All4Baby » baby milestones https://all4baby.co.za From Pregnancy to birth to baby and beyond. The place to find, chat, and share. Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:58:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=192 Baby development: Can you teach your baby to read? https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/1062/baby-development-can-teach-baby-read/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baby-development-can-teach-baby-read https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/1062/baby-development-can-teach-baby-read/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:10:49 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=1062 Many parents use materials designed to teach their babies to read, but do they work?

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Some parents want to get a jump-start on their children’s education, using DVDs and other materials to teach infants how to read. However, researchers at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development have found such attempts are in vain.

Educational materials used to determine ability

For the study, published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, researchers examined 117 babies, aged nine to 18 months.

One group was provided with educational materials in the form of a baby media product, including DVDs, word and picture flashcards, and flip books to be used daily over a seven-month period.

The other group received no materials. Assorted tests were used to determine the babies’ ability to “recognize letter names, letter sounds, vocabulary, words identified on sight, and comprehension.”

Products shown to have no effect

The end of the experiment showed no difference between the group that had the materials and the one that didn’t.

Although educational DVDs and similar products were shown to have virtually no effect, they do seem to have an effect on parents.

Parents have confidence in products

“It’s clear that parents have great confidence in the impact of these products on their children,” says lead study author Susan Neuman, a professor in NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Teaching and Learning. “However, our study indicates this sentiment is misplaced.”

Used to encourage cognitive development

While babies exposed to educational DVDs may not to learn to read any faster, it’s still possible to encourage cognitive development. A 2012 study by researchers at North Dakota State University and Texas A&M found that babies who sit up — either alone or with assistance — will reap the most reward from educational toys and videos.

(AFP Relaxnews)

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VIDEO:Why walking is one of your baby’s biggest developmental milestones https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/milestones/944/videowhy-walking-one-babys-biggest-developmental-milestones/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=videowhy-walking-one-babys-biggest-developmental-milestones https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/milestones/944/videowhy-walking-one-babys-biggest-developmental-milestones/#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 08:51:10 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=944 Movement is one of your baby's biggest developmental milestones. A Development Specialist shares insight in this Pampers YouTube video.

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Movement is considered to be one of the biggest achievements of your baby’s developmental milestones. This is because whenever babies learn to sit, crawl or roll, they are also developing their brain at the same time.

Development Specialist, Melodie de Jager believes that walking is the “Graduation Day” of movement and every other milestone until then is just baby learning at University.

So moms, make sure you keep your babies moving!

Watch the YouTube video for more.

Helpful advice and tips from the Pampers® Institute are available at www.Pampers.co.za and on www.youtube.com/PampersZA . Receive emails with information tailored to your baby’s age by subscribing at www.Pampers.co.za/registration and connect with us at www.facebook.com/PampersSA

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VIDEO: Encourage your baby’s social development with these tips https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/916/video-encourage-babys-social-development-tips/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-encourage-babys-social-development-tips https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/916/video-encourage-babys-social-development-tips/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:35:19 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=916 Your baby's social development plays an important role in school readiness. An Occupational Therapist shares her tips on how to encourage this part of your baby's development.

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Encouraging your baby’s social development is a big step towards school readiness, believes Occupational Therapist and Pampers Institute Member, Kate Bailey.

Bailey’s tips include observing your child’s behaviour and responding in a productive way with loving touches and encouraging words.

Watch the Pamper’s YouTube video for more tips on how to assist your baby’s social development.

Helpful advice and tips from the Pampers® Institute are available at www.Pampers.co.za and on www.youtube.com/PampersZA . Receive emails with information tailored to your baby’s age by subscribing at www.Pampers.co.za/registration and connect with us at www.facebook.com/PampersSA

 

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Maximise your baby’s learning potential https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/333/maximise-babys-learning-potential/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=maximise-babys-learning-potential https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/333/maximise-babys-learning-potential/#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2014 07:18:47 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=333 Many parents spend time focusing on the nutritional side of things. What are you doing to stimulate the growth of your baby’s brain?

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As a parent, you always want to make sure that you give your children the best possible start in life.

The early years of a child’s life are critical for future learning. Do you know that the latest Harvard research indicates that between birth and four years of age, brain development is at its optimum function?

Why then, are we not taking advantage of this period? Maybe the question is rather, how do we take advantage of this period?

The window of opportunity

“At BrainBoosters we capitalise on the first four years of a baby’s life. We call this period “the window of opportunity” – during this period, babies are able to absorb information, making all learning effortless, “says BrainBoosters Co-founder and Head of Product Development, Karina Strydom.

Colours, shapes and numbers

The BrainBoosters methodology is focused on introducing concepts such as colours, shapes and numbers to children from the time they are born. “Our methodology is based on introducing colours, shapes and numbers in isolation. Our parenting programme allows parents to interact with their children, while teaching these important concepts, “says Karina.

According to The Scientific American Mind, children who learn their colours, shapes and numbers earlier tend to do better at school.  “Colours, shapes and numbers are all around us. These concepts form part of a vital foundation that is needed in order for future learning to take place, “says Karina.

What is so special about these concepts? Why are they important for kids to learn? According to research, colour is not in itself a mathematical concept, but is used in activities such as sorting, matching, grouping and classifying. The ability to recognise and discern the difference between shapes is necessary to see physical differences between objects.

“We teach children ten shapes with our method. Recognising the difference between a hexagon and a pentagon will help children to distinguish between a “b” and a “d” and a “6 “and a “9”,” says Karina.

A simple process centred on play

This might seem really complicated to teach to a baby, but it really is a very simple process. “All our programmes are centred on play. We believe that learning is child’s play and have created products and activities that facilitate active engagement between parent and child, while important concepts are being learnt” says Karina.

For more information on Brain Boosters, visit: www.brainboosters.co.za

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Let your baby and tot develop through messy play https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/296/let-baby-tot-develop-messy-play/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=let-baby-tot-develop-messy-play https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/296/let-baby-tot-develop-messy-play/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2014 08:33:45 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=296 Your baby or tot is never too young to be introduced to messy play. The benefits of messy play are countless and form an essential part of a child’s learning process.

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Spending time outdoors and making what might look like a mess, is the ideal learning situation for your little one. During messy play, babies and toddlers develop crucial hand eye coordination and fine motor skills, amongst other things.

Geoffrey Holtes, brand manager for the baby skincare brand, Krayons, says that babies and small children should be encouraged to explore a variety of materials and textures while at play. “Free and creative play is not only fun for the child, but also stimulates the senses and develops a rounded tactile awareness. Of course, you still need to be mindful of what is safe for your child”

Keeping the fun outdoors helps to ensure that the mess is easily mopped up, but cleaning your little one might take a little longer! Geoffrey says that there are a range of bathtime products that are specifically developed to assist in keeping babies and tots clean and moisturised, especially after an afternoon in the garden.

Those that leave a baby’s skin soft and smooth, protecting it from dryness throughout the day or night are ideal.

When bathtime is over, remember to pat your baby’s skin down with a soft towel and once dry, apply a layer of Aqueous cream over your baby’s body. Don’t forget to apply a generous layer of petroleum jelly before securing the nappy.

For more information on Krayons products visit KrayonsBabies on Facebook.

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