I have listed a rather interesting article about the different developmental stages children go through as they age. I like how much it breaks it down and is easy to track. Let us know what you think!
Birth-18 months
Almost all neuron (nerve cells) are present at birth but most are not connected in networks. The connecting process (synapse formation) is rapid during this year, with brain activity becoming closer to adult than newborn by 12 months. Areas of greatest growth are sensorimotor, visual cortex and later the frontal lobes. Play reflects the development of brain areas. This is what Piaget called “practice play.”
Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell: These are the ways babies learn about the world. This is why the best infant toys are usually brightly colored noisemakers. They soon graduate from mobiles (try a musical one for extra interest) and mirrors (which they find fascinating) to grasping and holding. Toys they can manipulate with pleasing effects--activity quilts with different textures: attachments that squeak or jingle; rattles; activity bars: soft balls to drop and retrieve--begin to teach them dexterity and the concept of cause-and-effect.
As babies team to sit up, crawl, stand and then walk, the possibilities quickly expand They're ready to experiment with nesting cups, activity boxes, stacking rings, large blocks, and a little later with shape-sorters. These toys help develop fine motor skills and reach relationships among objects. Cloth or board books, especially intriguing with pictures of faces or familiar objects, let then, practice object-recognition and instill basic ideas of language. Babies and toddlers also love bathtub toys because they delight in all kinds of water play such as filling, emptying, and splashing. And as soon as they're up on their feet, they're ready to roll with push-pull toys.
A word of caution: Be sure any toy for a child in this age group has no small pieces that can be removed or broken off and swallowed, no sharp edges or points, and is made of materials.
18 months-3 years
During this age the synapses continue to expand and reach about 1,000 trillion - twice the density of the adult brain. (Pruning takes place later to reduce the number). The toddler brain is twice as active as the adult brain. The structures of the brain that are sensitive to language and social-emotional response develop. Motor development continues at a rapid pace.
Action is the name of the game for toddlers, who delight in running, jumping, climbing and riding. A ride-on toy to zip around on will be a sure-fire hit- whether it’s a low tricycle or a foot-to-floor vehicle in a whimsical bus or car design. Low climbing toys, large balls, and outdoor items like a sandbox or wading pool are also good choices for developing gross motor skills.
Take-apart toys, pop-up toys mid simple puzzles gratify toddlers' curiosity about how things work, reinforcing their eye-hand coordination and understanding of spatial orientation and cause and effect. One of the best possible toys is that time-tested classic, a good block set: it's just about the most open-ended, mind-expanding toy made for kids of almost all ages and one that will be used for years. Another creative, tactile-pleasing choice is modeling clay. Tambourines, xylophones, drums and other simple musical instruments are satisfying noisemakers.
Again, be sure toys are made of nontoxic materials, with no sharp edges or points or small parts that can be removed or broken off and swallowed.
3-6 years
This is the fastest growth period for the frontal lobe networks, and speed of processing, memory, and problem solving is increasing. The brain is at 90% of its adult weight by 6 years.
Imagination and interaction play starting roles during the preschool years, and the best toys help set the stage for developing these skills. Things that connect with the experiences kids have are the best for dramatic play.
Opt for a generic unstructured item rather than the single-function brand name version. Play telephones, kitchen appliances and utensils, tool sets, medical kits. vehicles. dress-up clothes and, of course, baby dolls, as well as toy people and animals all spark the scenarios kids like to construct. Finger or hand puppets offer another way of acting out and mastering day-to-day experiences.
The language and social skills practiced through make-believe games come into play as preschoolers interact more and more. Early board games introduce the concept of taking turns and sharing with others, while letter -, word- and number-recognition toys and games reinforce math and language learning. So, of course, do books, especially if they're chosen to match the child's interests.
Art materials (clay, crayons markets, paints, collage materials) are another creative favorite with most children in this age group. And don't forget jump ropes, larger tricycles and that always-memorable first bike with training wheels.
6-9 years
The synaptic connections in motor and sensory areas are firmly established and the process of elimination synapses (pruning) in these areas has begun. Because of the activity in higher brain "control" centers, children increase in levels of attention and ability to inhibit impulses.
By the time they're in the primary grades, children have gotten the hang of basic dexterity, language, and social skills; now they're eager to practice and refine them. They like to challenge themselves, intellectually, with puzzles and games that test their growing knowledge or involve strategy (checkers, card games), and physically, with pick-up sticks, jacks, roller skates, pogo sticks, and ball games.
There are lots of other imaginative options than can broaden this group's horizons, from craft sets for making jewelry and puppets to a microscope, nature-study kit, or a printing set. You might also turn the passion for collecting that many children develop at this age into a special link between the two of you: for example, by adding a special doll or action figure or set of stamps.
