Learning To Talk

Is your baby’s cooing and babbling the beginning of baby conversation? You betcha. And guess who he’ll be talking to? Here’s looking (and cooing!) at you, Mom.

Baby’s First Sounds
Sometime between the first few weeks and the second month, a baby begins making vowel sounds, experimenting with the sound of his voice and what his mouth, tongue, and throat can do. He may start with breathy and seemingly random sounds, but you’ll soon notice these sounds are directed at an audience — you, a favorite stuffed animal, the mobile in his crib, or even his own reflection. Within a few weeks to months he’ll add laughs, squeals, and a few consonants to his repertoire. Here’s a closer look at baby’s vocal timeline (remember that this is just an average of when most babies begin vocalizing):

• By six weeks to three months old: vowel sounds, cooing, and gurgling
• By three and a half months old: laughing out loud
• By four and a half months old: squealing and some consonants (a-ga, a-ba, a-da)
• By six months old: singsong strings of consonants (da-da-da-da-da)
• By eight months old: double consonants (da-da, ma-ma, ha-ha) without association
• Between ten and 14 months: first real word (or words!)

If your baby doesn’t hit this general guideline — say he doesn’t start saying consonants until after eight months, for example — don’t be alarmed. But if he’s consistently way behind these language milestones despite your best efforts, or is having trouble responding when you say his name or talk to him, speak to the pediatrician. He may need a hearing evaluation or other tests.

Talking to Your Baby

For babies, learning to talk is a two-way street: You talk, he mimics you (or at least mimics the sounds he hears), and you continue the “conversation.” But is there a right way to talk to your baby? “Parentese” — that high-pitched, singsong way of speaking — comes easily to some parents, while others may feel a little self-conscious. The good news? As long as you’re talking, your baby is listening. So no matter how you engage your little one (whether it’s “Whose cute itty-bitty toes are these?” or “Look at these cute toes!”), your baby will benefit.

Of course, his verbal ability will develop more quickly if you make a conscious effort to talk to him even when he’s a newborn (even though it’ll seem as if you’re talking to yourself!). So, for example, if you’re taking your baby to your parents’ house, you could say, “Do you know where we’re going? To Grandma’s house! Let’s bring your teddy to Grandma’s!” This will help you get into the habit of talking to your little one, even if he can’t understand everything (at first!).

In fact, any conversation — between you and your partner, even your end of a cell-phone chat — can serve as an impromptu language lesson for baby. He’ll pick up almost as much from secondhand dialogue as he will when he’s getting all your attention. But when you are talking to your baby, don’t be afraid to give him a chance to answer — even if it’s a coo, giggle, gurgle, or sigh rather than words. Studies show that babies whose parents talk with them rather than at them learn to talk earlier.

Need more ideas for kicking off baby conversation? Let your imagination run free. Tell your little one stories from your childhood, give him some guided tours as you go on your strolls (even if it’s just to the kitchen to get a snack), give him a blow-by-blow of your favorite movies. Just keep chatting, commenting on things around you, and asking questions, and one day your baby will surprise you by answering!

When will my baby walk?

Most babies take their first steps around their first birthday, but the age range varies from 9 to 18 months. Don't worry if your baby takes a few detours along the way. Some kids never crawl  -- they go straight from standing to walking  -- and that's perfectly normal. What's important at this stage is that your child is using arms and legs together to become mobile. If your child is doing any of the following, walking is not far behind:

• Rolling around
• Crab walking
• Scooting
• Climbing stairs using his hands

Look at your child's progress. Is he doing more this month than last month? Is he getting a little bit more of his body off the ground? If so, you've got nothing to worry about. If by the end of his first year he doesn't make any effort to get around somehow, talk to your doctor.

How to encourage walking

It takes most babies about 1,000 hours of practice from the time they pull themselves upright to the time they can walk alone. To help prepare your child for taking those first few steps:
From birth:
The single most important requirement for walking: strong back muscles, which babies develop by lifting their heads while lying on their tummies. So make sure yours gets plenty of tummy time while awake. Place interesting toys and objects just out of reach for motivation.
Once she can sit:
Help her practice her balance and mobility by rolling a ball back and forth with her. Or hold a toy in front of her and move it from side to side, which will encourage her to lean this way and that. As she lunges forward or crawls, she'll develop more strength in her neck, back, legs, and arms, as well as more control of her hips  -- enabling her to pull herself up to a standing position  -- and safely plop down again.
Once she can stand:
Let her walk in front of you while you hold her hands  -- and periodically let go of one hand so she can experiment with balance. Or stand a few feet away from her and cheer her on when she's standing on her own. Offer lots of encouragement and praise.
Once she can cruise:
After she has mastered standing, she may start to leave her handprints all over the house as she cruises from the wall to a chair to the coffee table. Help her by arranging sturdy furniture so she can make her way across the room. She may not yet be able to sit from a standing position, which she'll want to learn to do before walking on her own. Be close by so you can help ease her butt down with your hand; then she'll be able to sit without hurting her bottom.

