When Children Hit Three
August 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Celebrating third birthday is not just an ordinary occasion or gathering rather it’s a very important function and a glorious period of one’s life. Parents, on one side are glad for this but on the other hand they feel more concerned about what lies in future.
At age 3, the kid is in a position to master range of skills that are essential. Like, an increase in vocabulary beyond 1000 words, trying to speak longer phrases and uttering all the time. These all are healthy signs that should be taken as a positive change.
Besides, by this age, most kids are potty trained but there can be situations other way round e.g. a child keeps the habit of bedwetting and that may continue till he reaches age of four or five. At this age, children are also learning the formal knowledge of letters and numbers.
Usually at age three children can tell their age to others by showing three fingers of their hands. Besides, many also start demonstrating their interest towards learning colours.
If a child attends a kindergarten or preschool at this age then he or she starts learning that every other child in his class is his/her friends. This is a healthy sign showing the development of social skills.
At this age, whatever time the kids spent with other children for them that’s highly appreciable. Although, they do not have the exact knowledge of what friendship is but some of them also make imaginary friends, however, it is not something to be bothered about.
For 3 year old kids, play time is quite beneficial because it gives them emotional stability while playing with toys or stuffed animals. It’s a part of normal development.
Hanging with or griping any security object is also a normal part of this age and quite okay as well. Parents of 3 years old, sometimes feel like stuck up with hectic routine of keeping an eye on kids but in reality it pays off well later.
Refer to additional pieces of work created by this writer regarding products including Pampers Cruisers diapers and round tablecloth.
Dunstan Baby Language DVD: Effective Tool For Babies
June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Baby talk, also called babbling or twaddling, is what infants utter. They seem to be experimenting by uttering sounds in order to acquire language. They are not yet able to utter recognizable words. The larynx descends during the first year allowing the pharynx to develop with all the sounds that make up the speech. When the infant is 5 to 7 months old, the baby talk begins with the making of noise. Recognizable words begin to be produced when the child is about a year old. The baby repeats syllables which are called reduplicative babbling. The baby babbles with a mix of syllables which is called variegated babbling. Children babble more when they are calm rather than when they are upset or excited. Babbling is also the way babies attempt to prepare themselves with the basic sounds required to speak the language. Even deaf babies babble indicating that babbling is inherent to humans.
Gurgling and cooing begins at birth up to 4 months. Babbling starts when the baby is 4 to 6 months old. Babbling is enjoyed by the baby up to 12 months or so. Between 12-18 months babbling turns to being meaningful when the toddlers begins to imitate sounds and words. The toddlers begin to repeat words at the age of 18 to 24 months. That is when babbling takes on to becoming meaningful words. They are able to use about 50 words. But they understand many more. They then begin to form short sentences. They may use familiar words incorrectly. The baby begins with crying and begins to coo moving on to vocal play. This is followed by canonical babbling and then on to conversational babbling.
An effective means of communication that the babies use is the sign language. Babies often do not find the appropriate sound which gives them frustration. This can be avoided if they are also taught the sign language so that they can express themselves. Priscilla Dunstan proposed that universally there were only five words that babies use and each of them have a distinct meaning. She then released The Dunston Baby Language DVD in 2006 which teaches how these sounds can be recognized.
When adults respond to the babbling of babies with babbling, it helps the development of babies. Vocabulary development can be assisted by integrating some adult speech with the babbling. It benefits in the cognitive development of the baby. Whatever may be, the baby will be able to speak the local language in the end.
When babies babble, parents should not be bothered at all because its common among babies who are still learning to talk. So, parents should go out of their way to teach babies to talk and to find imaginative techniques to help babies talk.
FYI: For some useful researching activities, check out http://toywatches.net and find help and advice concerning (a) toy watches.
Potty Training Tips For Your Child On-The-Go
May 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Parents take note: potty training on-the go is possible if you take the time to prepare properly.
Maximize your options by bringing along your child’s free-standing potty chair. If necessary, you can always pull off the road and set up the potty chair on the passenger side seat. Don’t forget to take plastic inserts or bags to line the potty chair. It will make clean up easier and get you back on the road faster.