For the complete article, go to http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/pl2.shtml
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thanksgiving Treats
Thanksgiving is this week! Below is a super cute treat idea to make with the kiddos.
Corny Cookies
Corny Cookies
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Vanilla frosting
- Green fruit leather
- M&M's or Reese's Pieces candies
- Instructions
- Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Working on a floured surface with one part at a time, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a knife, cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes or just until the edges brown. Let the cookies set on the sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frost the cooled cookies. Next, use kitchen shears to cut husks from the fruit leather to fit the sides of each cookie. Press the husks in place atop the frosting, with the tips down a bit. Now fill in the middle with candy kernels gently pressed into place. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.
For more recipes, check out http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/corny-cookies-685173/
- Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Nighty Night
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
We have all heard this saying at some point in our life. I am still personally working on the wealthy and wise portion of the saying, but when I get a good rest, I know that I feel a lot more healthy. If adults feel better getting enough sleep, then kids do to right? Lucky for the kids, they get to take naps, actually they are most of the time required to. This allows for them to get the rest they need, and give parents a break as well.
Toddlers still need about 10 hours of sleep a night plus a nap during the day. Research shows that at about 18 months children usually start napping just once a day. Only 25% of toddlers give up naps by the time they are three, and by the age 4, they quit napping.
Usually by 3 months a child has established a biological rhythm and parents can start developing a naptime pattern. (This didn't usually work for my children until they were 6 months old.) Timing meals and playtimes helps ensure that your child will be ready to nap when you want them to.
To help tired toddlers - and growing infants
- get the sleep they need, parents need to make nap time a comforting experience, says University of Cincinnati Pediatrician Caroline Mueller. "Make sure you have a pre-nap routine," Dr. Mueller says. "Lay the baby down calm and sleepy, but awake, from early on so that he can learn to put himself to sleep."
The entire article is found here :http://parenting.families.com/blog/toddlers-and-naptime
We have all heard this saying at some point in our life. I am still personally working on the wealthy and wise portion of the saying, but when I get a good rest, I know that I feel a lot more healthy. If adults feel better getting enough sleep, then kids do to right? Lucky for the kids, they get to take naps, actually they are most of the time required to. This allows for them to get the rest they need, and give parents a break as well.
Toddlers still need about 10 hours of sleep a night plus a nap during the day. Research shows that at about 18 months children usually start napping just once a day. Only 25% of toddlers give up naps by the time they are three, and by the age 4, they quit napping.
Usually by 3 months a child has established a biological rhythm and parents can start developing a naptime pattern. (This didn't usually work for my children until they were 6 months old.) Timing meals and playtimes helps ensure that your child will be ready to nap when you want them to.
To help tired toddlers - and growing infants
- get the sleep they need, parents need to make nap time a comforting experience, says University of Cincinnati Pediatrician Caroline Mueller. "Make sure you have a pre-nap routine," Dr. Mueller says. "Lay the baby down calm and sleepy, but awake, from early on so that he can learn to put himself to sleep."
The entire article is found here :http://parenting.families.com/blog/toddlers-and-naptime
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Baby Blues
Bringing a new baby home is supposed to be one of the most wonderful and happy time of a woman’s life. At least that’s what we are told to believe. While it is a miracle to have brought this little bundle of joy into the world, it isn’t as wonderful as it’s made out to be. Between the lack of sleep, the constant feedings, diaper changes, burping, not to mention the fact that you are body is still trying to heal from everything it went through. Add to that the hormones going completely out of control. Your life has changed a lot in just a few weeks. Your baby is not sleeping and you are not getting the rest that you are used to. Your energy is not what it used to be either. Try and rest when your baby rests. You may be tempted to hurry and get other things done, but sleep and your health are very important. Ask your family and friends to help with the baby or help around the house. If someone offers to help, take advantage of their offer. Talk about how you are feeling. Cry if you feel like crying. Fathers often feel overwhelmed also. A baby is an adjustment for everyone. However, if these feeling or “blues” last more than six weeks, be sure to tell your medical provider.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thankful
The Holiday season is in full swing and this month we get to celebrate Thanksgiving which reminds us to be thankful and aware of all of the blessings we see in our life. Teaching children how to be thankful and what it means to be grateful is in my opinion one of the biggest things we can teach them. I thought that there had to be a game that would help kids better understand gratitude, and below are some really fun ideas.
Thanksgiving Mission
This is a two part project.
First, have the children make a piece of stationary with their art supplies. These can be as simple as tracing their hand for a sweet background or more elaborate if time permits.
