Tactics for Tackling a Toddler’s Temper Tantrum
Even the best behaved toddler has an occasional temper tantrum. A tantrum can range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking, hitting, and breath holding. They’re equally common in boys and girls and usually occur from age 1 to age 3. Some children may experience regular tantrums, whereas for other children, tantrums may be rare. Some kids are more prone to throwing a temper tantrum than others.
Toddlers are trying to master the world and when they aren’t able to accomplish a task, they often use one of the only tools at their disposal for venting frustration – a tantrum. There are several basic causes of tantrums that are familiar to parents everywhere: The child is seeking attention or is tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. In addition, tantrums are often the result of children’s frustration with the world. Frustration is an unavoidable part of kids’ lives as they learn how people, objects, and their own bodies work.
Tantrums are common during the second year of life, a time when children are acquiring language. Toddlers generally understand more than they can express. As language skills improve, tantrums tend to decrease.
Keep off-limits objects out of sight and out of reach, which will make struggles less likely to develop over them. Distract your child. Take advantage of your little one’s short attention span by offering a replacement for the coveted object or beginning a new activity to replace the frustrating or forbidden one. And choose your battles: consider the request carefully when your child wants something. Is it outrageous? Maybe it isn’t. Accommodate when possible to avoid an outburst.
Make sure your child isn’t acting up simply because he or she isn’t getting enough attention. To a child, negative attention (a parent’s response to a tantrum) is better than no attention at all. Try to establish a habit of catching your child being good (”time in”), which means rewarding your little one with attention and praise for positive behavior. This will teach them that acting appropriately makes mommy and daddy happy and proud, and they’ll be anxious to do it again and again.
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One of the mysteries has been solved. Babies younger than 8-9 months old do remember and have specific memories. For a long time, the question has baffled researchers, doctors, as well as parentswhether children have the power to remember or does memory develop later in life.
Did you know that there are three distinct memory stores in the childs brain? They are the sensory register, short-term memory store, and long-term memory store. This is where experiences are retained, stored, and recalled.
Memory as you know plays a crucial part in learning and intelligence. And in order to enhance memory, you would need to promote aspects like focused attention, associated ideas, and repetition in your kids.
It is Really up to You
Many of us grew up thinking that thinking power and memory were inherited – that is why some people are average while others are geniuses. This is a myth, research proves that you the parent can raise your childs intelligence and improve memory greatly.
All you need to do is be a caring parent and devote time to the child. Nurturing is what creates a child who is caring, loving, and giving.
First you must never think negative thoughts. Children can feel your inner emotions and unexpressed feelings. A positive internal dialogue communicates to the child and enhances not just thinking but self-confidence.
Introduce breathing exercises as well as daily physical activities like gymnastics, jogging, sports, swimming, and so on. Do them with your child. Deep breathing and physical exercises stimulate a kids mental processes as well as overall performance.
Did you know, mental gymnastics can be done by playing games like checkers, chess, scrabble, word jumbles, and cryptograms and so on. These games stimulate the mind and enhance strategy skills.
Make the home environment comfortable and warm. Be sure to converse with the children whenever you can. This develops their language skills right from birth to around 26 months of age and that too at a very rapid rate.
One of the age-old methods to enhance intellectual potential, build vocabulary, enhance memory and attention span is repetitive reading – so read to the kids when they are young and repeat the same story time and again so that the child absorbs every nuance.
The World of Memory Games
The easiest and most interesting way to help children sharpen their memories is to introduce them to different kinds of games.
For example you make up a limerick in which piggy goes to the market to buy his mother cake, next repeat the rhyme and add one more object to the listcake and soap. And, as your child repeats the lines he will need to stretch his memory to remember what all piggy needed to buy.
Another oft played game is to put out a jumble of objects on a table. Next allow the child or group of children to glance at the objects for say two minutes. Cover the objects with a cloth and ask each child to jot down a list of what is on the table. This will test their recall and by asking questions about the objects you could jog their memories. Play the game often and you will find that the kids become whizzes at it.
