The importance of play

you should play with your  infant/toddler. you can begin by blowing on her tummy with your mouth. You will see our infant/giggling. Play allows infants/toddlers to laugh. It also builds language skills. Provide them with different toys that will allow to play alone. You should also give your child a small ball to play with they love to squeeze it. You should provide different items for your baby to play with. Researchers have documented the benefits of play it; helps with brain development, language development, and social emotional development. Your infant/toddler also learn how to take turns during play. Your infant is learning to share also.
You should continue  to allow your infant/toddler time for  play.

Are you raising a mama's boy

There are times I watch mothers interact with their sons and daughters and I see they treat the son very different from their daughter. Yes your son will one day become a man; however many mothers love their sons and raise their daughters.

The other day I met a lovely woman who has a son.  I asked her, "are you creating a momma's boy?" she responded, I think so. She began to tell me she took him to a party and he didn't want to play with the other children, he clung to her.

I responded, "that's not being a mamma's boy it's socialization. You should try to take him to other places so he can interact with other children. I also told her that socialization is very important especially when the baby starts school and into adulthood.  Many times our children have challenges dealing with different people and different environments as they get older especially in college because as a baby and young child they were not exposed to different environments.  For example, taking your baby/toddler to a children's party is great but what about the museum, the park, child friendly events.  Taking them to these different places allows them to opportunity to have different experiences and begin to learn how to social and know that different places and situations calls for different behavior.

Be well

Spoiling vs. Nurturing

I hope you had a wonderful week and family fun this weekend.

What is your definition of spoiling?
I believe it's ok to spoil your baby to a point, meaning it's not everything baby asks for she should get. Just like how you spoil yourself and maybe your significant other your baby deserves to be treated like the prince or princess they are. Keep in mind you should still being to teach them how to do things as well rather than doing everything for her.

You still show her how to clean up after playing with her toys.  Show her how to use a baby wipe to clean up a little spill she made.  Assist her with putting on her jacket, but allow her to help so she will learn. Too many times I hear a 4 or 5 year old say "I can't..." that's because everything is done for them they are not given the opportunity to try.

I know you may be saying, "but she's too young". Not true, now is the time to being showing them how to do things. Remember repetition is KEY, some things may take the baby 5 weeks; 5 months to learn.

Please share some things you do for your baby and what you help your baby with. That will also build self esteem and self-confidence.

Be well

social emotional school readiness

Your baby will not be ready for learning when she gets to school if you do not prepare her for learning . You need to start preparing her  for school when she is born. If she is born premature and cannot come home with you you can still do activities, you should read stories to her when you visit the hospital and also take a small cassette/cd/ipod player and play children's music for her. Brain development is very important and the young brain is growing and is ready to learn.

Observation

Today  my 17month old kept climbing on the chair ,the last chair that we keep under the table towards the wall. he keeps climbing on the chair and then he climbs on the table and gives a big smile. He has been doing that for the past two weeks.Today I decided to remove the chair because he has mastered that skill. As i picked yo the chair he began to fuss"why are you moving my chair" then he walked infront of me and stop with his back leaning on my feet and he stretched his arms out

That is  brain development at it's best.

Kicking

Your toddler should be able to kick objects and throw objects.
You should give her a ball that she can play with. Also allow her to run around this strenghtens her large muscles, legs etc. You shiuld also play catch with your infant/toddler. When your infant/toddler learn these new skills she will want to kick and throw everything that she can pick-up. You have to guide your infant/toddler as to what objecs she cqn kick and through.You need patience and you will need to repeat the same guidance instruction plenty times.

Exploring

Your toddler is climbing on everything that she can manage to get her on.Do not use the word no too often  instead you need to make the space safe. The word NO indicates "I cant exlpore, I cant be creative".
You will need to re-arange the  furniture ,put some big pillows down so when she falls she will not get hurt. Infants/toddlers are scientist they are always exploring. You need to allow them to explore freely while setting realistic limits.

Experiences-The first -2000 days

Now that  the weather is changing you will be getting out more with your baby. There are a number of free events that you can attend with your infant/toddler just check in your city. Sometines it is difficutl to find activities for infants/toddlers so you may need to create one.
The brain devevelops bases on the experiences that it has been exposed to. Socialization is a very important part of development,exposing your infant/toddler to different cultures your infant/toddler must learn that there are differnt cultures in the community. I went to an event recently I was the only person of color there and this is a clear  indication of what  I am talking.If the world is going to change we need to start with our infants/toddlers.

