How Young children learn- Discoveries

Babies are born ready to learn however, you must provide the tools, opportunity  in order for them to learn the skills that they need within the first 2000 days birth-kindergarten. Infants love to explore they are always touching something, climbing or opening doors. Children need to explore with in a safe space . Your home must be children friendly and it will not be very neat. Young children will move from one activity to the next plus different items must be available for them to transition to. Having several items also teaches them the  ability to make choices. I have observed my grandson made discoveries and got so excited,  for example the first time he discovered that his red ball bounces. He had a look of amazement on his face and continued the behavior for about five minutes.
 Too  often we want to teach  infants/toddlers instead of allowing them to make their own discoveries.
We are going to look at the six discoveries in infancy that was developed by J.Ronald Lally  at West End.
 

PoP Baby and Wee™@ South Street Seaport 8/1/14 10am

Join FiDi Families for a FREE hour of fun, family-friendly activities at our Front/Row Stage (11 Fulton Street) every Friday at 10am

We will be doing Baby and Wee™ class Friday, August 1 10am - 11am


We will have a variety of art activities to help develop fine and gross motor skills.
Pretend play
Music
Story time
Cooking

What fun...
Join us a bring a friend or 2



Be well

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The First 2000 Days Emotional Development

Falling in love from 4 months to about 7months

This stage is called falling in love because at four months babies are entering the second stage of emotional development. Babies are now learning to build relationships. Some babies are passive, they do not like strangers. While others are out going and will give a smile to most people. It is important that you   allow your baby to experience   interacting with other people that  are  not  family members.

 You should have been reading to your baby because your baby will learn to form relationships with books. You will notice that your baby will begin holding the pages and is now looking at the pictures. They are trying to fall in love with different rhythms, sounds of language and movements. Your baby now gazes at you with great interest. Your baby now smiles at you when you make facial expressions and begins to respond when you speak. Just a reminder: You should speak with  your baby with whole language so he can begin to develop language skills. You are helping to connect the wiring of the brain.

First 2000 days: Your Baby’s Emotional Mile Stone

 

Once you bring your bundle of joy home you need to start thinking school readiness. Yes I know are saying this is crazy she is only a baby. Preparing your infant for school does not mean teaching her the ADCs and 1,2,3s.  You need to help the process of brain development cognitive skills and social emotional development. These skills are needed in order to become a successful life learner. All babies are learning all the time but in order to be successful in school they need to be armed with the following, social skills, they should be self motivated, cooperative ,  cooperate  with their peers and adults these   few of the many skills will prepare them for life learners.

This process begins very early. As the brain is being developed . Did you know that when your baby was born her brain was 25% developed and when she turns 3 years it will be 85% the size of an adult brain ?

 We will be discussing some of the emotional developmental stages that your infant goes through and ways that you can help them to be successful.

 

Disipline veres Punishment

Discipline is a positive constructive way of teaching. True discipline is not punishment however, they are often confused. Discipline usually teaches compliance by allowing the child to feel good about him/her self. Discipline focuses on the behavior that needs to be learned and not the “un acceptable behavior”.

Make promises that you can keep: If you promise a toddler that she will get a turn on the swing be sure to keep your promise.

·         Take your child on different trips.

·         Expose your child to different cultural activities

·         Take them to a park outside their neighborhood

You should be nearby and be attentive: Mobile infants move very quickly and are always exploring. They do not understand danger and need your guidance.

You should praise infants/toddlers for pro-social behaviors: You should praise children for good behaviors and try not to let anti-social behaviors be the best way to get attention. When you praise tell the child what you like. You can do this with a hug, a smile, or words.

Praise builds self-esteem and as their self-esteem grows so will their self-control. You   will  have a positive feeling regarding your efforts to socialize and discipline the children  in a positive way. Limits should be guided based on the development  stage of the child.

Brain development occurs from the bottom up

 

 

Over that past ten years the public has a better understanding of early brain development. This new knowledge has contributed   as a catalyst   to brain growth .Many people are still not   sure what to do with this new knowledge regarding brain development.

