Baby Einstein Blog

Parents have to know the basics about their child’s behavior and be able to respond and communicate effectively to such behavior. There are a lot of effective fundamentals regarding child behavior that every parent should know about, including effective praise, effective instructions and incentives. Let’s talk about the first one first: effective praise.

It is incredibly important to get your child’s level and make eye contact with him/her whenever possible. Eye contact is a vital communication for young children. Also, be instant and direct with your praise. As soon as the child displayed good behavior, give praise at once. Praise that is late and delayed is less effective. Another effective praise is being specific. Being precise with giving praise, like “You did a good job of keeping quiet inside the restaurant” is more effective than just saying “Good job” as it does little to reinforce positive behaviors.

Recognizing your child’s effort and not just the outcome when praising your child is also effective for children. Of course no child can be the best at all he does. Eventually your child will know your all-embracing praise as unrealistic. When you give praise, pair it with physical touch, like embracing or giving him/her high five. Be cautious not to criticize after you praise. It just defeats the praise you give. A statement like “You kept you room clean but I’d like it if you clean your room every time.” Such comment acts more of a complaint than a praise.

Take your praise a stride further and encouragingly identify your child’s self-concept. Couple your praise with a characteristic your child owns. For example, “I liked how you approached your new classmate and introduced yourself. You are a friendly person.” What’s more, keep in mind that you do not have to praise your child for all things, all the time. Find recent or previously unobserved behaviors. (:
 

Have you noticed in recent years that a number of our young children have gone overweight? The advent of fast food and video games among other factors has made our children obese and inactive. Consuming more calories than required is the apparent cause why we put on our physical load, but there are some other causal reasons to obesity.

Some of the causes of obesity in childhood can be attributed to not having a regular vigorous exercise. Children who also spend considerable time in front of the television for four or more hours everyday have a higher frequency of being obese than those who watch fewer than two hours per day. Furthermore, most diets of children nowadays are high in fat and sugar but low in fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Less than 25 percent of adolescents eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

There’s a genetic factor as well in childhood obesity. Hereditary predisposition in increasing weight is a predictor of childhood obesity, but a family environment of overeating and inactivity is the real reason of children gaining weight. If your family takes bikes or walks together after meals than watching television while eating meals, then your family may less likely to be overweight. It is also known that insufficient sleep may contribute to obesity because of the decrease in growth hormone secretion. So if your family always sleeps late and wakes up groggy the next day, not only it would lead to sluggishness, but also to obesity. If you also force your child to clean his plate, it may teach him to overeat. Allow him rather to get adequate food he can finish. Excessive nibbling on snacks may seem to be a role as well in children being obese. Even using food as a prize or punishment has been considered as a possible factor of overeating.

As parents, you have the task of teaching your children how to have healthy eating habits and a fit lifestyle. It’s pleasurable to have a family with children in shape and active, than overweight and inactive.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had an update of their guidelines for SIDS prevention beginning last year. The cause of SIDS ordinarily is when an infant’s breathing becomes hindered. For instance, when the baby breathes again his/her own exhaled air or when his/her head has been covered; the lack of oxygen will set off a stimulation response that brings about the baby’s change of breathing or crying. Some babies have an impaired capability to awaken from sleep when they come across a possible life-threatening situation.

The risk factors include sleeping on his/her tummy; sleeping on a soft surface; maternal smoking during pregnancy; overheating; late or not prenatal care; young age of the mother; preterm birth; low birth weight; and male gender.

The summary of AAP recommendations includes placing your infant on his/her back every time he/she sleeps. The significant risk of side-sleeping is now recognized and is not considered an acceptable alternative to being fully on his/her back. Another is using a firm crib mattress covered by a sheet. Keep soft materials and loose bedding out of your baby’s crib. Also, do not smoke during pregnancy and avoid exposing your infant to secondhand smoke. Have your infant sleep in your room but not in your bed. Use a pacifier when placing your infant down to sleep throughout the first year of life. Avoid overheating or overbundling your infant. He/she should be lightly clothed for sleep and the bedroom should be kept at a temperature comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult. Furthermore, provide upright cuddle time and encourage “tummy time” when your baby is awake and being observed in order to avoid flattening of the head from back-sleeping. Regularly alternate your baby’s head position when placing him/her to sleep. In addition, do not use commercial products marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS, as none has been adequately tested for safety or effectiveness.

They say, breastfeeding is still the best for babies. It is among the most valued phase of maternity. But for some mothers, they return to their work before their infant’s first birthday, which sets a hindrance to uninterrupted breastfeeding. It is best to prepare during your maternity leave about how you would nurse your baby before you return to work.