Technology has introduced great innovations in memory games and children are drawn to the wonderful 3D graphics and compelling tales that absorb their attention completely. These are not just entertaining but are designed with enhancement of brain power and memory as the ultimate goal. For example, Smart Neurons has designed several educational CDs and DVDs that integrate imagery with sound and words keeping the children engrossed by the changing contexts, including music as well as words and sentences that are a part of the childs vocabulary and appropriate to the age group and developmental stage of the child.
Tags: Breathing Exercises, Cryptograms, Deep Breathing, Geniuses, Home Environment, Inner Emotions, Internal Dialogue, Language Skills, Long Term Memory, Memory Store, Memory Stores, Mental Gymnastics, Mental Processes, Negative Thoughts, Physical Exercises, Scrabble Word, Self Confidence, Short Term Memory, Strategy Skills, Word JumblesRelated posts
The ultimate goal of reading instruction is to enable children to understand what they read, so reading instruction has to be about more than simply matching letters and sounds — it also has to be about connecting words and meaning.
It is clear from research on emerging literacy that learning to read is a relatively lengthy process that begins very early in development and clearly before children enter formal schooling.
Children who receive stimulating literacy experiences from birth onward appear to have an edge when it comes to vocabulary development, understanding the goals of reading, and developing an awareness of print and literacy concepts.
Children who are read to frequently at very young ages become exposed in interesting and exciting ways to the sounds of our language, to the concept of rhyming, and to other word and language play activities that serve to provide the foundation for the development of phoneme awareness.
As children are exposed to literacy activities at young ages, they begin to recognize and discriminate letters. Without a doubt, children who have learned to recognize and print most letters as preschoolers will have less to learn upon school entry. The learning of letter names is also important because the names of many letters contain the sounds they most often represent, thus orienting youngsters early to the alphabetic principle or how letters and sounds connect.
The earlier you begin working on language with your child — simply speaking to your child, reading to your child, and then listening and responding to your child’s communications — the better off your child will be when the time comes to learn to ready.
Studies show a strong connection between early language development and reading. Language and reading require the same types of sound analysis. The better babies are at distinguishing the building blocks of speech at six months, the better they will be at more complex language skills at two and three years old, and the easier it will be for them at four and five years old to grasp the idea of how sounds link to letters.
However preparing your child to become a reader needs to go beyond this to cognitive readiness.
Cognitive readiness is essentially making sure your child has the essential foundations for reading. This includes the development and understanding of language, such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar; but also includes background knowledge and experience.
For example, a child can easily make the transition from seeing the neighbor’s cat to the parent connecting the word “cat” with the animal. Then later when the child is learning the alphabet and connecting sounds with various letters the cat is again brought into play. Finally, when it is time to begin reading text the child is already well on her way to understanding the written word “cat” through her experience of seeing and hearing it.
However children need help learning these concepts. A child will not learn the names, sounds, and shapes of letters simply by being around adults who like to read and who engage in reading. Children learn these concepts when adults take the time and effort to share experiences with oral and written language.
Preparing your child to read must take a step beyond this as well. Children’s cognitive skills and knowledge are frequently thought of as core ingredients in the recipe for success in school. Children’s language/literacy refers to both their oral communication (language) and understanding of the written word (literacy). The concept of general knowledge refers to children’s conceptions and understandings of the world around them.
As children enter kindergarten for the first time, they differ in their cognitive skills and knowledge. Studies of first-time kindergartners indicate that children’s reading, mathematics, and general knowledge are related to their age as they enter kindergarten, the level of their mother’s education, their family type, the primary language spoken in the home, and their race/ethnicity.
The undisputed purpose of learning to read is to comprehend. Even before children can read for themselves, it can help them to build vital background knowledge by having adults read to them interactively and frequently. This means not only is the book or story shared with the child — but then the reader and the child discuss the book and the world, characters, and events it introduces. It is important for parents who want to build their child’s cognitive readiness to actually choose of variety of texts that will expand what their children know about the world around them. Further, comprehension is enhanced through discussion of the text which in turn might lead to seeking out further text on this or related subjects. Effective instruction will help the reader actively relate his or her own knowledge or experience to the ideas written in the text, and then remember the ideas that he or she has come to understand.
