect your child from unrealistic expectations, his sense of competence is threatened.”

But when I can I let my child walk to school alone? Do I even want to?

At what age can my child walk to school alone?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should wait until their children are around 10 years old to allow them to walk to school (or anywhere else) unaccompanied.

Melissa Tigu, mom of an 11-year-old boy, is planning to wait a little longer. “I walked to school when I was little with my brothers and sisters. Maybe it’s different when you’re the mom and not that kid but I don’t feel like the world is safe enough for my son,” she told Mom.com.

Some children walk to school as young as 6, if the route is simple, but it would be safer to walk in a group of friends at that age. By the time most children are 10 or 11, they should be capable of walking to school on their own.

How to know if your kid is ready to walk to school without you

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There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to let your child walk to school alone:

• Is your child mature enough to walk alone?
• How far is home from the school?
• Are there sidewalks available?
• Do they know how to cross the street safely?
• Do they understand how to navigate the neighborhood safely?
• Is your neighborhood safe?
• Do you live in the suburbs? The city? In a rural area?

What does the law say is the appropriate age for a child to walk to school unaccompanied? The Every Student Succeeds Act contains a section (858) that protects the rights of kids to go out alone, meaning parents have the right to allow their children to bike, walk, or ride the bus to school by themselves. Usually, areas with high crime rates have their own specific regulations, while quieter neighborhoods defer to federal law.

Benefits of letting your child walk to school alone

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• Walking to school is good exercise for your child.
• Walking helps lower BMI and prevents childhood obesity.
• Limits your carbon footprint.
• You will save money on gas and car maintenance.
• Bonding time with their friends and a chance to make new friends.
• Walking to school alone or with a group of friends helps foster a sense of independence in your child.

Possible dangers of walking to school alone

Hit-and-run accidents
Teach your child basic car safety, including how to obey street signs, traffic signals, how to cross the street, not to dart into traffic, or get into cars with strangers.

Abduction
Teach your child not to ever get into cars with strangers. Identify safe houses along the route to school that they could go to for help in case of emergency. Encourage your child to walk with a friend, if possible.

Getting lost
Choose the safest route. Walk the route with your child several times before their first time walking alone. Make sure that they are familiar with the area and know the route.

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“Developmental milestones” might seem more relevant for tots than for teens, and while you probably aren’t going to start keeping a baby book for your 14-year-old, there are still highlights to keep an eye out for as your kid moves through adolescence.

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Taking back-to-school photos is a fun way to celebrate milestones and track your child’s growth. Whether they’re in kindergarten or middle school kids grow and change quickly, even within the span of a school year. If you’re looking for ideas and insight on taking the best back-to-school photos, follow these simple tips for fun, safe and creative pictures you’ll treasure for years to come.

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Ah, the sweet milestones of childhood. Nothing makes a mom more proud than adding an entry to the baby book (First steps! First words!), then posting about it on Facebook for all to like. But beyond taking the training wheels off the bike and the first day of kindergarten, there are other childhood milestones that aren’t so status worthy. These are the kinds of milestones only your mom friends truly understand.

More from Mom.com: Baby’s Developmental Milestones — Explained

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