There are some useful tips for mothers who are breastfeeding while working. For one, you can fix your alarm half an hour earlier each morning to enjoy an unhurried breastfeeding time before your busy day starts. Even though the remainder of your day may be hectic, you don’t have to start by feeling hasty. Also, put on clothes that are suitable for pumping, like tops that have buttons in front and pull up. You can bring to work a spare blouse that is neutral in color and a sweater or jacket to prevent yourself from being uncomfortable if milk seeps out onto your outer garment. While you are at work, keep in mind to drink extra liquid. Carry a sports bottle handy with you so you can have water or juice anytime. Another tip is of course trying to nurse exclusively on weekends and days off. Unhindered breastfeeding can increase your milk resource and offer emotional refilling for you and your baby. Most of all, allow your focus to be on the nursing relationship, not the amount of milk you make. Apart from the quantity of milk you produce with pumping, attempt to concentrate on being able to nurse your baby when you are with each other.

Since you are a working mother, pumping at work may be part of your plan. While some have access to day cares near their work which take care of their babies all through the workday, the majority of moms will still need to use a breast pump to press out their milk at their baby’s normal feeding times. Preferably, your pumping site should be in close proximity and have a sink and running water so you can rinse your hands and wash your utensils.

I am a special education teacher by profession. I teach children with developmental disabilities, and it’s a privelege to be used in forming a bright future to these special children. A week ago we had a seminar on how to manage children with autism at home. One parent shared a story that she says she can relate to, about her son Nath, a four year old child with ASD (Autism Spetrum Disorder).  The story struck my heart, and I’m sure the hearts of all those who heard.

Welcome to Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability–to try to help people who have not shared this unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this…

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip–to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo’s David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. the stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”

“Holland??” you say. “What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”

But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine, and disease. IT’s just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…And you begin to notice that Holland has windmills…and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy…and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away…because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But…if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things…about Holland.

* * *

Emily Perl Kingsley has been writing scripts for Sesame Street for thirty years. Much of her work on the show has focused on enhancing the understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. Emily is the mother of Jason Kingsley (1974) and served as the dictation typist for Jason’s and Mitchell Levitz’s book Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome (published by Harcourt Brace in 1994). Emily lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Emily’s essay has been read by parents throughout the world since it was first published in 1987.

Your child is growing fast. Then he was just an infant being bottle-fed, now he’s beginning to be independent and competent, exploring things around him and about him. He reaches age 3, then becomes five, already studying in preschool. Your child is growing in a lot of ways. There are different domains involved with the growth of your child, from physical to social, emotional to intellectual that would provide changes and challenges to your child.

With regard to physical development, gross motor skills start to develop and become apparent such as jumping, running, and moving around with the whole body. Allow your child to have opportunities to develop more his gross motor skills by teaching dancing, skating, swimming or leading your child to a sport of his interest. Allow him to actively participate and not treat the program as competition. Also fine motor skills are advancing as your child learn to use eating utensils independently, dress himself, use paintbrush, hold a pencil or work with puzzles. 

Concerning social development, your preschooler takes pleasure in playing with other children. They rely on you to assist their interaction. Encourage your child to take turns and share, and instill in him such concepts. Always praise your child whenever he successfully takes turns and shares. Allow your child to have pretend plays to reinforce your preschooler’s verbal and creative skills. Call your child’s friends to play in your house.

For emotional aspect of your child’s growth, strong feelings start to emerge and as a parent, learn to deal with such strong feelings in proper ways. Allow your child to tell when he’s angry or frustrated, but again and again mold and promote appropriate behavior by your reactions.

Your child’s intellectual capacities are enhanced as they are offered a broad assortment of rich, personal sensory experiences. Engage your child to different activities which can stimulate his intellectual abilities like planting seeds, painting, or collecting things. Discuss what you are doing and seeing in such activities. Allow him to gaze at books, pay attention to stories, or sing songs.

Of course, the spiritual aspect of your child’s growth is important as well. Work together with your child’s teachers to be certain that he is having developmentally suitable experiences at church and school.

We have discovered how your child starts to explore his environment during his first and second year. Next is 24 mos. to 36 mos. when the child becomes a self-reliant, capable tot.

When your child has difficulty knowing when to stop, he can be having a great time with the activity he’s doing. Teach self-control to your kid by establishing clear rules and being consistent to such rules. When you say toys should be played in the room only, then stick to your rule. Remind your child when he seems to forget, and give praises when he’s able to follow the rules.

When he hits, pushes, or bites another child, he may be mad, irritated, or even overexcited. Help the child by stepping in before things get out of control. Recognize his feelings but be clear with what are the acceptable behaviors. It is all right to be angry, but it’s not all right to hurt others. 

When the child plays pretend games with playthings such as stuffed toys or made-up toys like telephones or cars, he might be imitating the things you do as a grown-up like talking on the phone, and others. Support his pretend play by playing with him, following his lead and not taking over.

When he has trouble sharing or taking turns, allow him to have an older child try to work things out for himself before stepping in to help. Act as his sharing teacher. Help him in taking turns, waiting and sharing.

