Siyona Varghese

When to Step In: Managing Conflict Between 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese Conflicts between young children, especially 5-year-olds, are a normal part of social development. At this age, children are still learning how to communicate their feelings, share, negotiate, and solve problems with their peers. As caregivers, teachers, or parents, it can be tricky to decide when to intervene and when to let children […]

Screen Time and 5-Year-Olds: What’s Healthy, What’s Not?

By Siyona Varghese In today’s digital age, screens are everywhere—televisions, tablets, phones, and computers have become a regular part of life for many families. For 5-year-olds, screens can offer fun, learning, and connection. But they can also lead to challenges if not used mindfully. As parents and caregivers, it’s important to ask: How much screen […]

Celebrating Differences: Inclusion and Acceptance in Early Childhood

By Siyona Varghese The early years of a child’s life are full of learning—not just about letters, numbers, and shapes, but about people, relationships, and how the world works. During this critical time, children begin to form ideas about themselves and others. That’s why it’s so important to introduce the values of inclusion, diversity, and […]

Worries and Whys: Understanding Anxiety in 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At five years old, children are full of questions — “Why is the sky blue?” “What happens if I get lost?” “Why do I have to go to school?” Along with this natural curiosity, many begin to experience their first real worries. These concerns might seem small to adults, but to a […]

Kindness Counts: Teaching Compassion to 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese In a world that often feels hurried and competitive, teaching children the value of kindness is more important than ever. By the time your child turns five, they are developmentally ready to begin understanding the emotions of others and the impact of their actions. While empathy and compassion may not yet come […]

Growing Minds: What’s Happening in Your 5-Year-Old’s Brain?

By Siyona Varghese By the time your child turns five, they’ve already undergone a remarkable transformation. From babbling baby to imaginative storyteller, their brain has been busy wiring itself to think, feel, move, and connect with the world around them. But what exactly is going on inside the mind of a 5-year-old? Understanding this developmental […]

Playdates and Peer Pressure: Social Smarts for 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At age five, children are stepping into a new world of friendships, playdates, and social dynamics. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be tricky. As they seek connection and approval from peers, they start experiencing early forms of peer pressure — the subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) push to act a […]