Pre-Tend play

Science -0-3

Taking your toddler to different  places helps with social skills. Experience is what builds a brain. Your toddler is also getting vocabulary that helps with reading  and speech. In order for a child to start reading  the child must understand speech.

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The ability to walk - up and down stairs

Observation
December 10,2014
Time :9:30am
Gender -African American boy
Age three yrs and 10weeks


 Today it was pouring and we had to take the train. Ajani woke up and did not want to eat breakfast . I told him that we will take it to grandma(baby sitter) who is 85yrs old. I told him that it is raining and he needs to were his rain coat and his rain boots. He began running under the table and giggling each time I went to get him he ran to the other side  sticks his tongue out and began saying na-na-na.
I final was able to grab him "you caught me, he said with a big smile". I put his rain coat on and start zipping it and allowed him to zip the rest of it "NaNa I did it", good job. I helped him with his boots.


We headed for the subway . I held his right hand as we walked down the stairs. He is able to walk down the stairs with one foot in front of the other with out tripping. When we got to our stop he was able to walk up the stairs with one foot in front of the next . He was able to balance as he went up and down the stairs.


This is a skill that young children need before they get to pre-school. This is called gross motor skills.

How To Prepare Your Baby For School: Toys and Building Blocks

Infants- Brain development

It is important for you to play soothing music for your infant . It helps them with listening skills , patterns  in sounds , language development , language skills. Your infant cannot speak as yet but her brain is recording all the information and when she is  begins to speak.
You should also speak with your infant just as you do the rest of the family in order for young children to learn language they need to hear it.


 As your baby gets a little older you begin to play music with words about 4 months old. What will happen your baby will begin singing along with the music once  she begins to speak.

Pretend play 0-3

Playing is a very important part of brain development during the infant/toddle years. It is important that you provide items that provide variety of experiences for your toddler. Boys  will grow up to be fathers one day and nurturing is a very important . Playing with a doll teaches them empathy and to be gentle.  If we are going to change behaviors of  the next generation we need to do things different .
Many times I hear adults defining what is  boy toy and a girl toy. We need to begin to look at our parenting style with a different lens.
You should provide androgynous experiences for your infant/toddler, this means do not be rigid.

The party crew-December 6,2014

Music class for the party crew. Listening skills is needed for kindergarten . These boys re leaning the joy of a live performance.They are also learning how to function in a diverse  space.

Having fun

 Children's museum of the Arts 12.6.12
Social skills learning how to interact with different spaces and people

Taking initiative -Wanting to dress self

3 years and two months
December 7,2014


Earlier  this evening  Ajani put a pair of shorts on . I remember a few months ago he tried to put his pants on and put both legs in one foot of his pants. I discovered that when he tried to walk and was not able to .
 He is now 3 years and 2 months old .
 he does not want to go to bed because his mom went out .

It is 8:30 pm . He took off his all in one pajamas . "Na Na can I get a socks" . I got him a pair  and went back to typing . About 10 minutes went by . I hear him calling "NaNa look". I looked over . With a big smile "Na Na look I put my socks on". Wow that a good job ."yes I did I put my socks on " he said.

He is also able to put his boots on.

Infants/toddlers must be given the opportunity to build self-esteem and self confidence  which build competence. These are all school readiness skills and they are needed for life.

Problem solving

Ajani and his mom working on a floor puzzle 2 years and 3 months . The brain grows the most  during the first three years when the  wiring of the brain is taking place.

Experience is the key ingredient when it comes to building a brain

Ajani observing at the NY Transit Museum December 6,2014. Experience is what builds a brain.

Still time to purchase toys and books...

As you purchase toys for the holidays consider getting an age appropriate book or developmental toy.


That gift will last longer than an outfit...it takes a village to develop a brain.


We have gently used books and developmental toys you don't have to spend a great deal on gifts, use the rest of the money to place in a savings account for her.

We also have a great folding play mat for infants and toddlers. You can use it at your child care program as well. The mats are brand new recently arrived.

Contact us today and we can pick out a great selection for you

Be well





Sample of age appropriate books

observation-December 7,2014

Observation
Time: 7:30 pm
Ajani age 3years.2 months
boy
Only child
I am sitting at the table . I put down my glasses on the table. Ajani takes up my glasses and  runs with it . I  called "Ajani give me my glasses " . He ran and put it under the couch. I got up and he stand in front of me with his hands stretched  out . I tried to get around him and he tried to block me by moving from side to side  with his hands out. He is also making a face naynaynay with his tongue sticking out.

I was able to get around him and as I kneel down to get  my phone from under the couch he again tried to block me. He got on his stomach and put his hands under the couch in an attempt to push my glasses further under the couch.
I was able to get my glasses.


This behavior is very interesting .
I wondered where does he learn it ,as he goes to a baby sitter  with one other child that is younger than he is .
Is this behavior the inception of bullying ? Or can it become such if this 3 year old is not guided towards  positive behavior?  As a caregiver it is very important for you to be in tune with your toddler this will allow you to observe and guide . Guidance teachers discipline which will result in  socially acceptable behaviors .It is important to guide infants/toddlers towards the behavior that you want.

Fine motor skills

Ajani is trying to manage his fingers . He is not able to hold up two fingers as yet . Managing your body takes  while.

Pretend play

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Experience is what builds a brain

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Winter tip -fo keeping your gloves safe

I know during winter cloves and hats are usually getting lost . Here is a tip to keep them from getting lost . Put  a hole in each clove ,tie a string  at  each hole make sure that the string is the correct length . Then put it through the sleeves of your  infant/toddler jacket . See picture below .This will save you a lot of time and frustration. 