When your child tells you when his diaper is wet or makes his way to the potty, he’s already aware what’s happening to his body and identifies the use of the potty. Aid your child in his potty training and try to make potty activities positive for the child.

When he gets frustrated trying to express himself, he may be having a hard time figuring out how to say what he means. Be patient with your child. Recognize his frustration and help him express in words by offering words he may be trying to say.

We just finished talking about the things your baby can do from birth to 12 months. Next part is from 12 to 24 mos. when your infant becomes a little voyager!
When your child protests at bedtime, there are countless thrilling things going on, and he may want to be with you and stay a little longer. Tell him the time for bed. Give a sequence for bedtime, like after dinner he will take a bath, and then sleep time. Before sleeping he may be read book, or mommy may tell a story or sing for baby first. 

When he clings or cries when you are leaving, he may be saying that you make him feel safe and he’s anxious when you’re not around. Think about the feeling of your child and prepare him for it, by playing games like peekaboo and reassuring him that you will always come back when you say goodbye.

When he uses a spoon, drinks from a cup, and does other things using his fine motor skills, he’s learning to use his hands and do things for himself. Try to provide materials to your child like small toys which he can manipulate with his fingers, providing a room for practice.

When he responds to music by dancing and moving, he’s developing his gross motor skills. Dance and move with him, allow him to listen to different kinds of music and discover what he prefers best.

When he points to something and then looks at you to share his discovery, he’s developing his sensory skills as he would desire to hold and touch that thing. Allow your child to do so, when the object is safe.

When he says “No!” and begins defying rules and pushing limits, he wants to have independence and develop his own ideas. Encourage independence but with limited choices like asking him if he wants to wear the green or the yellow shirt, instead of asking him what shirt he wants to wear. Begin setting up coherent restrictions.

When I was in college, part of our course requirement in Psychology was to take Developmental Psychology, the branch of psychology that deals with the ways that personality, cognitive ability, and behavior change during somebody’s life span, with particular concentration on childhood development. There I met theorists like Erick Erickson, Carl Rogers, and Jean Piaget. I learned about infant reflexes, brain growth, and developmental milestones, among many others. 

Speaking about developmental milestones, they are the important developments of your child from birth to two years. I’ve encountered a lot of developmental milestones checklists since I was a student until my current teaching years. I feel like every mother should have one of her own, to keep track of their baby’s firsts

First part is from birth to 12 months. Some examples are:
*When you child stops crying because he sees you coming, he’s probably saying he knows he can count on you when he needs you.
*When he cries, goos, gurgles, whimpers, smiles, rubs his eyes, arches his back, turns his head away, or opens his eyes widely, he might be saying,
‘I’m sleepy’
‘I’m hungry’
‘I’m wet!’
‘I’m scared’
‘I’m bored…’
‘I’m overwhelmed’ or
‘I’m interested.’
*When he startles and cries at loud noises, he’s most likely sensitive to sounds. Others love loud sounds like vroom vrooms and weee weees, but not him.
*When he smiles and responds with pleasure when you talk, sing, or read to him, he’s saying he loves to talk and sing with you.
*When he cries or clings to you when a new person approaches, he’s probably scared because he doesn’t know this person.
*When he observes his own hands, turns from stomach to back and from back to stomach, creeps forward or backward, or crawls, he’s learning how to make his body do what he wants it to do. He likes to practice the movements he can do.
*When he looks at you and smiles when he has done something great, he might be catching your attention and makes you want to be proud of his early achievements. (:

Who would not know Mary who had a little lamb, Jack and Jill who went up and fell down the hill, and Humpty Dumpty who sat on a wall and had a great fall? How about Little Boy Blue and Little Miss Muffet? Or our friendly animals baa, baa black sheep, the three blind mice, and the owl & the pussycat?  

These are just some of the well-known and loved characters we met during our early years of schooling. They’re our preschool companions, posted in the classroom walls, roving in our books and singing in the classroom music players. I clearly remember my first schooling where I met Little Boy Blue. He’s the first songs & rhymes character my young mind got acquainted with. Little Boy Blue was hand painted in our classroom wall, and I couldn’t forget his picture sleeping under a haycock.

Songs, poems and rhymes are very helpful in our children’s early education. They are so much enjoyable to listen to. Even a very young baby likes a bubbly beat and rhythms that repeat. One time, my pregnant co-teacher told me her baby was bopping along with the nursery songs we were playing in our class, because she can feel her baby move.

Mother Goose rhymes are some of the most favorite rhymes through the years. Several rhymes may even be hundreds of years old, and they are still enjoyed by our children today. Song, rhymes and poems are used to help our kids learn things, like preparing them to read, basic concepts like counting, and values such as respect for people, doing your best, and taking good care of yourself. There are poems, songs and rhymes about people and animals, places and things, night and day, and even silly nonsense ones too. What’s more, there are also jump-rope rhymes, riddles, and tongue twisters for our children’s amusement.