If you decide on bringing the potty chair, take toilet paper or wipes for your child. Stay consistent and use on the road whatever you use at home. Long trips are hard enough without adding extra elements to confuse or stress your child.
Consider putting your toddler in disposable training pants for the trip. There are many kinds to choose from and it may protect their clothes and car seat in case of an embarrassing accident.
Do your best to reduce the amount of fluids your child takes in during a trip. It’s important to keep them hydrated, but why tempt fate? It’s not always easy to find a place to pull over if your child has an accident.
Occasional stops at roadside rest stops are always a good idea. Don’t hesitate to bring your toddler’s potty seat into the bathroom with you. Kids are sometimes wary of using a strange toilet so be prepared to use the potty chair.
You can expect your toddler to have a slip or two in his potty training progress while he’s under stress from traveling. Be patient and know that he will get it in time. Traveling is hard on adults and can be even more so, on kids.
Upon arrival, try your best to get your child back onto their normal potty routine. Both you and your child can take comfort in knowing that when you return home, you’ll be in your old surroundings and can continue with your potty training progress.
See additional educational articles penned by this same author dealing with things like laptop car charger and external laptop battery.
Caring For A Toddler - Helpful Suggestions For How To Do It
April 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Looking after a young child and living with a teenager share many similarities. Both can have a sudden mood change with no explanation, both can be extremely messy, and both are concerned mainly with themselves.
The difference though is that a toddler is a lot more adorable and warm and requires lesser effort to control or pacify. Unlike the teenager, the toddler will be readily contented with just a hug or anything that tastes sweet, things which are so easy to provide.
When you look after a toddler, you have to be careful that your house is safe and “toddler proof.” What this essentially means is that all dangerous objects, such as anything sharp, all medicines and cleaning materials, or made from glass or china are right of reach.
You also need to ensure that any precious or expensive items are safe. Young children will play with anything and they have no concept of value, and there is always a chance they might break something accidentally.
Taking care of a toddler can be hard work, and you need endless patience. When you go out for a walk with a toddler, be prepared for lots of stops to look at things.
Often the young child will get tired yet won’t want to get in the stroller because it is more fun to be walking on their own. This can often become a source of conflict between you and the child.
On the other hand, caring for toddlers can also be worthwhile and gratifying because they are tender and affectionate, and to be a part of their own little world is a privilege. It is so much like a renewal of your own childhood when you try to see things through the child’s eyes.
In caring for a child, you would create a bond between you that is strong and unique. There is no substitute for the affection and love that a child can give back to you.
The author has been blogging about parenting for the previous two years. Moreover, this writer likes contributing information on separate subjects, including a digital camera as well as a touch screen PC.
Learn Methods to Deal With Your Kid’s Feelings
April 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Now that your two-year-old is beginning to understand the impact that he has on the world around him, he is also starting to become aware that other people may not see the world in quite the same way.
What your toddler still wants more than anything is your attention. He wants to copy you and loves being with you. But be careful that your enthusiasm for him to learn doesn’t inadvertently tip over into pushiness. Try to avoid encouraging him to get something right when he is too tired or hungry to concentrate; your eagerness may end in tears, not progress.
When we experience intense emotions, such as anger, fear, and even excitement, the brain tells the body to release stress hormones that will either make us challenge the situation (fight), or run away from it (flight). These “fight or flight” hormones, especially adrenaline and cortisol, then block the production of “feel good” hormones, such as oxytocin.
When you need to discipline your toddler, make sure you use respectful language and do not insult or belittle him in any way. This will encourage him to stay in tune with his feelings. Comfort him and help him understand.
When a child is anxious, if mommy or Daddy is on hand to soothe him, his body will learn to produce “feel good” hormones as he calms down. On the other hand, a toddler who is not comforted will become increasingly anxious and will produce even higher levels of stress hormones. His brain is becoming wired for anxiety rather than calm.
By the age of 2-3, your toddler’s anxiety about being separated from you is gradually diminishing, only to be replaced by a range of fears stimulated by his developing imagination and awareness of the wider world. it is natural for toddlers to be scared of new experiences at this age, but their anxiety will usually pass if it is carefully handled.