 Feel free to share our blog with your friends.Hats and scarves you can stick in the jacket sleeves . Your toddler will observe you doing that and will begin doing that also. This helps when she gets to pre-shool.

Petting a dog

Social skills

Arts festival
August 2014


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Science during 0-3 years

Ajani is observing some ants.

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The birth day boy

Adaptive social behavior in Diverse Setting

August 2014 Age 2.11 years 

Young children must be able to function in diverse settings . However, you will need to provide them with the experiences .
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Making choices- Brain development

October 28,2014
8:40am
3.1yrs
Ajani has been awake since 6:00am . He walked to the kitchen and I asked "Ajani what do you need? I want breakfast" he said. I wormed up some oat meal for him . I got his table and his chair . Here is your breakfast .
"That's not breakfast that's oat meal" he said with a straight face . I kept a straight face trying not to let him see that I was surprised at his response. " What would you like for breakfast I asked"?
He placed his pointer on his cheek and began I want egg, turkey bacon and plantain . Ok I will make it for you." Okay" he said.
I made his breakfast while he waited . I gave it to him and he at most of it. I cut the plantains in circles. He  began to stack them and they kept toppling over. Mommy look I made a cake.

Pretend play is a skill that young children need before they get to kindergarten. Infants and toddlers must be given the   tools that will allow them to be creative  . When you toddler is using his potty for a hat go along with her by saying wow that is  nice hat.
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Self-help skills-0-3

The ability to feed your self  is a skill that is needed before you get to school.Being able to feed your self builds self-esteem and self-confidence.This also helps the toddler to mange their body . When your child is eating the should be allowed to sit for as long as they want. Try not to be in a hurry . This gives the child the opportunity to learn how to sit and focus if there is a favorite show that the child likes for ,example Back Yardigans -In the Deep  put it on or she may make a request.

 Every moment is a leaning one plus you are teaching your child how to multi-task . The ability to focus is critical in order for your child to be successful in kindergarten.

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Brushing teeth

November 27th
Time :7:50m
Age 3.2

Ajani is running with speed  from the bathroom and he darts under the table. His mother walks into the room . Ajani she calls .No  I don't want to ,No I don't want to . What is the problem ? I asked as I paused my fingers above the key pad on the computer. "He don't want to brush his teeth". Ajani is still under the table repeating "I don't want to".

This activity is a challenge and will take some time for him to understand that brushing your teeth is a life long activity. This will take some time for him cooperate for now he  cries when he gets it done . His mother puts the tooth paste on the tip of his rag  and uses it to clean his teeth.
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Focus- ability to focus

Collage

Ajani did this collage on August 8,2014 he was 2 years and 11 months. Several pictures were in a container and he choose the ones that he wanted and actually pasted them right side up. He was able to do this because of the experience that he has had with books.

Activities like these teaches self-regulation ,the ability to focus  among other things. Many children  are not able to focus these skills must be taught during the early years when the wires in the brain is being connected.

At home  you should cut some pictures out and keep them in a container where the toddler has access to it. Allow the child to squeeze the glue bottle  she will pour a lot at fist . You will just need to guide and encourage.You will also get a chance to introduce new words -such as squeeze,little , collage, too much.
You can also have a  discussion about the pictures.You can do intentional teaching by cutting out certain pictures . This is a great way to introduce the shapes  also.
This is a school readiness skill


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Guidance- observation

Observation
November 26,2014
Age 3.2 years
Male
Time :9:30 pm

Ajani is sitting at the table he is looking at pictures on the computer. He is there for about 10 minutes. He is now calling his mom . "Mommy Mommy". I am sitting a few feet from him and his mom is in the kitchen. He is still calling and I heard a thump on the table along with the sound of his voice calling "Mommy Mommy". I looked over and observe him banging his hand on the table  with an angry look on his face . Ajani !  he paused his hand in mid air "why are you banging on the table? " I asked him . I calling mommy ". His mother turned around still in the kitchen but facing him. "Ajani I can hear you there is no need for you to bang on the table".
"Where did he lean that  behavior ?", I asked in amazement .

 We explained that banging on the table is not an acceptable behavior. "Ajani that is not the way you get your mother to come over". She hears you but you need to give her a few minutes. I am hoping that he will not exhibit that behavior again however,if he does we will guide him towards the behavior that is socially acceptable. You must be in tune with your toddler and guide them towards positive behaviors . I do not know if he leaned this behavior some where or it was an impulsive behavior . If he does we will need to explain to him each time :Patience ,patience . . . . .

The infant/toddler years are most critical because the brain is developing  at a rapid pace  and experiences is the key ingredient during this period. However,you must be in tune with your child in order to guide them towards the behaviors that you want. You are getting them ready for life and research shows that the first three years are key to  planting the roots of socialization.Remember that you are building a brain and the once the brain is exposed to an experience it does not forget it.


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Literacy - Brain development

2.11 years




Ajani is now able to request the book that he wants you to read to him by the title and he can also pick out the book .
He has the same set of books since he was an infant however ,now he is reading his books with a different eye. He will point to the pictures and and will spell out some words. He is able to identify all the letters in the alphabet . He also likes to read on his own by reading the pictures .

Having books that are age appropriate for you infants/toddlers is critical. The books should have large prints and few words  and a lot of pictures. You need to have books that have the sight words these are words that children need to be able to recognize before they get to kindergarten . Having the right books will give your child a good experience with seeing these words . These are words that your  child should be able to  recognize by sight .

 In order for a child to begin to read they must have a rich vocabulary (words) books are one way to build vocabulary. All these experiences are called readiness skills for kindergarten.