“Best Developmental Toys For Your 1 Or 2 Year Old” plus 4 more

Best Developmental Toys For Your 1 Or 2 Year Old
Glenn Doman's Truth - Babies Can Read
New Born Babies - How to Hold Your New Born Babies to Make Them Feel Comfortable?
Baby Advice - 5 Tips to Help You Select the Best Babysitter
Make Sure Your Bassinet Is Safe For Your Child

Best Developmental Toys For Your 1 Or 2 Year Old

Posted: 13 Sep 2009 09:45 PM PDT

As soon as a child turns one, the increase in mobility also results in higher curiosity levels. All 1-2 year-olds love exploring the world around them. They try their best to figure out what all is happening around them. Also categorized as terrible twos, this age asserts their independence and children show marked improvements in their communication and developmental skills.

Although this tantrum throwing phase is frustrating for parents sometimes but it stands for the individuality of the children. By now, they have their favorite toys, games and activities to keep them engaged. While playing forms a major part of their day, their toys need to focus on development at all levels. Here are the kinds of developmental toys that are best suited for your 1 - 2 year olds:

Pushing, riding and rocking

Your child has just learned walking and is trying to gain control over his or her pace. The push toys like play gyms, wheeled toys help in developing strong leg and arm muscles with the freedom to traverse the world around. Similarly, riding and rocking toys work on gross motor skills and enhance the child's capabilities.

Manipulative toys

With advanced physical development, their mental and psychological skills are also growing distinctively at this age. So toys that involve manipulation and use of brain are the best developmental toys for young children. Shape sorters, stacking toys, nesting toys, bucket filling activities not only improve the dexterity and hand eye coordination but also rub their grey cells.

Scribbling

1-2 year olds love to use colored pens and draw to their heart's content. Give them crayons and paper and you will see them having fun as if nothing else exists. This brings out the creativity and imagination of the children. You can give them safe and washable versions to maintain hygiene.

Stuff toys and dolls

Children at this age start forming affinity towards life like things. They enjoy playing with stuff toys like bears, cats, dogs and dolls. These toys offer them the opportunity of enacting things that they witness around them along with exploring their emotional side. Don't be surprised if you one day see your baby offering his or her milk bottle to the bear.

Action reaction toys

Toys like bat and ball, pound a ball, marble running rails allow children to understand the basics of action and reaction. They improve your child's hand eye coordination, motor skills, stimulation skills and reflexes.

Some toys are just fun while others offer developmental advantages for your 1-2 year olds. It is your responsibility to offer a proper mix to your children so that they develop, learn and have fun all at the same time.

If you are interested in these and other learning toys please go to Great Kid Gifts.

Glenn Doman's Truth - Babies Can Read

Posted: 13 Sep 2009 09:43 PM PDT

In truth, Glenn Doman bothered the academic world back in the 70s since he broke with paradigms that established and predetermined that learning was promoted by "that which is taught, and not by who learns". Importantly, he innovated when he demonstrated that the baby, once assisted by the mother, could have access to knowledge much earlier than what had been accepted in the past. Some preconceived notions, such as the following, have been broken with to allow early reading and literacy and we will discuss here how this was achieved, by parents, for the good of their babies.

Preconceived notion #1 - Parents should not stimulate their babies.

How has this been broken with?

When the child arrives at school, s/he has already been through a whole world of experiences, of being exposed to technological and informational society (visual pollution). The parents are teaching their babies to speak, to observe, to walk and to listen. The brain learn what it sees, hears, smells and feels. With each passing day, the baby builds knowledge of the culture in which s/he's immersed.

Today's society provides stimuli through colors, and the size of advertisements, through television and the urge to sell products for profits' sake. Families have access to means of communication, and almost every home has a computer, a TV, and telephones among other products that communicate without asking whoever it is the communication aims to reach whether or not it's been authorized to do so. Within this context, babies are stimulated. It is the parents' role to administer that which can be shown to them. If parents do not care for what stimuli the baby can be exposed to, then society trespasses the intimacy of the home, determining that which must be learned. It is thus the parents' initial responsibility to resolve the issue. It is neither up to the State, nor the institutions with teaching attributions to resolve who and what is stimulating the brain.

Preconceived notion #2 - Parents should not force their babies, stealing their childhood away as they teach them as if they were teachers

How has this been broken with?

Teaching babies to read is not nor has it ever been a reason for "losing" childhood. Reading time consists of quality moments of joy, play, and enjoyment between parent and baby. The baby learns via affection, and thus for wanting to play the reading game. To steal a childhood away is, for example, to leave children in front of the TV without activities that develop the imagination, that is, without giving them the opportunity to engage in creative games.

Preconceived notion #3 - It is not the parents who teach, but the schools

How has this been broken with?