At its extreme, teaching appropriate behavior is known as discipline. It can be helpful to remember that scolding should not be so much about controlling your child as reinforcing the lessons that you have been teaching him about how to behave and manage his emotions. During the toddler years this takes a very simple form. Setting behavior limits so that your toddler is clear about what he can and cannot do is the first stage in the process of teaching him relationship and social skills.
Sarabelle Ando is a childcare specialist who shows people the best way to choose the best boys skateboard shoes and provides unbiased tips on boys roller shoes that are safe and helpful in protecting your toddler from the environment.
Learn How to Empathize and Take care of Your Toddler
April 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Children need to learn to occupy themselves and not to rely on you for everything. Playtime can help develop this skill. Give your toddler activities that will ensure her safety while she plays, but give her some space to play and try things on her own.
It is important to help your child to broaden her awareness of the world as new experiences will develop her ability to learn, as well as enhance her memory development and reasoning skills. She is now ready to start making friends, but will need your help in learning how to behave. Up until now the adults in your family will have been your toddler’s main focus, but now she will start to have more interest in other children, especially toddlers of her own age. Try to create opportunities where this interaction can happen.
A good routine has regular structure and familiarity, which will make your toddler feel safe, as well as reinforcing behavior limits. If she knows that bedtime happens after dinner and a bath, and that it comes with cuddling and a picture book, she will come to expect the pattern to be repeated and will enjoy and encourage it. Importantly, a good bedtime routine will encourage and help healthy sleep habits, too.
This is the ideal age to begin to build up simple behavioral guidelines and routines. Behavior limits are not about being overly strict or controlling. They are not there to prevent your child from expressing himself or experimenting. While they will doubtless make your life easier, their main function is to help your child to know his own limits and to learn at a very basic level how to regulate his own moods and behavior.
Your toddler may start to become more aware of the needs of others during these six months and you may notice her comfort a crying child or become distressed if you are upset. This is a useful trigger to start to talk about what feelings are and to describe to your toddler how she might be feeling.
Your toddler can only begin to understand the concept of emotions and feelings once she has the language to describe them. Your comments can help her to start differentiating between different sensations such as anger, sadness, sickness, and joy.
Your child knows you well by now, and she will be very sensitive to your tone of voice, or a particular look on your face. If you are consistent in your response, you will gradually be able to teach her that you are serious about the consequences if she misbehaves. You don’t need to resort to shouting to get her to do what you want.
Rachelle Serrins is a childcare professional who teaches people the way to select the best childrens snow boots and offers unbiased suggestions on kamik snow boots that are safe and helpful in protecting your kid from the environment.
Understand How to Handle Toddler”s Behavior
April 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment
When a child has to concentrate a lot of energy into one area of accelerated development, he will have fewer physical and mental resources available for other areas. That is why trying to manage emotions so often leads to frustration for this age group. Parents are often full of concern that their toddler, often a little boy aged somewhere between 1-2 years, seems intent on destroying his home and everything in it.
It is important to remember that a toddler brain is not an adult brain nor even a 10-year-old brain. What your toddler needs, besides environmental stimulation and plenty of love, is a calm and consistent approach toward managing the hot spots of eating, sleeping, and calming down. Young children thrive on routine rather than discipline.
The dilemma is that we want our children to understand that when we say ‘No’ we mean it, but we also want them to have the knowledge and strength of character to be able to refuse if an adult or child tries to coerce them into doing something they don’t want to.
Like most young children, he will discover he has immense influence over the important people in his life (usually parents and siblings) and will enjoy being contrary! The power of No is a great source of fun for him and frustration for you! This does not mean your toddler is naughty or bad - it simply means he is typical.
The need for attachment to a safe and familiar adult figure remains very strong during months 12 to 18. A small child who is hungry needs to be fed, if he is frightened he needs to be reassured and comforted, if he is crying he could probably use a hug, and most of all he needs to be loved - consistently and unconditionally.
Small children cry because they are distressed, not because they are being manipulative. It may be because they want something, need something, are frightened, or are ill. It is important to make sure that there are no signs of fear or sickness. Sometimes the problem can be as simple as tiredness or the need for a diaper change.
