Help, My Toddler Doesn’t Talk Yet!
August 6, 2011 · 1 Comment
If your toddler is a late talker, you would get concerned if their toddler isn’t speaking when others of the same age are yapping away. Is there something wrong? What’s considered normal? Should you seek help?
First, it helps to understand what medical experts consider normal speech development for a toddler. When your toddler was a baby between birth and 3 months, did he/she exhibit the following signs of normal speech development?
- Response to sounds such as smiling at the sound of your voice or increasing suckling
- React to your voice by calming down if upset
- Make cooing sounds
From 4 to 6 months or so, did your baby:
- Turn eyes or head in response to sounds?
- Respond to music?
- Respond to noise-making toys?
- Make verbal sounds to express feelings like excitement?
As your baby approached a year of age, did he/she exhibit these signs of normal speech development?
- Imitation of speech sounds
- Sounding like he/she is trying to say simple words, such as “daddy” or “mama”
- Responding to words you use (“cup,” “ball,” etc.)
Once your toddler begins to move toward the age of two, normal speech development takes the form of comprehension (he/she understands your words and can point to objects and body parts when you identify them), the use of consonants, and putting two words together to express simple ideas (“more drink” or “no ball”). Toddlers between the age of one and two will also enjoy listening to words in the form of stories and rhymes.
As your child approaches the age of three, new words are added to his or her vocabulary every few weeks, and parents can discern clear and exciting progress in their toddler’s speech.
Signs that Help May be Needed
Summer Craft Ideas for Teens
June 25, 2011 · 1 Comment
Have you ever heard your teen say that he or she is bored? During the summer you may hear more of the same. Devise craft ideas to help stop the boredom and even create a new hobby for your teens.
You may feel that summer crafts are only for little kids, but teens can benefit from activities that engage their hands as well as their minds. During the summer, all that information they learned at school the previous year seems to leak out little by little until they are starting again when the new educational year rolls around.
Summer crafts can help put that brain to work. Here are some ideas that you can use. Maybe your kids will think of a few of their own.
Teens are older so they can handle more complex activities. Creating things from your hands give your teen a sense of pride and confidence in their abilities. Start by asking your teen about their interests. You can create or search for craft ideas on that topic.
Craft Ideas
* Jewelry
This can work for girls and guys. Remember when you made bead jewelry at summer camp? Craft stores like Michael’s and A.C. Moore sell jewelry kits that can get you started. If your child likes the jewelry making, they can create their own set of beads, wooden balls, glass beads and semi-precious stones to create their own unique products. Jewelry can be given as presents for birthdays and Christmas.
* Lanyards
This is also a throwback from summer camp. Teens can create key chains, bracelets and other designs to keep for themselves or give to friends.
* Shirt designs
Tie dyeing is back in fashion. Teach your teen to create their own cool t-shirts using different colors and patterns reminiscent of the 60s. Another shirt design is iron-on. They can create a shirt design and turn it into an iron-on patch.
* Pottery
That lump of clay can become a pot, saucer, vase or anything they want it to be. Buy a pottery kit with a small potter’s wheel so they can try it out for themselves. With some designs, you don’t need a kiln. The pottery can sit and dry on its own.
* Candle making
This was a family activity in colonial days. Use molds and candle kits to create taper, round and three-wick candles. Teens can create designs in the wax or on the outside of the candle to represent different special occasions.
* Wood-working crafts
Teach your teen to use their hands and imagination. Build a bird house; craft a clock; build a simple desk or stool. There are thousands of items they can choose from. If they need to use a saw, teach proper use and always supervise.
Are your teens bored? Give them a ton of ideas to keep them busy all summer long.
The Aware Baby: A Review
January 21, 2011 · 4 Comments
Where to buy: www.amazon.com
The author of The Aware Baby, Alteha J Solter, PhD, is a well-known and highly respected developmental psychologist. She founded The Aware Parenting Institute with instructors in over 13 countries. She has written a sequel to The Aware Baby, called Helping Young Children Flourish, another book called Tears and Tantrums, as well as Raising Drug-Free Kids. She is well-known for her non-punitive parenting style when it comes to discipline.
The Aware Baby is a must-have for new parents. Understanding the non-verbal language of babies, i.e. crying, can sometimes be daunting. With the help of Aletha Solter’s book and her extensive knowledge and experience of developmental psychology in babies/children, new parents will learn to bond with their baby. They will also understand why babies cry and how to respond to their cries without lasting psychological damage to the infant.
The author advocates attachment parenting and gives ideas of alternatives to “traditional” punishment. New parents will find the section on solving sleep and feeding issues extremely helpful. Other topics dealt with are: temper tantrums, toilet training, separation anxiety, co-sleeping and other issues parents with infants and toddlers will face.
The book provides easy-to-do exercises for parents to explore their own feelings about certain subjects and how to nurture and grow the bond between your baby and yourself. It is a book full of valuable information on raising a happy and emotionally healthy infant/toddler.