Schools are no longer being able to teach our children. There are difficulties in bringing knowledge, innovations and information from the community to the classroom at the same pace in which they happen outside of the school system. It is a question of updating the quantity of information that occurs in real life, in real time.

Furthermore, the works of identification of gifted/children with specific dispositions show that the stimuli in the home environment provide for the gifts in 'gifted'. Children already arrive at school with talents and dispositions developed in environments made rich for inhabited by the parents. Teaching at home shows that is possible to develop teaching outside of school. After all, there exist many parents in different countries with more time and better training than many of the teachers inserted in both public and private school systems. With such a realization and within the desire to provide them with the best opportunities as early as possible, parents can indeed teach their babies how to read.

Preconceived notion #4 - The child should learn only when s/he's ready. Every precocious stimulus is harmful.

How has this been broken with?

Once again, a preconceived notion underestimated the baby's capabilities. Why is it that only those who show talent in music or sport can be stimulated early? When is it, then, that the child is ready? What possible reference pointing in terms of social levels, countries, communities? Who determines when to teach? Only the child's curiosity. The parents must stay alert as to when; the moments. But much more than this, they have to try and see how easy it is to teach a baby to read.

Once the preconceived notion are overcome, we start to witness that the baby can and does do much more than out small capacity to understand the human brain, as well as what it will be able to do in the future. After all, do we believe or not in evolution?

Glen Doman was a visionary. We pay him our respects. If the miracle of reading as a baby has been witnessed by me through the development of my own children, I believe that all babies born in the last century - and who will be born in this one - can do the same.

Here's to the baby revolution! In the search for peace and solutions for the world's problems, and in favor of all man and womankind, may this be the end of the Jurassic illiteracy era.

After exposing these four key preconceived notions, and the discussion above, we can affirm that:

1 - The baby can learn at home with the parents;

2 - The baby learns without the understanding of reading rules because s/he learns as s/he plays; and he brain is open to the learning of the word for s/he already knows the concept;

3 - The words are shown and the brain learns through the building of mental schemes, structures that will be used throughout his/her life;

4 - In this process, there is no training, because it is not possible to "train" a baby. It is s/he who learns.

5 - The baby understands and identifies that which s/he sees. His/her knowledge of the world is relative to the knowledge of the world s/he built. It is not ours!;

6 - A baby, when s/he reads a word, s/he identifies and recognizes it;

7 - The parents should stimulate their babies before the community without responsibility does so;

8 - In this process, they are not stealing away the baby's childhood; they are, instead, guaranteeing that the latter is being preserved through play, in the development of creativity, and the enjoyment in a teaching and learning relationship;

9 - Yes, parents do teach. They can teach. It is the primordial duty. To have a child is not simply to feed, shelter, and care for. It is to assist so that s/he may build a healthy knowledge of the world. For the future. Schools come to help us socialize the child and promote the updating of all content needed for life within society; and

10 - Let us not underestimate babies' capacity to build a knowledge of the world, in their own way, and as soon as they can.

Translation by: Inessa Leao Figueiredo, MS.

New Born Babies - How to Hold Your New Born Babies to Make Them Feel Comfortable?

Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:48 PM PDT

If you have new born babies, it is important to know how to hold them correctly. This is because your baby can sense the way you are feeling when you are holding them. For most first-time parents, chances are you will feel very nervous as you are probably uncomfortable in holding your baby for the first time. I can understand that because I was so overwhelmed when I had twins! However, your baby will be able to sense your discomfort and object to your hold. So how can you hold your new born babies to make them feel comfortable?

What your new baby will do if she senses your discomfort in holding her is that she will wriggle her body, arch her back and show that she did not want to be carried by you. Some babies might even cry to show their objection. You do not have to feel helpless when that happens. All you have to do is to relax and enjoy the feel of your baby in your arms. It is vital for you to pay special attention to whether you are carrying your baby safely and securely. Check to make sure that your baby is feeling comfortable in your arms.

Here are 4 ways in which you can hold your new born babies.

1. Cradle Hold
This is the easiest and most natural way to carry your infant. In fact, this is also my favourite way of carrying my twins around the house, especially when they were only a few months old.

If you want to use the cradle hold method, all you have to do is to position your baby's head on the crook of your arm. Usually you will put her little head on your dominant arm so that it is comfortable for you and the baby. Next, use your other arm as the support under your dominant arm or wrap it around your baby's body. This is a very comfortable position for your little one and most babies sleep well in this position. It is also good for talking to your baby or to take a walk with her.

2. Shoulder Hold
For a shoulder hold, you have to lean your baby against one of your shoulders. Meanwhile, provide the necessary prop using your arm on the same side of that shoulder. It is important to note that you have to wrap your supporting arm around your little baby's buttocks. Secure your infant's neck and back using your free arm. This is a comfortable position for your baby to snooze but it might be uncomfortable for you if you are trying to walk around the house carrying her in this way. I have found it to be easier if I sit and carry my babies in this position instead of standing or walking.