Toddlers can be surprisingly determined, so if your child wants something specific, you may be in for a long haul unless you can figure out quickly what is needed. In these instances, distraction (see below) is probably the best option. Reasoning with your child at this age just will not work-he does not have the language or reasoning abilities to follow your logic.
Physical intervention, shouting, and other violent techniques do not work between adults and will certainly not work on a defenseless child. We know much more now than we did a generation ago about how corporal punishment and other forms of aggression impact the brain and it is now clear that hitting, shouting, or neglect are very likely to cause damage to a young child’s development.
It is never a good idea to allow a child to become out of control and consumed by distress, particularly at such a young age. When we experience intense feelings, either of joy or sadness, the body sends chemical messages to the brain. These messages either take the form of feel-good hormones (opioids and oxytocin) or stress-fighting hormones(cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline), and the level and frequency of these at a very young age will have an impact on how the brain develops, and how your child will grow up to deal with challenges in later life.
Valerie Milleson is an authority on early childhood education. She talks about the right approach to pick rain boots for toddlers and provides suggestions on finding the cutest ladybug rain boots for your child.
Understand How to Help Your Toddler Speak and Communicate
April 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Over the next six months your toddler will start to replace her baby “babble” with real words to describe things. Her ability to understand what you say will improve much more quickly and you may be surprised to find how easily she follows basic instructions, too.
Rhymes, songs, and word games Singing songs and making up silly rhymes will teach your toddler about sounds and rhythm; using fingers and toes to tell a story will combine words and action-and can be a fun way to help your child learn the parts of her body.
Traditional nursery rhymes are still used the world over for the simple reason that they work so effectively in helping children enjoy language and learn the sounds of words. Itsy Bitsy Spider, This Little Piggy (went to market), and The Wheels on the Bus (go round and round) are reliable old favorites.
Children are extremely expressive and you will already know many of your toddler’s mood cues. A simple glance at her face will tell you immediately how she is experiencing something and, more importantly, whether she is happy, worried, or anxious.
Reflecting your child’s style speech back to her by using her phrases and simple adult words, will help her develop an understanding of the to and fro of conversation, and recognize that her words will be responded to by other people. For example, if she points at the cat and says “Loo-, dat!”, reply “Yes, look, it is the cat!”
Children love to mimic; it is a natural instinct that enables them to learn new skills through play and watching others. This evolves gradually into cooperation, and is a useful way for a child to show her understanding without the need for words. Watch out for your child reaching for her spoon to feed herself; offering her foot when you reach for her socks; lifting up her arms when it is time to take off her T-shirt.
These are powerful signs that your child is learning to understand, and is gradually developing the skills required to help herself. Give her plenty of encouragement and follow her leads promptly-for example, by putting on her socks rather than ignoring her gesture.
If your child is showing you that she understands what is needed, she is also telling you that she is ready to “have a try.” Whenever you have time, let your child try to do things for herself: such as putting on a shirt, feeding herself, and brushing her teeth. With patience, encouragement, and quite a bit of support, she will soon show you that she has the skills to succeed, and is ready to learn more.
Risa Nelkes is a childcare expert who works in a childrens shop. She shows people the right way to select the finest baby rocking horse and she recommends acquiring a plush giraffe rocking horse as a play tool for infants and toddlers.
Find out How Your Child’s Brain Actually Works
April 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The brain uses a different sequence to the one above to listen to and understand spoken language. As well as using the ears to hear the sounds and interpret the literal meaning of the spoken words, the eyes and other senses are also used to decipher the social meaning of what has been said, by decoding information about the speaker (gender, age, tone of voice) and the context (familiar, dangerous, new, interesting, hostile) and so on.
All areas of the brain will continue to develop during the next six months (and into puberty). During this time you will notice an increase in your toddler’s ability to reason, remember, pay attention, and respond. Each time she listens and speaks, she is developing her language ability. Although we take it for granted, talking is a highly complex skill that requires many areas of the brain to function together.