Helping your child become cognitively ready for reading will also include giving your child diverse experiences in the world and with events and people so they can make connections between the real world and their reading. This does not have to mean extensive travel or expensive outings. Many times simply taking children to various events and places within your community can provide experience with people of different ages and ethnic backgrounds, for example.
Ultimately, children’s ability to understand what they are reading is inextricably linked to their background knowledge. Very young children who are provided opportunities to learn, think, and talk about new areas of knowledge will gain much from the reading process. With understanding comes the clear desire to read more and to read frequently, ensuring that reading practice takes place.
Some things you can do to help cognitively prepare your child for reading:
* Read new stories and reread old stories every day.
* Help extend their experience with the words, language, and ideas in books by interactively reading to them every day.
* Relate information in books to other events of interest to children, such as holidays, pets, siblings, and games. Engage children in discussion of the topics.
* In both stories and informational texts, encourage wondering. For example, “What will happen next?” or “Have you ever seen someone do that?”
* Point out how titles and headings as well as text when you are reading.
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It is that time of year again. If you child is already 5 or will be turning 5 on or before Oct. 1 (date depends on your state) then it is time to start thinking about registering your child for kindergarten. There are several steps involved in the kindergarten registration process.
If you are unfamiliar with the process then, it is a good idea to call the elementary or primary school your child will attend for more information. If you are not certain which school your child will attend then call the school district’s main office.
While registration is free there are some costs associated with kindergarten registration. Your child will need a current physical (often documented on the state’s medical exam form) and will need to be current on all vaccinations. Your child will also need a current eye exam (often documented on a state eye exam form).
Most schools also require a birth certificate and social security number.
Some schools require these five documents at the time of registration:
~ Birth certificate
~ Social security card
~ Current immunization record (on state certificate)
~ Current physical record (on state medical exam form)
~ Current eye exam (on state eye exam form)
Other schools are more flexible and allow registration with only some of the forms as long as all other information is provided by the time school starts.
Once your child is registered, then your child will be scheduled for a kindergarten screening in most school districts. The screening is conducted by one or more professional educators.
The purpose of the kindergarten screening is not to determine whether or not your child will be admitted to kindergarten but rather how your child’s unique needs will be met in the coming school year. This means matching the right teacher, classroom, and program to your child.
Most often, kindergarten screening looks at six primary areas: cognitive skills, listening and sequencing skills, language skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social/emotional skills.
The kindergarten screening is not the final judgment on your parenting skills or your child’s school readiness. It is simply the first time (in most cases) that the school district will have to assess your child. Early screening allows the school to help you prepare your child before school begins. You may be given a checklist, or other instructions, noting skills to work on with your child. Sometimes children with special needs may be flagged at this point. This can be very beneficial as the earlier intervention takes place the easier it may be for your child to stay on the same time table as his peers.
The kindergarten screening also allows the school to better match your child with a teacher, class, and program. Each child’s kindergarten experience is unique depending on the level of their skills at entry and the rate of their progress after school starts. The activities and work your child engages in during kindergarten may not be identical to those of all classmates. Many schools break classes up into ability groups or even pull children out of class to work with peers of similar ability or need.
Identifying special needs, problems, or abilities early on helps the school plan for the coming year. Will there be sufficient demand for a gifted program or a remedial program, are examples of some of the questions that kindergarten screening helps the school answer.
While your local school must make a place for your child no matter when you register it is to everyone’s benefit if you register as early as possible. The school needs an accurate enrollment projection but also needs to make educational plans that can most accurately be made after meeting and testing your child. In addition, your child benefits from early enrollment by allowing you to know what to do to prepare your child for kindergarten. Finally, your child is now on a list, which will allow the school to contact you regarding open house, information meetings, and other events.
For example, my local school district offers a special program a few weeks before school starts that allows some kindergarten students to start school early. The students can become familiar with the school building when it is not full (and not so frighteningly loud and busy) and begin working on some important skills, which may be interfering with their ability to succeed.
Kindergarten registration is a simple and necessary process, but it can be confusing if you don’t know what to expect. Knowing what to do before you register, what to expect during registration, and what will follow registration can help make the process less frustrating and confusing for everyone involved.