Second, have each child write a note/letter of "THANKS" to someone in their family and leave it on that persons pillow Thanksgiving morning. Children could also be encouraged to do a kind deed along with leaving the note, such as: make that persons bed, set the table, tell them that they love them. Kids can look forward to reporting on their "THANKSGIVING MISSION" when they return to school.
Gratitude Grab Bag
Make up cards, some that say "THANKSGIVING" and others that have a picture on them (no words) of things children may be thankful for. Each child takes a turn reaching into the bag and pulling out a card. If the card says "THANKSGIVING" the child should express something or someone they are thankful for (parents, teachers, pet, favorite food, etc.) If they pull out a picture they show it to all and then express why we should be thankful for that item (food, clothes, trees, grass, stores, cars, etc.). This game is especially fun for preschoolers and their expressions of gratitude are priceless. Jot them down and give a list to the parents or post for all to read.
Let us know if you have any ideas that tie in with Thanksgiving and we will add them to the blog! Enjoy!
Games taken from http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-party.html
Thanksgiving Mission
This is a two part project.
First, have the children make a piece of stationary with their art supplies. These can be as simple as tracing their hand for a sweet background or more elaborate if time permits.
Second, have each child write a note/letter of "THANKS" to someone in their family and leave it on that persons pillow Thanksgiving morning. Children could also be encouraged to do a kind deed along with leaving the note, such as: make that persons bed, set the table, tell them that they love them. Kids can look forward to reporting on their "THANKSGIVING MISSION" when they return to school.
Gratitude Grab Bag
Make up cards, some that say "THANKSGIVING" and others that have a picture on them (no words) of things children may be thankful for. Each child takes a turn reaching into the bag and pulling out a card. If the card says "THANKSGIVING" the child should express something or someone they are thankful for (parents, teachers, pet, favorite food, etc.) If they pull out a picture they show it to all and then express why we should be thankful for that item (food, clothes, trees, grass, stores, cars, etc.). This game is especially fun for preschoolers and their expressions of gratitude are priceless. Jot them down and give a list to the parents or post for all to read.
Let us know if you have any ideas that tie in with Thanksgiving and we will add them to the blog! Enjoy!
Games taken from http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-party.html
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Teething
image by bebemagico.com |
Babies teethe at different ages. They usually begin teething about four to five month of age. This will continue until
all of their baby teeth are in. The two bottom teeth usually come in first and then the four upper teeth.When your baby's teeth come in will most likely depend on when your own baby teeth came in. Fro many babies, teething can be very uncomfortable, There are a few thing that you can do to help your baby while teething. Let your baby chew on:
- A cold teething ring made of firm rubber
- Baby wash cloth that has been wet and put into the freezer
- Your clean finger (you can also rub their gum with your figures)
- Popsicle made of real fruit juice or ice pop
REMEMBER- Baby teeth are very important. Good dental health begins with those first teeth!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Communication
I recently had to teach a lesson about communication, and I thought it would be a great topic to write on here on the good old Help Me Grow blog. Many may feel that communication just involves talking and forget that there is another very important aspect, listening. People both talk and listen in very different ways, and when these ways do not fit together correctly, there is often confusion and misunderstanding. So I went to the wonderful world of Google to see if there was an effective way for parents to communicate with their child. I found a great article entitled 20 Ways To Talk So Your Kids Will Listen. I will just list a few of my favorite concepts below.
- Use your child's name. Your own name is music to your ears. Our kids are no different, plus it helps to get their attention before delivering your message. eg "George, please go and get……..". Young children can often only concentrate on one thing at a time. Call your child's name until you have their attention before you speak. Eg "Helen". (Wait until she stops kicking the ball and looks at you.) "Lunch will be ready in ten minutes".
- Use positive language – try not to being saying "no" or "don't" all of the time. There is no doubt that if we say "Don't drop that glass" or "No running inside" or "Don't drag your coat in the dirt" your child has that image and thought imbedded in their mind and more times than not, they will drop the glass! Instead, try to word what you want them to do. Eg "Only walking inside please" or "Hold onto that glass, it is a special one" or "Hold the coat up so it doesn't drag". This requires much thought and practice but is well worth the effort.
- Model and expect good manners – Good manners at home or anywhere shouldn't be optional. If you model good manners to your children and everyone else, they will see that good manners is expected and displayed on a consistent level. Start teaching your children to say the basics like "please" and "thank you" before they can talk. Children deserve the common courtesy of manners that adults use with each other. They will often imitate the speech and behaviour of their parents and carers. Say "please", "thank you" and "you're welcome" to your kids as you would anyone else.
To read the rest of the article, click http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/parenting/talk-to-kids-listen.shtml
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)