Day 300 - Improve Baby's Right and Left Brain

Today's first time parenting tip - Cross your baby's arms to improve cognitive development

This one comes from my mom, a preschool teacher. As a person responsible for getting young minds ready for school, she's got a whole repertoire of activities designed to help kids socialize, develop, etc.

One easy one she told me last weekend was how she and her teaching partner work in different activities where their kids are touching the right side of their body with their left hand and vice versa. It's supposed to increase the communication between left brain and right brain, which in turn helps reading.

She also said if we play games with out 11 month old son and we cross his arms over, it'll help him out with his early brain development.

Interesting...I wonder if it works on adults too...


Parenting, Brain, Reading, Development, Learning

Day 280 - Reading a book at their own pace

Today's first time parenting tip - Let your baby read and explore his books at his own pace

As adults, our tendency is to read a book, left to right, beginning to end, cover to cover. Infants have no such tendencies. In fact, they no nothing about the "proper" way to read books.

But most adults (myself included) want to take over when babies want to skip ahead, close the book, or just merely turn the pages.

And at this point in their lives, that's more than fine. You should be letting them lead the reading if they want to, enthusiastically jumping around with them, discovering the different images and words of the book.

The most important benefits of reading at this age are the bonding that occurs between the two of you, the daily routine, the different words, images and sensations that come along with reading. The actual "reading", i.e. left to right, front page to back, etc. Are probably one of the least important aspects.

As your child gets older and his tastes get more sophisticated, he'll grow to love actual stories, one's that have beginnings, middles and endings. But until then, let your preconceptions go and rediscover books all over again with your baby.

Parenting, Reading, Learning, Development, Fun

Day 262 - Stories That Move Your Baby

Today's first time parenting tip - Add some movement to story time and act out as much as you can.

Do you read to your baby? Great! Now, do you also act out the story? Chances are, probably not. I think we all feel a little silly acting outside what's considered normal. But put yourself in the shoes of your baby. Which is more fun?

Next time you and your baby are sharing a story, add some life to it. Bounce them every time you count the number of things on the page. Sing the alphabet song. Make all the animal noises you see. Tickle them and laugh with them when something silly happens in the story.

And perhaps the most fun of all, talk in weird, wacky voices for every character. Pretend the book is a movie, and you are playing all the roles. Everyone has to sound different...how many voices can you make.

You'll probably look goofy. After all, if you were good at voice over you'd probably have a career in radio. But your baby won't care. Story time will be that much more fun, and its a great activity you can share together.

Parenting, Story, Reading, Fun