Tags: Birth Certificate, Cognitive Skills, Eye Exam, Gross Motor, Immunization Record, Kindergarten Registration, Kindergarten Screening, Language Skills, Medical Exam, Motor Skill, Professional Educators, School Districts, Several Steps, Social Security Card, Social Security Number, State Certificate, State Medical, Teacher Classroom, Time Of Year, Time SchoolRelated posts
At school, reading is the essential tool for success in every subject, so it is vital that you lay the proper groundwork for your child.
According to Bernabe Feria, an expert in reading sciences who holds a doctorate from Oxford University, children learn to read in three stages. They are as follows:
* Stage 1: This stage typically lasts until children are 5 or 6 years old. Children in this stage learn to recognize and write the letters of the alphabet and to use punctuation, and also begin “sounding out” clusters of written letters that form short words.
* Stage 2: This stage continues until children reach age 6 or 7. They learn to immediately recognize a few hundred words on sight and to read in phrases and even whole sentences.
* Stage 3: Children reach this stage around age 8 and typically no later than 10. At this stage they learn how to read with the facility and fluency with which they use spoken language, and should be able to recognize, appreciate and emulate finely crafted language.
As a parent, you can help your children learn the value of reading at any stage through an innovative program called ReadEnt, developed by SFK Media Specially for Kids Corp.
The program’s Reading Movies seamlessly blend reading with interactive films that teach and improve vocabulary and comprehension. Each of the Reading Movies – “Trojan Horse,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Tales of Gulliver’s Travels” – exposes students to timeless children’s literature while helping them learn through a patented technology called “Action Captions.” As the movie character speaks, the words simultaneously appear on the screen, one at a time, with no disruption to the flow of the movie.
Reading experts and educators indicate that these “Action Captions” activate the cognitive elements of the brain so that the development of both reading and spoken language skills takes place naturally. The ReadEnt reading programs can be used over a period of years to develop different skill sets as children move from one stage to the next.
The program’s Reading Movies, which are interactive with fun quizzes and games, are available for use on the TV or the computer.
Tags: 20 000 Leagues, 20 000 Leagues Under The Sea, Captions, Disruption, Doctorate, Fluency, Groundwork, Language Skills, Leagues Under The Sea, Letters Of The Alphabet, One At A Time, Oxford University, Patented Technology, Punctuation, Reading Programs, School Reading, Stage 2, Stage 3, Timeless Children, Trojan HorseRelated posts
It is that time of year again. If you child is already 5 or will be turning 5 on or before Oct. 1 (date depends on your state) then it is time to start thinking about registering your child for kindergarten. However this is also the time that many parents begin worrying about whether or not their child is ready for kindergarten.
First, it is important to note that entry to kindergarten is based primarily on age. In most U.S. states that simply means that if your child is or will be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1 (date may vary in some states) then your child must start kindergarten that school year.
The good news is that most primary programs are designed to take children with a variety of social, emotional, and academic needs and work with them based on their strengths.
However we also know that children who start kindergarten with a good grounding in six skill areas have a head start and a higher success rate than children lacking these basic skills.
The skills that ease transition into kindergarten and help lead to a successful kindergarten year fall into these basic areas: cognitive skills, listening and sequencing, language skills, fine motor skills, social emotional skills, and gross motor skills.
Cognitive skills that will help your child be better prepared for kindergarten include the usual suspects such as knowing the alphabet, primary colors, shapes and being able to count to ten.
You should also work with your child to make sure she knows her phone number, address, birthday, and age.
Some emergent literacy skills also include being able to identify his own name in writing, writing his own name, answering questions about a story, understanding that words are read from left to right, knowledge of some nursery rhymes, recognizing written numbers, and vocabulary.
Listening and sequencing are also important skills and this includes the ability to follow simple directions, paying attention, retelling a simple story in sequence, repeating a sequence of sounds, and repeating a sequence of numbers.
In addition to the emergent literacy skills connected with cognitive skills, there are also language skills connected to relationships such as big and little, short and tall, more and less, up and down, top and bottom, in and out, over and under, front and back, and slow and fast.