The First 2000 days -Social emotional school readiness

The first 2000 days are critical for brain development. During these days you must develop the whole brain.  The brain has different Domains,areas that controls different activities. You cannot just focus on one area because the other areas will be neglected and the baby will loose those nurons, just like  if you do not excersise certain muscles they get corroded . You must give your baby different experiences that will allow all parts of the brain to develop :

•  Your baby needs :
•  To listen to a varity of children's music
• ,developmental toys for fine muscles,
• listening skills,
• age appropriate books(board books), you should also read to your baby sit your baby on your lap when you are reading you should start reading to your baby the first day that you bring the baby home,
•  Allow your baby freedom to explore,gross motor skills,
•  Teach your   how to play, your baby should laugh a lot,
• Provide items for your baby to engage in pretend play,example a hat,sun glasses ,necklace. Teach your baby how to follow directions,ex give your bottle to daddy or your brother
• Give your toddler access to writing paper and writing untencils ,pens ,nontoxic crayons,etc. Have your toddler do finger painting,brush painting.
• Give your baby items that she can stack (put on top of each other) small blocks, large tops,small boxes

All these skills are critical for school.These are just a few things that you can start with.You should sit your baby in your lap when you are reading you should start reading to your baby the first day that you bring the baby home.In order for your baby to be ready for school you must get them ready for learning.

The first 2000 days- Safety First

When you are walking on the street with your baby in a stroller it is not safe to be talking on your cell phone. Your baby's life is precious and you should practice safety with your baby. Smoking around your baby is not healthy for the brain either and yelling, fighting and loud music.

You should also not use curse words around your baby . Your baby's brain is always working and you should keep that in mind. Language development is taking place and you want your baby to develop good language skills.You are the mirror that your baby sees the world through.Brain development is critical and giving your baby thoses social emotional skills are critical for life.

Being independent

Building  self-esteem
Yesterday I was feeding my grandson and he held on to the spoon and helped me to but it to his mouth. Your infant usually let you know when he is ready to move to the next stage of development. He has been playing with a spoon for a while and he is now ready to make that next move ,putting it to his mouth. Your child will proceed to yhe next stage but you must read his cues and give him the opportunity to practice his new skill.This means that you should have enough time when you are feeding him this way he can get a chance to  help you feeding himself.
Your infant/toddler needs to feel competent and begin building self-esteem.

Parenting sense

It does not make much sense  to spend a lot of money for baby clothes.  Babies grow out thier clothes  every two weeks.You can slove this  few ways:
If you are a part of a local list serv/parent group you can exchange clothes with each other. You  can also do book exchange. Books must be age appropriate.

Be ceative

The breat feeding pillow can be used to put around your baby's neck to hold up his head when she is sleeping in her car seat. Just unzip the cussion and remove some of the contents as it  will be too big  to fit around her neck keep checking it until you get to the correct size.  This has a dual purpose and will save you a few bucks.It is very important that you be creative in your parenting .

Seperation

I met a couple a few days ago they were getting ready to take their three month old to daycare. I know this is a very  difficult time for allbefore you take your baby to a child  care center you should make sure that they have permit from the city they are  livining in. The staff should be trained in child development. If they are a provider or a baby sitter the should have taken some workshops in child development.The first 2000 days are the most critical and must be stimulated  with positive experiences.
Once you have decided which childcare program you will take your infant/toddler to you should have the baby visit a few times ,this is called an adjustment  period.There is a link on the blog that will give you some more tips on quality program for infants/toddlers.

Traveling

When you are traveling with your infant/toddler You should:
Back a bag with some toys a few books and a CD . Play the music if you are traveling in a car
You can read your infant/toddler a story if you are on the bus, on the train, or in a car. Often times when you go to the doctor the wait is long you should take some toys that will keep your infant/toddler  engaged. Many times the care giver is on  their cell phone and no interaction is happening with the infant/toddler. Young children must interact with adults in order to learn and develop positive relationships that is quality.

Inter acting with toddlers

observation
Walking you get a chance to observe a lor of things. I observed this young man interacting with a child that is about three years old.Here is the exchange "bumping fist and said yo that's how you do me on a Monday". How can this young child learn to speak in sentences.When you are  with your infant/toddler you must speak

Language Development

I have gotten behind this week. I know that you missed us.