These are some of the things that we know:

v  The most significant advances in the brain architecture occurs prenatally

v  Brain development is life long

v  The brain incorporates experience into its architecture

v  Critical periods are exceptional, not typical in brain development

v  The developing brain’s flexibility declines over timely ,but  some plasticity endures

v  The young mind is astonishingly active, capable, and self organizing

v  Developmental  neuroscience provides much greater insights into the hazards to avoid in brain development than opportunities for enrichment

Brain development is an   ongoing process. While in the womb the brain grows more significant in size and function than any other stage of development. The brain is an active organ it does not wait to be filled with knowledge, but is active on its own. The experiences that promote growth are those that provoke the   brain’s activity this is usually through the child’s interest and engagement through socially responsive interaction.

Scientist are now learning that as children grow older  certain areas of their brains become better integrated with one another and changes children’s behavior as a result. For example, as their brain develops children become more skilled at using their memory, attention ,  behavior and emotions in strategic ways.

Infants/toddlers must be given opportunities and the tools (age appropriate ) that will allow them to develop the skills that they need. Experience is what builds a brain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.SabreeEducationServices.com
Visit our parent blog: www.SabreeHarlemParents.com

 

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You must begin to set limits for your toddler

 Many parents do not set limits and guidelines for their infants and toddlers.

Limits are guidelines or rules. They are usually specific it explains your expectations for the child. For example you may say there should be no eating or drinking on the couch. This is a basic rule that will guide the child and she will understand your expectation. 

You should explain the limit and what the consequences   will be, the couch will get messy. Don’t say that is how my mother was we could not eat on the couch.

 When these children go to a pre-school program adhering to routines   becomes a challenge for the child and their teachers. Teachers spend a lot of time allowing these children to adjust when the child could have been guided to a different stage of development. As a result many of these children fall behind on the developmental scale. Later on many of these children requires special services. You are the root of socialization.

Reminder:  You are preparing your infant/toddler for life outside your home. Research   shows that it is important to have cognitive skills. However, cognitive abilities are not enough. Children must have social skills-that are defined as, attentiveness, perseverance, impulse control, and social ability for school success and later in life.
When you introduce limits your toddler will not cooperate the first few times because your request is new and it will take a while before the developing brain to  grasp the concept. Guiding your toddler will help her to learn how to  cooperate and with that she will begin to  develop self- discipline. This skill is needed in group setting  and it allows young children to have smooth transitions.

Self -Regulation

 

Telex from Cuba: A Novel

Simon & Schuster

Rachel Kushner has written an astonishingly wise, ambitious, and riveting nov...

Children making play dough (from Baby and Wee class )

 

Here are the parts of the brain that is being developed during this activity.

Brocas area-Controls the production spoken and written language

Cerebullum- responsible for intitiating and timing movements and it is important for balance, posture and coordinating how muscles work together

Frontal Lobe-is involved in critical thinking ,problem solving ,planning reasoning and decision making

Motor cortex –responsible for motor coordination

Limbic system - register and stores emotional information ( a child may be crying).

The is a small example of the different skills that this activity helps to build.

 

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend

Simon & Schuster

He believed the dog was immortal. So begins Susan Orlean’s sweeping, powerful...

 

Telex from Cuba: A Novel

Simon & Schuster

Rachel Kushner has written an astonishingly wise, ambitious, and riveting nov...

Children making play dough (from Baby and Wee class )

 

Here are the parts of the brain that is being developed during this activity.

Brocas area-Controls the production spoken and written language

Cerebullum- responsible for intitiating and timing movements and it is important for balance, posture and coordinating how muscles work together

Frontal Lobe-is involved in critical thinking ,problem solving ,planning reasoning and decision making

Motor cortex –responsible for motor coordination

Limbic system - register and stores emotional information ( a child may be crying).

The is a small example of the different skills that this activity helps to build.

 

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend

Simon & Schuster

He believed the dog was immortal. So begins Susan Orlean’s sweeping, powerful...

 

Self regulation birth to about 4 months: the ability to control your emotions based on your age

During this stage your baby is taking interest in sight, sounds, touch, smell and movements. You should play children’s music for your baby this begins building your baby’s listening skills. This is a very important skill for school. Music also helps with brain development. Play a variety of music for example: Punta, reggae, salsa, Jazz, High Life etc. The music should not be blasting.