While we often associate school simply with cognitive skills, it is important that children also have fine and gross motor skills as well as social emotional skills.
Fine motor skills include being able to tie shoes, hold crayons with fingers, copy a straight line, copy a vertical line, copy a circle, hold and use scissors correctly, cut on a line, button buttons, work a simple puzzle (six pieces), and zip clothing.
Gross motor skills include hopping, jumping, walking a straight line, skipping, galloping, throwing a ball or bean bag, catching, clapping hands, and kicking a rolling ball.
Social emotional skills include sharing with others, getting along with others, maintaining self control, verbal self expression, and the ability to take care of toilet needs independently.
If your child has all these skills mastered then they are well on the road to success in kindergarten. Don’t worry if your child has not yet achieved success with all these skills. You can continue to work on the skills right up until the start of school and certainly after school has started you can team with your child’s teacher.
Tags: Alphabet, Answering Questions, Cognitive Skills, Emergent Literacy Skills, Emotional Skills, Gross Motor Skills, Head Start, Language Skills, Paying Attention, Phone Number Address, Primary Colors, Ready For Kindergarten, Right Knowledge, School Year, Shapes, Skill Areas, Success Rate, Time Of Year, Usual Suspects, VocabularyRelated posts
Prior to mastering the art of speech, your baby has great difficulty in communicating his needs to you. This can cause frustration for you both – yet there is a solution. Baby sign language is rapidly becoming popular as a means of recognising – and responding to – a young baby’s needs.
Babies can be taught sign language from any age, but they really begin to take notice of the signs from around six months and may begin using them from as early as seven to eight months of age. As many parents will testify, babies understand an awful lot more than they are able to communicate through speech at this stage.
Some parents fear that using baby sign language may hamper their child’s speech development later on. Research into this subject, however, shows that children taught baby sign in infancy go on to develop superb language skills. In some cases, they may learn to speak earlier and often have an increased ability to learn a second language.
There are other benefits to introducing baby sign language – studies indicate that children who sign often develop a higher than average IQ. The major advantage for parents, of course, is to be able to identify their babies’ needs and respond appropriately – easing the frustrations that can lead to tantrums. Once this channel of communication is open, many parents feel that a deeper bond with their child is formed, creating a great sense of harmony.
There are various methods by which you can learn to sign with your child – no prior knowledge is needed, so learning along with your baby is part of the fun! It is important to remember to say the word when introducing any signs to your baby and to use the signs consistently – both in the home and outside it. Also, try to familiarise anyone who cares for your child with the signs they are using.
Some people like to invent their own signs to use with their babies, whereas others prefer to use conventional signs based on formal sign language – the advantage of using these is that they are recognised by a wide group of people. There are many books, DVDs and flashcards available, based on formal signing, that make learning this new skill both simple and enjoyable.
Taking into account the benefits that this simple communication can bring, it’s no wonder that more and more parents are using baby sign language – and achieving a fascinating insight into their babies’ minds!
Tags: Average Iq, Babies, Baby Sign Language, Conventional Signs, Eight Months, Frustration, Frustrations, Harmony, Infancy, Language Skills, Parents, Prior Knowledge, Second Language, Sign Language Communication, Sign Language Studies, Six Months, Speech Development, Superb Language, Tantrums, Young BabyRelated posts
Speech and language skills develop at varying rates for children. Still, there are certain milestones most children reach at specific ages. Common, everyday interaction between children and those around them is the best way to boost and enhance speech and language skills. From birth, hearing is critical for children to learn and react to the world around them. An unidentified hearing loss can cause a delay in speech and language development. Consequently, it is better to identify and treat hearing loss as soon as possible.
Parents and other caregivers can do many things to encourage speech and language development and provide learning opportunities. Some examples:
• Listen and respond to your child. Acknowledge, encourage, and praise attempts to communicate.
• Talk to your child about what you are doing, what you see, what your child is doing, and what your child sees. Use language that is appropriate for your child’s speech and language abilities.
• Accept mistakes as your child’s speech develops. Simply repeat or expand what was said, using the correct words or sounds.
• If you don’t understand what your child is saying, ask your child to repeat or help your child to rephrase.