You will also need the tolerance to allow her to make her own discoveries, without too much direction and correction.Playtime, at this age, is all about the development of your toddler’s senses, and exploration, which is why she will love playing with sand and water, finger paints, play dough, and other messy substances. The texture, shape, sound, feel, and movement of the objects she is playing with are completely absorbing.
Your toddler’s agenda is different from yours. She may not be interested in making things look perfect, or learning how to do things “properly” as you would see it, but is more fascinated by repetition, cause and effect, and discovering what she can make happen. You shouldn’t fear that her progress is slow. She will figure things out and learn more complex reasoning skills as the brain develops.
Speaking and understanding rely heavily on memory and are closely linked to the ongoing development of the thinking and reasoning areas and the memory centers of the brain.
In the meantime, any interaction at this stage is likely to involve some minor scrapping. Toddlers of this age have a strong sense of ownership: everything is “mine!” You can help your toddler to begin to learn about “taking turns” by joining her in play and making it into a game.
The thinking and reasoning areas of the brain influence our attention and when and where we speak. The emotional and social behavior area is involved in decoding the language and gestures of others and influences our feelings and what we say.
You will need to be watchful and intervene fast when things turn angry, before anyone gets too hurt or upset. Do not try to reason with a disruptive child. A simple “No!” before removing her from the situation is most effective at this age.
Taking turns can be introduced as a part of almost every game and activity, from putting plastic blocks into separate pots, to sharing food, to catching a ball, to turning the pages of a book. Your toddler is too young at the moment to be able to deal with taking turns with another child of her own age, but may well enjoy playing with an older child or brother or sister who can show patience and negotiate turns in a calm way.
Tashia Haymore shows parents the way to deal with parent-child relationships. She also writes for an childcare website and has some amazing guidelines on selecting the best children’s inflatable sleeping bags and guidance on choosing kids sleeping bags to guard your kids when outside.
Discover More Concerning Your Bond With Your Child
April 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment
You and your baby will have a deep instinct for closeness and bonding which is driven by your need to nurture and his to survive. “Attachment” is a child’s overwhelming need to be near to a particular person who represents safety and comfort?this is usually, but not always, a parent.
Once your growing toddler learns who “Mommy,” “Daddy,” and his other main caregivers are, the attachment to those individuals increases and his cries will become targeted more toward them. Your toddler may develop attachment relationships with more than one person and each relationship is unique. It is at this age that anxiety about separation peaks.
Don’t fuss too much before you go, or he may pick up on your anxiety and become upset. Your child will be more comfortable if you leave him with familiar toys and encourage the caregiver to keep to a routine (but if this is not possible, change in routine will not be damaging to you or your child). Have enough faith in your parenting to know that your child has the skills to manage and is not going to fall apart without you.
If you are a working parent, make a conscious effort to build up your support network of family and other parents, so that you have people you can call on in an emergency, or if you are held up at work. Knowing you have other people to rely on can help to minimize your stress. Even though you may have a busy evening ahead, take some time to reassure and reconnect with your child in a relaxed and unhurried way when you first return to him at the end of the day.
Attachment between carer and child represents a safe base from which to explore the world, ensures the proximity of the caregiver and therefore better care. It is also about personal needs and personal control, as well as the understanding that the way he behaves can have an effect on someone else.
It’s important to try not to allow your own need for closeness to overwhelm or inhibit your toddler’s ability to learn his own way and become more self-sufficient. Attachment also provides a model for later relationships and can teach us how to empathize and see situations from another’s perspective.
But once you have made the decision to use child care, a sense of pragmatism is essential, coupled with the desire to make time for your children when you are at home, instead. how a child copes with being separated from you depends on his innate character, and how you cope with leaving him.
Some children’s first experience of separation from a parent may coincide with their first experience of being with other children. There is bound to be a period of adjustment, but if the caregiver is responsive and the environment positive, he will probably adjust more quickly than you.
Aliza Windells is a childcare professional who teaches people how to manage parent-child relationships. She also owns a childrens store and enjoys helping people select the finest kids suitcase sets. In her website she also provides indepth guidelines on kids rolling backpacks that are safe for everyday use by young kids.