Your baby should sleep on her back but you should give her tummy time on her stomach daily, this helps with movements and builds upper body strength for your baby to begin crawling. Also stretch your baby’s joints after each bath.

These developmental   processes are natural   however; if you do not give your baby the opportunity their brain sections responsible for these stages will not connect.

Research shows that at this early stage children respond to care differently. This behavior is called temperament. Some babies do not like bright light, some babies do not like to be held, while others enjoy being held. Some babies can sooth themselves while others need a caregiver to sooth them. During these times you need to help your baby to gradually learn how to self-regulate. You should observe your baby this way you will be able to read her cues.

 

Being able to calm yourself down is very important . It minimize the tantrums that will happen later on . Talking your baby through these emotions also helps.

 

The White Tiger: A Novel

Simon & Schuster

A stunning literary debut critics have likened to Richard Wright’s Native Son...

 

The White Tiger: A Novel

Simon & Schuster

A stunning literary debut critics have likened to Richard Wright’s Native Son...

Feeling competent is very important

Self-Help Skills
To become proficient in self-help skills, children may need to work on fine motor skills for things like dressing and undressing (buttoning, zipping, tying shoes), grooming (brushing hair and teeth, using the toilet) and eating (holding and using utensils.) OTs will model and practice these skills with clients, using many of the techniques noted above. Sensory issues present a different challenge: For instance, a child who can't stand getting her face wet, wearing anything that feels scratchy or tight, or putting anything in her mouth is also going to have trouble with ADLs. Biel and Peske offer many tips to help children through challenging experiences including teeth brushing (desensitize gums; switch toothpastes), bathing (cover the face to avoid splashing) and shopping (avoid peak hours; let your child push the cart to get deep input).(from Child Mind Institute )

You only have one time to get it right

Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve the small hand muscles. When there's a lack of strength, motor control and dexterity, kids will have difficulty drawing, using scissors and stringing beads. Such delays, if not addressed, will make academics—turning pages, writing, using a computer—that much harder. They also come into play with regard to self-help skills including buttoning, zipping and using utensils (see below).
OTs employ many fun techniques to help develop fine motor skills. For instance, a dot dot paint activity helps develop control, dexterity and the thumb-and-finger hold, aka the pincer grasp, key to using a pencil or fork. Popping bubble-wrap also develops the pincer grasp, along with dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Simple activities like picking up coins with one hand require manipulating small objects. Lacing helps develop fine motor coordination and also provides a visual focus. Preschoolers who play pickup games with larger tweezers graduate to Operation. Varying resistant consistencies of Theraputty increase both hand and finger strength and dexterity.(from the Child Mind Institute)

Prevention is better than cure

Gross Motor Skills
When gross motor skills involving the major muscle groups are at issue, the child will struggle with things like balance, coordination, strength and endurance, all of which will have a direct impact on everything from walking and climbing stairs to hopping, jumping and catching and throwing a ball. Such deficits can keep kids from participating in recess and sports, which can in turn affect socializing and self-esteem.
Throwing and catching balls of various sizes and weights and obstacle courses help with things like balance and coordination, while riding a trike builds strength and endurance. OTs will often work on gross motor skills in tandem with physical therapists, since some of their goals are so much aligned.
Additionally, low muscle tone and core body strength impedes kids' ability to sit erect and alert, important for class participation and fine motor skills like handwriting. Crab walking, curls and rolling and bouncing on a therapy ball help address this deficit .(from Child  Mind Institute)

These are the reason why we do the Baby and Wee classes.
visit us at www.sabreeeducationservices.com

Fine motor skills

I know that your infant has been working on her fine motor skills by doing her puzzles, playing with tops and bottles , scribbling  with different writing tools, painting , and the many other prewriting skills ,making and playing with play dough ,drumming , climbing  etc.

If your toddler is 2 years  and 7months she should be able to open most tops including a small bottle of drinking water. The many experiences that you have provided her has given her self-confidence and has allowed her to become competent . She should also be able to make straight lines she scribbles. Making straight line that are dark indicates that her finger and wrist muscles are strong and she will be able to manipulate her pencil. The chances of her being  needing occupational therapy at three years old is minimal.
These are some of the activities that we do in our Baby and Wee classes.