Seek help if you suspect your child is having a speech, language, or hearing problem. An evaluation can determine whether or not a child’s skills are developing normally. Certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists are educated and trained at the master’s or doctoral level to evaluate communication skills and treat disorders.
The steps you take can be very important. During the first five years of life, the building blocks for lifelong communication are formed. Believing your child will “grow out of a problem” can hinder his or her ability to read, write, learn, and engage in social relationships.
Tags: Attempts, Audiologists, Building Blocks, Caregivers, Child Development, Communication Skills, Doctoral Level, Everyday Interaction, First Five Years, Hearing Loss, Hearing Problem, Language Abilities, Language Development, Language Skills, Many Things, Milestones, Parents, Social Relationships, Speech Language Pathologists, Speech PathologistsRelated posts
Get Your Children to Read: Put in a ‘Reading Movie’
Today, children are more interested in television, video games and chatting on the Internet than they are in reading. Many parents probably would say, in fact, that getting a child to pick up a book is a significant challenge.
According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education, children spend an average of four to six hours daily watching TV or movies. That doesn’t mean, however, that screen time has to be wasted time. Parents can use TV programs and movies to their advantage – and actually get their children to like reading.
SFK Media Specially for Kids Corp., for instance, has developed a way to help children improve their reading, vocabulary and comprehension skills by watching movies. Reading Movies, part of SFK Media’s ReadEnt learning system, use a technology called “Action Captions” that makes each word appear on the screen as it is spoken.
The words appear out of the mouths of the speakers in real-time, with no disruption to the flow of the movie. These Action Captions are believed to activate the cognitive elements of the brain so that the development of both reading and spoken language skills takes place naturally.
The idea behind Reading Movies is that kids will develop their reading skills effortlessly – without even knowing it.
“When I first put the Reading Movies in, my kids sat down in front of the TV to view it and I was in awe,” said Annetta Jones, an educator and reading specialist in Florida. “They became so caught up in the entertaining action of the movie that they did not even realize that they were reading out loud.”
Reading Movies are based on such timeless classics as “The Trojan Horse,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Tales of Gulliver’s Travels.”
The movies have proven to help children at all reading levels reinforce vocabulary and related concepts, according to SFK Media. In fact, a single interactive Reading Movie can be used again and again over a period of years to develop different sets of skills.
“With this program, I see a world where parents might say, ‘Stop hanging around playing, go and watch a movie; you need to improve your reading,’” said Ronald Brown, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Sunderland in England.
Tags: 20 000 Leagues, 20 000 Leagues Under The Sea, Annetta, Comprehension Skills, Education Children, Gulliver, Interactive Reading, Language Skills, Leagues Under The Sea, Reading Levels, Reading Skills, Reading Specialist, Reading Vocabulary, Related Concepts, Screen Time, Spoken Language, Time Parents, Timeless Classics, Trojan Horse, U S Department Of EducationRelated posts
Be a Good Teacher for Your Baby
Babies learn by exploring the things around them. Show your baby how to look at, listen to, touch or smell something new or different. Hold your baby so she (or he) can see things. Help her hold objects like her socks or a rattle. As she grows, give her safe objects to feel, shake or put into her mouth.
Be your babys teacher. She (or he) will see how you react to things. When you get excited about a toy or object, shell get excited too. As she grows, show her how things workfor example, how doors open and close. Talk about what you are doing. For example, I am putting the food in the pot to cook it.
When a baby is learning something new, it helps her to try it again and again. With your help and support this can be fun, and your baby will like trying new things.
Protect your baby from harsh disapproval, teasing or punishment. A baby doesnt understand right from wrong. She doesnt know what things are dangerous for her to do. Watch her to keep her safe. Remove her from situations where she can be hurt or injured.
Talk and sing to your baby. Even before she is able to speak, this helps her develop language skills. Babies learn best when you talk to them.
Read to your baby from the earliest months of her life and continue this habit as she grows.
Babies Have People Skills, Too
From the start, your baby is interested in your face. She notices your expressions and tone of voice. She reacts to your emotions. For example, when you say something in a soft and loving way, she will relax and feel more secure.