3. Belly Hold
By this, you have to lay your baby chest down on top of your forearm while securing her by placing your other arm around her back. Alternatively, you can also position your baby transversely on your lap. This position is especially beneficial for gassy babies.

However, this is one method I did not feel comfortable in using so I had hardly used it to carry by twins. So it all depends on what method you feel at ease with.

4. Hip Hold
Hip hold is useful when your baby is older, probably when she is around 6 months as she would have developed a certain amount of neck and head control by then. What you have to do is to place your baby on a seated position on either side of your hip. Your baby should be facing outwards and tightly secured around the waist with the arm on the same side of the hip on which the baby is seated. This method allows you a free arm and your baby can also get to observe the environment around her. Little babies are very curious and love to find out more about the world around them so this is a good learning position for them.

There, you have 4 ways you can choose to carry your baby. Just remember that you have to make your baby feel safe in your arms and practise makes perfect! As long as you are feeling relaxed, your new born babies will be happy with you and enjoyed being hold by you. Your little ones will grow up very fast so enjoy your first year with them and do not get too stressed!

Baby Advice - 5 Tips to Help You Select the Best Babysitter

Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:48 PM PDT

To a lot of parents, leaving your precious little in the care of a babysitter stirs up many emotions and the greatest emotion is definitely that of guilt. However, in such economic times such as now, it is essential for many parents to work in order to survive. As such, the best way to lighten your pressure of hiring a babysitter for your baby is to learn how to select the best babysitter. So where can you get the much needed baby advice? Read on and you can learn 5 tips to help in your babysitter selection.

1. Love Kids
Does it mean that anyone who wants to be a babysitter must definitely love kids? No, definitely not! If possible, do a background check on the babysitter to find out if they genuinely love kids before you commit yourself to hiring her. If that is not possible, arrange to be home when the babysitter is taking care of your children. Observe if she really loves kids. In addition, be alert to your kids' reaction to the babysitter. Children are smart and they will know if she really loves them. Look for another one if your baby reacts very strongly to her.

2. Availability
Check out the babysitter's schedule to see if it fits in with your own? This is especially important if she is helping out in more than one household. Find out if she can fit in with your usual pattern or routine.

3. Ability In Handling Emergencies
Is your babysitter able to remain calm even in very stressful situations? If she panics easily, she will not be take care of your kids when an emergency arises. Test her to see if she knows her safety tips before you decide to hire her.

4. Knowledge in CPR
Although this is not an absolute must in your criteria as not many babysitters are knowledgeable in CPR, it will be a plus point for her as you can rest assure that your children are in safe hands even in an emergency. Otherwise, teach your babysitter the basic safety precautions to note when taking care of your baby if you strongly feel that she fits all other criteria.

5. Recommended
It is probably the most important to hire only a recommended babysitter. Before you actually hire the person, ask your friends and relatives for a recommend babysitter. Find out what are the positive attributes of the person before you decide whether you want to hire her.

Make Sure Your Bassinet Is Safe For Your Child

Posted: 13 Sep 2009 03:23 PM PDT

You have found the cutest and most affordable baby bassinet for your little bundle of joy. Although you believe the furniture is a beautiful addition to your nursery, in the back of your mind, you think, "Is this product truly safe?"

The truth is revealed in a study conducted by researchers at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington. In 2008, this study showed that 53 infants died suddenly and unexpectedly from baby bassinets. Lack of oxygen topped the list in the causes of death in 85 percent of cases. No parent wants their child to be part of a statistic like that.

What can you do to ensure you are buying a safe bassinet? First, register the product. This is good to do with any baby product. This way, you will be informed if there is a recall. Most often, with recalled items, people are advised to stop using the product immediately. Taking a few minutes to fill out a registration card can literally be a lifesaver.

At times, though, we busy parents never get to filling out that registration card. Sometimes, even if we do register a product, a company may not notify us of a recall. That's what happened with my daughter's complete bedroom set. I definitely registered the product, but no one informed me that high contents of lead were found in the paint finish. I discovered this fact on the company's website. Because of my experience, I recommend parents regularly check to see if furniture and other baby items have been recalled.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the most reliable source of information on recalls. The CPSC gives product descriptions, possible injuries, steps the manufacturer is taking to remedy the recall and the manufacturer's contact information.

Here are a few suggestions that make it less likely that a cradle will cause injury to your child:

Look for the seal of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a trade organization whose safety standards are higher than the federal government's standards.
Always read your instruction manual to make sure your infant does not exceed the weight limit or reached a particular milestone, such as rolling over or sitting up, making a bassinet inappropriate for your child.
Never put pillows or really soft toys and blankets in your baby's cradle since these are suffocation hazards.