Temperament - Mood

Mood: This is the tendency to react to the world primarily in a positive or negative way. Does the child see the glass as half full? Does he focus on the positive aspects of life? Is the child generally in a happy mood? Or, does the child see the glass as half empty and tend to focus on the negative aspects of life? Is the child generally serious? Serious children tend to be analytical and evaluate situations carefully.


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Parks for toddlers--National listing of parks

I just stumbled on a great website. It provides an accurate list of US parks, museums, beaches that is family oriented. I felt I had to share this great find. Click here for details, I would bookmark this.

A few weeks ago we had a meeting to attend (last minute invite) and at first it was ok to have Ajani there because there was a backyard. Then I was asked to leave the patio area so they could mop (tile floor). Needless to say I wasn't too happy about that because first off this meeting was not planned and now I'm in an area I am not too familiar with so I don't know where an appropriate park is for a toddler.

We all know that many parks are designed with the older children in mind. As we drove around looking for a park I said to myself, there should be a directory of parks. All I can say is thank you, ParkGrades

It would be great if there is an international component or similar website, just a thought I'm putting out there.

Let me know your thoughts

Be well

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Helping your infant/toddler to take care of their teeth

Oral health is a big part of your health therefore it is very important for you to help/teach your infant/toddler how to take care of their teeth. For more tips you can visit healthy teeth

You should introduce her to the toothbrush early. She should visit the dentist when her first few teeth come in this way she gets used to the dentist and you should begin brushing her teeth.


tooth brush coloring chart

Thank you for joining us at the Harlem Book Fair

Thank you for stopping by our booth Sabree Education Services.

Thank you for coming to the Baby & Wee™ Class to learn great information to help you and your little one via brain development.

Thank you for joining us for the panel discussion, Is it an Experience gap or Achievement gap?

Follow us on Twitter @KinderSuccess
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Be well

 

Stop by to say hi we'll be at the Harlem Book Fair

We will be selling gently used books and developmental toys for infants and toddlers.

In order to arrive at literacy you have to help her develop language and vocabulary. Age appropriate books and developmental toys will assist her.

We look forward to seeing you at our booth "Sabree Education Services"


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Reminder: Join us as we Pop Up @ the Harlem Book Fair 7/12/14

Spread the word... join us at the Countee Cullen Library 104 W 136 St NY, NY 10030

12:00pm—1:00pm Baby & Wee™ Class

 

Facilitators: Daseta Gray, Certified Infant/Toddler Specialist & Blogger and Reeshemah Brightley, Parent & Blogger

Art * Music* Language Development * Story time * Activities * Cooking

An interactive session for you and your little one. Sharing with parents how to work with their infants and toddlers to develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills before they start school; using a progressive approach.

Please RSVP for the class: SabreeEducationServices@gmail.com OR

Call 347-524-4178/917-721-3648

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 2:00pm—3:00pm

 

Panel discussion: Is it an Experience Gap or an Achievement Gap?

 

Moderator: Miguel Montes, Co-Creator Education Pledge

Panelists: Dr. Liz Isakson, Co-founder Docs for Tots; Dr. Tirza Greer, Pediatrician; Ms. Daseta Gray, Certified Infant Toddler Specialist; Amy Daniels, PhD., Asst. Dir for Public Health Research Autism Speaks; Sayida Peprah,PsyD., Clinical Psychologist

Statistics state many Black & Latino children have an achievement gap and organizations are looking for ways to close it. We will discuss the “experience gap”: the lack in quality experiences for infants/toddlers produces inequal-ity in ability. The challenges manifested in the older children begin in this stage birth thru 5 years old ( First 2000 Days). This is a community discussion, not just for parents.

 

Social and Emotional Development -Negotiaton

Negotiation with Peers :
Your infant /toddler should be able to negotiate with their peers and adults . You will need to teach this skill at home by introducing the concept.

For example if your toddler  is playing with the water in the sink but you need to leave the house you should explain to your toddler that you both have to leave but when you return she can play again. She will resist but be patient and upon your return take her back to the sink to play . Remind her that before you left you did say that once you return she will be able to play again. This will also begin to teach your toddler trust . Remember that the  whole brain has to be developed therefore every teaching moment is brain development.