Scientists have learned that babies show emotions as early as when they are one month old. Something else scientists have learned is that feeling good helps babies learn better.
Why? Happy babies are more alert, attentive and responsive. Babies remember things better when they are happy and at ease. The way you hold and talk to your baby can help her feel happy.
Babies who are alert and feeling good are more likely to look at things, explore and play. They will pay attention more. For example, they will try to make new things happen with toys or make sounds with people. This helps them learn and remember new things.
Brief periods of distress or difficulty will occur. These will not harm a child. Short periods of negative emotions can be helpful for your baby. You should do something quickly to help her feel better. From this she will learn you care about what she tries to tell you. Long periods of negative emotion, like crying, can do harm.
In the first month, the negative emotion that occurs is distress or a response to pain. Later, she will show sadness and anger. Next comes fear. All people have these emotions to protect themselves. Help your baby be at ease with having emotions. Respond to her emotions in a warm and loving way.
You can tell what your baby is feeling by changes in her facial expression. You can also see what she is feeling by her posture, movements and the sounds she makes.
Learning to Communicate
It will be months before your baby says her first word. But babies start learning about language much earlier.
Even in the first few weeks after birth, your baby is learning about language. Very young babies can tell the difference between speech and other sounds. They can tell the difference between the voices of men and the voices of women. They even know the voices of their own mothers. A baby can tell the voice of her mother from the voices of other women. Researchers think babies are able to do this because of the way specific parts of their brains work.
Babies can also communicate long before they speak. They use movements and sounds to let you know what they want or dont want. Some people refer to these as a babys signals.
Right now, your baby can tell you if she needs something by fussing or crying. She can also let you know when she likes something or someone by looking intently. Babies learn best how to tell parents what they like or dont like when they begin to see that parents respond to them in positive ways.
Even before she can speak, you need to talk to your baby. Even though there are differences among individuals, babies whose parents talk to them talk sooner. They also have larger vocabularies. Talking to babies gives them language skills that will help them learn more easily when they get to school. Hearing words on the radio or TV is not very helpful to babies learning language. Your baby benefits from having you up close smiling, talking and singing.
Babies Cry for Lots of Reasons
Crying is the way newborns communicate. Your new baby cries to let you know she needs or wants something.
The first thing to try when she cries is to feed her. By noticing when she wants to be fed and when she doesnt, you will learn which cries mean that she is hungry, uncomfortable or wants attention. Sometimes she will want to be held. Sometimes she wants a dry diaper. Sometimes she is tired or bored.
As you and your baby get to know each other, you will sometimes be able to tell the difference between each kind of crying. You can then try to give her what she needs.
Taking care of your baby when she cries will not spoil her. It will help your baby feel loved and secure.
Smile, touch and talk to your baby as often as possible. Do this when you feed her, change her diaper or give her a bath. Your baby will learn that she can rely on you to take care of her.
Ways to Soothe Your Baby
Sometimes babies cry even when they have been fed, have clean diapers and are healthy. If your baby is crying because she needs comfort, there are many things you can do. Every baby is different.
Here are things you can try to find out what calms your baby down.
- Rock your baby in your arms or while sitting in a rocking chair.
- Stroke your babys head very gently, or lightly pat her back or chest.
- Make soft noises to let your baby know you are there and you care.
- Talk to your baby.
- Softly sing to your baby or play soft music.
- Wrap her up in a baby blanket (but not too tightly).
If your baby keeps crying after you have tried everything, stay calm. Babies know when you are upset. No matter how stressed you are, never shake your baby. Shaking your baby can cause blindness, brain damage or even death.
If you need a break, call a relative, neighbour or friend to help. All babies cry. You will not be able to comfort your baby every time. That does not mean you are a bad parent. Do the best you can to soothe and comfort your baby.
Heres a simple tip to help your baby cry lesscarry her. Research shows that babies who are carried more often dont cry as much as other babies.
Tags: Baby Babies, Baby Parenting, Babys, Disapproval, Doors, Emotions, Expressions, Face Tone, Feeling Good, Fun, Habit, Language Skills, New Baby, Pot, Scientists, Shell, Socks, Tone Of Voice