Managing Kids' Behaviour in Schools - Let's Bring in the Army

Big news - the headlines say it all... It's now official - kids' behaviour in schools is so out of control that now, when the lot that aren't in power yet are elected into power (they're hoping!) there are ground breaking plans to put ex-soldiers into schools to tackle problem behaviour.
Mr. Government Official says, trying to sound convincing, 'There's nothing more important than getting discipline right in schools and to give teachers back their powers to discipline children'.
So for this to happen they're going to enlist the Army - ex-soldiers.
This actually has an element of sense to it. Action has to be taken to restore discipline in schools - in homes and throughout society too! No doubt ex-professional soldiers would be very able candidates for carrying this out. They'll apparently be fast tracked through the qualification and training aspect of teaching. This presents its own problems but hey, a bit of goalpost moving will get around that!
What's the problem with this idea?
Well, doesn't it imply that present teachers, teaching assistants and the hordes of others who are employed schools aren't up to the job of disciplining kids? Is it implying that only hulking great ex-soldiers can manage behaviour? Are the vast numbers of fairly petite female soldiers included in the plans? Will they be included in the mix of ex-army teachers who will take on the responsibility of controlling and disciplining kids in schools?
Not that there's anything against hulking great soldiers - or the petite ones, either - that's absolutely not the case. All in Civvy Street have absolute respect and admiration for the work of army personnel. Their commitment and bravery is beyond reproach. Few people could do what they do - greater courage would be very hard to find.
The fact is though that there are men in teaching posts at present who have the physical presence of soldiers. And, of course there are also great numbers of fairly small female teachers as well...
The question then... What is it that differentiates ex-soldiers and those presently in the teaching profession many who are failing to manage kids' behaviour?
To cut to the chase, it's down to each individual teacher's attitudes and expectations. Plus the amount of worthwhile training they've received in behaviour management. Army personnel are disciplined and have extremely high personal expectations and also of all those they work with. Without this they wouldn't survive.
Why can't present teachers manage kids' behaviour then? It may not be a popular observation but it's largely down to lack of will and energy. They'll moan about the kids and about their behaviour but really don't do very much to alter the situation they find themselves in. There's an element of 'learned helplessness' among many present teachers. They're full of all the things they can't do - so negative and defeated even before they meet any problems.
Of course, it's appreciated that things are difficult in today's classrooms. There is endless government interference and constant change, most of which is totally unnecessary and irrelevant.
It's also appreciated that teachers have inadequate behaviour management training. They're given so much conflicting advice - even if it didn't conflict a most of it would still be ineffective! Many believe they haven't the right to discipline kids in schools. Have you ever noticed that the advice givers are extremely reluctant to demonstrate their strategies by actually teaching in a classroom? Perish the thought! They just talk about advice but it's not coupled with much action, if any at all...
The fact is that adults everywhere have got to change their attitude towards kids and their behaviour! They've got to get a grip and stop putting up with the appalling behaviour kids throw out endlessly... Things can't be allowed to continue as they are.
Teachers (and parents) have to free themselves of the culture of learned helplessness where they convince themselves that they can't do anything about tackling kids' appalling behaviour.
Even if you have a disciplined soldier teaching a class before you have to teach them, you've still got to learn to manage their behaviour yourself... No-one can do it for you. Unfortunately that's the truth - kids soon recognise if you're unable to manage their behaviour and many will take pleasure in making your life a misery as a consequence.
So, the bottom line is that it's the soldier's attitude and approach to discipline that's needed and not necessarily the soldier himself or herself!
A further point is that the government proposal refers only to older senior school students who need the ex-soldier teachers' approach. I'm sorry, Mr Government Officials but effective behaviour management strategies need to be used long before kids get to senior age otherwise you're really asking for trouble!

Liz Marsden is a highly experienced teacher and successful behaviour management expert who works with children demonstrating extreme and challenging behaviour in their schools and homes. Liz uses her skills every day in her classes and also trains teachers, student teachers, teaching assistants and parents to deal with children's behaviour confidently and effectively.
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worried about your child??