On Wednesday I was walking on Lenox and observed a group of people standing with a baby and they were talking but the vocabulary that they were using  was not appropriate for an infant's ear. The brain absorbs what ever it is exposed to  and the cures words that they were using .You must remember that your baby is learning all the time and what you expose your baby to is what she will learn.

Interacting with our baby

Some parents believe with technology comes the ease with teaching your baby or keeping them "self- entertained". The other "entertainment" for some parents is the television.

The best form of entertainment for your baby at this stage is personal interaction. It helps to shape the brain, remember at birth your baby's brain is 25% developed and by age 5 the brain is 95% developed.

I found the below video that further explains why it is important to interact with your baby rather than leaving the baby to watch tv, play with your i-phone/pad andriod laptop baby can read etc. Not that I'm against technology but when the baby is in the critical years the best form of development is personal interaction.

Please share your thoughts after viewing the video.

Be well

http://youtu.be/m_5u8-QSh6A

Experiences Build Brain Architecture

Every word, every action taken with your baby during the early years will shape how they learn and react to you and others as they get older. I found this great short video and thought to share it with you. Please share your thoughts.

Be well



The brain during the early years.


http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/brain_architecture/

Most important for infants/toddlers

Young childen needs to feel  secure ,loved and wanted. Stress is not healthy for your baby.
1. you should respond to your baby in ways that encoursge them to feel like thry csn mske things happen
2.help them to develop trust and confidence  in oders.
3. help babies to develop relationship with others

No more bottle

Your 18 month old should not be drinking from a bottle. You should have degan this process a fwe months ago.
He should be drinking from a sippy cup , a straw and a regular cup. You want your toddler to be independent and self-confident. You also want his language to develop.
You should also begin to lessen the use of a pacifier. I  would suggest that you do  not give her during the day. If she wants it durning the night you should give her. She will let you know when she wants it.

Cleaning up

You should now begin to let your infant help to clean up his toys. It is best to have a container or a space for  every toy. You are teaching your infant organization. You should sing the clean up song with your infant and have him help you clean up. When she gets to pre-school she will need to have these experiences and the ability to follow directions and  being able to coorperate both with her class mates and the teacher.
These are skills that are needed for pre-school and life.

Walking up and down stairs

your 18month old should be walking up amd down  stairs with the use  of  the hand rail.
walking up and down stairs is a skill that your child needs before they get to school. Walking up and down stairs build their leg muscles and self-esteem. You should celebrate each time she walks up and down the stairs. Your infant needs to feel confident and the roots of these social emotional skills  must be planted during the infant/toddler years.

Gross motor skills

Jumping
Your 18 month old should be jumping all over the place. jumping is a natural development that your toddler goes through. Celebrate when he jumps and you may say"wow I love you jumping". You will see a big smile on her face.You should encourage your toddler at their new skill.
 You are building your child's self-esteem  this is needed for school and life.It is called social emotional school readiness.

Discoveries

18 mos
Positive behavior
Playing with a ball is a skill that your toddler should have. Once he learns to throw he will be throwing everything. My grandson now throws everything that he gets his hand on.  He is going through one of his stages. When young children learn a  new skill they love to practice it.We have to guide them toward positive behavior.Your 18 month old should be kicking a ball and throwing a ball.
Again it takes time for them to understand positive behavior. You want to teach her/him  positive behavior before he gets to preschool.

The magic of the brain

The First 2000 days of life

Why it is important give quality care to our infants/toddlers

Dr. Patricia Kuhl and Dr. Andrew Meltzoff on Brain Power: Why Early Learning Matters

www.educationnation.com

Dr. Patricia Kuhl and Dr. Andrew Meltzoff explain how a child's formative years impact their academic achievement all the way through college

Discoveries-

18 months
Socialization
My grandson has discovered that he can use his hands to hit. He loves playing his drums and now he is hitting everything including us. Now is the time to let him understsnd that his hands are not for hitting because when you hit it hurts. He is not yet talking so he hit you to get his attention. Since he is not talking as yet this is a stage that he is going through. Each time that he hits to get our attention  we remind him that hitting is not  nice. Once he begins to talk we will continue to explaine to him that he should use his words to express his needs. " we may say please tell me or point to what you want". This ia a process that your  toddler /toddler goes through and you must guide him/her to  acceptable behavior. It takes time and reputation for a baby to learn a skill . You must have patience.