Everyone
loves babies and young children and all parents feel that
their children are special; and they are right. According
to the authors of "The Scientist In The Crib", "…the brains
of babies and young children are "the most powerful learning
machines in the universe. "
Babies
and young children are like little sponges that learn at an
astonishing rate of speed. They are learning and integrating
skills faster in the first years than they will be at any
other time in their lives. It has also been said that personality
traits and values are established by the age of six.
Knowing
all of this, what can parents do to help their children get
the most out of this special time? The answer: Parents have
many options to help children grow.
Read
to your child. Expose your child to developmentally appropriate
activities. Give them lots of opportunities to socialize.
Select activities that reinforce and build on prior learning.
Choose activities that engage both the body and the mind.
Don't compare your child to other children or expect a certain
level of accomplishment in activities.
When
should these activities begin? Reading to a child and playing
music can begin at birth. The sound of a parent's voice is
soothing to a child and having music playing at home or in
the car is stimulating. There are Kindermusik classes for
children from birth to three that incorporate music with learning.
A popular new class offering is sign-language for babies.
Communication between parent and child can begin even before
a child's verbal language skills are developed.
Toddlers
aged two and three also have the option of "dance" or "movement"
or "gymnastics" classes, often taken with a parent. These
classes also incorporate music, but emphasize physical development
and control. Large and small motor skills, balance and social
interaction all combined and disguised as just plain fun to
the children. Pre-math and pre-reading skills are also integrated
into these dance activities.
A
variety of sensory experiences stimulate imagination. Children
use acquired knowledge to solve problems in new and different
ways. Classes for dance and music from age four to seven can
build on early exposure or provide stimulation to learning
by addressing the various styles of learning of different
children. Music, dance and even art are readily available
for children beyond the age of seven.
Story
times at libraries and bookstores introduce children to reading
and encourage imagination. Activities and socialization help
to make this diversion a popular one with youngsters. These
types of activities can help to establish a lifelong love
of reading.