A:  The most important first step in preparing your daughter for going to child care is to ensure that you've selected a place that's right for her. For example, if your child gets easily overwhelmed when there's a lot going on around her, it would probably be best for her to be in a center where the classes are small, or in a family child-care setting. In general, it's best for young children to be in settings where caregivers adapt schedules to allow kids to eat and sleep based on their own daily rhythms, are sensitive and responsive to the individual needs of each child, welcome parent involvement, and provide you with information about your child on a daily basis. When you feel comfortable about the care your child will be receiving, it's much easier to share that confidence and enthusiasm with your daughter.

Once you've selected the best care for your child, there are some things you can do to get her off to a good start:

Plan some brief and then incrementally longer separations so that she learns she can be safe and well cared for by loving adults other than you. This is especially important if your daughter hasn't spent much time with other caregivers during her first year.

Take her to the child-care setting several times before her first day to help her become familiar with it. The unknown is often what's most scary. Let her explore the classroom and outside play area and interact with the caregivers and children.

Read books with her about going to child care and dealing with separations.  Owl Babies by Martin Waddell is a good choice for her age.

Play disappearing/reappearing games such as peekaboo and hide-and-seek to help her understand that while things and people may go away, they come back. Emphasize the message that "Mommy may go away, but Mommy always comes back."

Make an audiotape of yourself reading stories and singing songs for your child to listen to at child care (if that's allowed) when she misses you. Or give her a picture of you and other family members—even the family pet—to look at when she's sad. Ask the caregivers if your daughter can keep these photos in her cubby or somewhere else that's easily accessible.

Don't forget Teddy.  If the child care center allows, let your daughter bring a lovey—a blanket, doll, or stuffed animal—that gives her comfort and is a connection to home.

On your child's first day, when it's time for you to leave her, don't linger or show worry. Children look to the trusted adults in their lives for cues on how to respond to new situations. When we look and act worried and upset, our children naturally think there's something to be worried and upset about and are likely to have a harder time separating. Studies actually show that when parents say a brief, upbeat good-bye, their children stop crying and adjust more quickly.

If you are really worried about how your child is faring without you, some child care centers have observation rooms with one-way mirrors where you can watch for a few moments before leaving for work. Or give the center a brief call, just to be reassured that your daughter is doing fine.

Most important: Don't be tempted to sneak out without saying good-bye, hoping that it will ease the transition. Your child experiences this as a breach of trust. Sneaking out also sends the message that you feel you're doing something wrong by leaving her. Instead, give her the clear message that she'll be fine, and that you look forward to seeing her when you come back.

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Do and Don'ts of Potty Training

Parents would agree that toilet training their children is important and yet many are unsure what the right age is for staring the training. To begin with there is no specific right age for the same. Not all kids are same and therefore, the right age for toilet training will also vary.

The training process should be gradual - keeping pace with your child's development. Knowing when your child is ready for the training is very important. Some kids learn sooner but others may take longer to develop the understanding. Girls tend to learn faster than boys, respectively 29 months and 31 months. But at the end readiness of your child is the most important factor.

Some signs that your child is ready to be potty trained are:

• Ability to walk to the bathroom or pull down pants all by herself when needed
• Developing understanding of toilet related words and ability to communicate when to go
• Ability to express through facial expression/ gestures when to urinate
• Showing interest on toilet and how others are using it

Encourage your child but never push him until he is ready to be trained. Patience is the key. Forcing your child will end in their resisting your effort making it wholesome a bad business. Often it comes naturally to kids and sometimes it may take several weeks and many accidents before the task is finally accomplished.

Growing a habit is very important. It will also set their body clock. Another thing to remember is that even when a child is potty trained and doesn't require diaper during day time they may still need it during night to avoid accidental cases of bedwetting.

You can now shop for cute training potties, these are colorful and bright and sometime come in the shape of your child's favorite cartoon character, for your child. These are often the best and the safest ways to get your child comfortable in using it. Start by putting the potty in convenient location such as living room. This way it will look less intimidating.

Put your child on training pants. These are specially manufactured to help kids learn wet from dry and when it is the time to go.

Toilet training is a parental milestone. Many parents get worried if their children don't learn to go to the toilet when they have to go before reaching their second birthday. But don't panic if your child doesn't learn it faster. Try to take things easy and help your child learn through encouragement and support.

i personally feel this video teaches a lot

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