Cognitive impairment

A cognitive impairment is caused when the brain is injured or there is something that keeps the brain from developing. This could happen when the baby is growing inside the mother or after the baby is born. Four main categories lead to a cognitive impairment:

How common are cognitive impairments?

Nearly 3 out of every 100 people in the U.S. have a cognitive impairment. Close to 613,000 children ages 6-21 have some level of a cognitive impairment and need special assistance in school.    

The Arc, 2001, Twenty-fourth Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Department of Education, 2002

 

Tuesdays on the plaza 125 St Farmers Market Tues. July 8 10am - 5pm

Join us 78/ and get your fresh fruits and veggies at the 125 St Farmers Market
on the Harlem State office building plaza 163 W 125 St 125 St and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. NY, NY 10027


We will be selling gently used infant/toddler music, books and developmental toys.

Tuesday's activities
 11am and 3pm Cooking: Making play dough
 suggested donation $5

 

Health Tip--pink eye

From time to time your little one will experience certain ailments. Here is a tip for pink eye.

There are a few listed in the link below; however breast milk and the first urine (for the morning) are pretty great.




http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=3031

Be well

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Social Emotional development

A healthy social and emotional development begins with positive relationships attachment to adults, and  concepts.

Scenes from Kiddie Yoga @ the Farmer's Market

Every week we have an activity for the little ones at the 125 Street Farmer's Market in Harlem. Tuesday's activity was finger painting and yoga.

This activity helps keep your little one engaged. Also develops listening skills and following directions not to mention helping them develop their ability to focus.

Hope to see you at a Pop Up... Remember at the market every Tuesday 9am - 5pm we sell gently used books and developmental toys for infants and toddlers.

Be well

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Join us in Washington, D.C. at the East Regional Fatherhood & Healthy Families - July 21-23

If you are in the DC area it would be great to join us as we facilitate a workshop

Early Regstration Ends Soon! East Regional Fatherhood & Healthy Families - July 21-23 Howard University, Washington, D.C.   Dr. James Cole, confirmed keynote next month. Dr. Cole was sworn in as the Deputy Attorney General on Monday, January 3, 2011. Mr. Cole first joined the Department in 1979 as part of Attorney General’s Honors Program and served for 13 years - first as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division, and later as the Deputy Chief of the Division's Public Integrity Section, the office that handles investigation and prosecution of corruption cases against officials, and employees at all levels of government. At Public Integrity Mr. Cole tried a number of notable cases, including prosecution of a U.S. District Judge, a member of Congress, and a federal prosecutor.   He entered private practice in 1992 and was a partner at Bryan Cave LLP from 1995 to 2010, specializing in white collar defense. He served as a court-appointed independent monitor to a large insurance company to establish and oversee corporate compliance programs and ensure it adhered to laws and regulations. He also counseled businesses on securities, regulatory, and criminal law issues.   While in private practice in 1995, Mr. Cole was tapped to serve as Special Counsel to the House Ethics Committee. In that role, he led an investigation into allegations that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had improperly used tax-exempt money for partisan purposes and misled the Committee in its inquiry. His investigation led to a bipartisan resolution that was approved by an overwhelming majority of the full House, and resulted in a formal reprimand of Speaker Gingrich and a requirement that he pay penalties.   Mr. Cole has been a member of the adjunct faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching courses on public corruption law and legal ethics, and has lectured at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a former chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) White Collar Crime Committee and served as the Chair Elect of the ABA Criminal Justice Section. He received his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. from the University of California-Hastings.     We have made attending this summer conference a simple & low-cost process! Simple on-line access to register here. This conference features over 30 outstanding workshop presenters; senior executive leadership from:   The White House; Members of Congress; U.S. Department of Education; U.S. Department of Justice; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Historical Black Colleges & Univesities and more...      We have included all necessary information on our wesbite or download the conference program here.   So Let's Get Started & Join Us Today!   Fathers & Families Coalition of America 4920 W. Baseline Road C105 Laveen, AZ 85339   Tel. 424-225-1323  facebook     twitter