I was on a small road trip with my family and we stopped at a station to fuel up and get a bite to eat. As we entered the convenience store, the girl at the register looked up at me and her face lit up. She gave me a warm welcome and seemed exceptionally friendly. When we went to check out, she told me it was so good to see me, calling me by name. I was surprised and tried to think who she was when she spoke up, "I'm Radonda's, you tended me when I was little?" I glanced at her name tag and a small flash of memories came to mind. Once again, I was surprised, I babysat her a couple of times when she was very small. "Wow, you remember me?", I asked. She was all smiles, "Yes, I remember you, I loved it when you came over."
We never know the impressions we are making on little minds and the first 5 years are the most impressionable. The slightest words and even the attitude we have, they pick up on very quickly and easily. They may not remember the words we spoke or sometimes, even the small things we did. But they will always remember the way we made them feel. To this day, there are people I feel uncomfortable around as I remember them from my childhood, but not exactly where or why. On the other hand, there have been people I ran into and remembered how much I liked them as a child although I couldn't remember a single thing they did or said.
Interacting with your child is so important. Babies love the interaction and it makes them so sad when we ignore them. In this viral TED talk, a seven-year-old demonstrates the importance of interaction with our children. As a working mother, I spend a lot of time at the computer. I was amazed as I would spend time interacting with him, then go to sit down at the computer and it would break his heart. I had to learn to save important things for when he was napping and I would take him on my lap and sing, bounce, or play an educational slideshow for him as I worked.
Take advantage of these precious years. This is the time to spend with your child teaching, bonding, loving, and learning together. Research has shown that during these tender first years in their life, the brains of small children are making connections and their personality is developing. What we do and teach them makes a huge impact even on their ability to study and learn when they are older. Here is a list of things you can do to make the most of this precious time and help their brains to develop wisdom, knowledge, and understanding:
Talking
Talk to your child, express positive thoughts, and always be smiling and approving. You'll find that for a child that grows up in an environment where you are always smiling and encouraging when they misbehave, a simple frown or look of disapproval is all it takes to reprimand them. Even if your baby is only 2 weeks old and doesn't understand a thing you're saying, their tiny little brain is making connections as you talk to them.
Reading
Reading to your child is so important in the development of a little brain. They may not understand what you're saying, but they can feel and they are learning a great deal. Research has shown that babies that were read to daily, learned to talk and understand at an earlier age. Check out blog post on reading and my collection of books on my website.
Music
Music is known to increase a baby's intelligence by about 46% compared to children who grew up without music. It inspires creativity, improves children's motor skills, and enhances communication skills. Singing to your child or playing an instrument for them does amazing things for them. As soon as they are old enough, letting them learn how to play a musical instrument is very beneficial. One exercise that seems to cajole their brain is to sing in a whisper and then sing out loud. Also, teach them rhythm by tapping your foot or leading in the air with your hand as you sing.
Exercise
Physical exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain and increases brain neurotransmitters. It improves your child's literacy, coordination, and memorization skills. At least 60 minutes of physical activity a day is recommended. For a newborn, it can be something like stretches or tummy time.
Self Help
I know how anxious we can be to jump in and help our children when we see them struggling, but sometimes we need to step back and give them a minute to try and figure it out. Don't ever let it get to the point of frustration for them, but as long as they are trying, they are learning. Whatever the case may be, taking off a lid, clicking a pen, or even trying to feed themselves, encourage them to help themselves but be right there if they need help.
Consistency
In all things, consistency is key. Read to them daily. Sing to them often. Help them do exercises and stretch regularly. Give them a chance to help themselves every day. A little every day is by far more beneficial than a lot once in a while. It does so much more good to do ten minutes a day than to sporadically do it for an hour in every aspect of child development.
Remember, what we learn with pleasure, we never forget. Make it fun and the second your child acts
like they are not enjoying it, put it away and do something else, whether it's
reading a book, singing to your child, or doing some stretches, it has to be
something fun for them for it to help them.
Use lots of praise and smiles.
Enjoy the journey!
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