All4Baby » toddler development https://all4baby.co.za From Pregnancy to birth to baby and beyond. The place to find, chat, and share. Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:55:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=171 Video: What behaviour is normal for your toddler? https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/1228/video-behaviour-normal-toddler/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-behaviour-normal-toddler https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/1228/video-behaviour-normal-toddler/#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:51:10 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=1228 What behaviour should you expect from your toddler? Occupational Therapist, Kate Bailey fills moms in in this Pampers YouTube video.

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What is typical toddler behaviour?

Occupational Therapist and Pampers Institute Member, Kate Bailey fills us in in this Pampers YouTube video.

She says that if your baby is described as energetic, stubborn, impulsive or loud, then this is all normal.

Don’t overthink their busy behaviour and take comfort in the fact that your toddler’s brain is developing very quickly. The behaviour you might find worrisome today, will probably not be an issue in a couple of months.

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: Make homemade play dough for your baby’s development https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/1232/video-making-homemade-play-dough-babys-development/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-making-homemade-play-dough-babys-development https://all4baby.co.za/babies-6-12-months/learning-development/1232/video-making-homemade-play-dough-babys-development/#comments Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:53:44 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=1232 Occupational Therapist, Kate Bailey, shows how you can make homemade play dough in this Pampers YouTube video.

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The toys that your little one plays with will shape his or her development.

However, this doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy novelty items to enhance your child’s development. Instead, involve them in making their own toys.

Occupational Therapist, Kate Bailey, shows how you can make homemade play dough. The squashing and squeezing motion will help with fine motor skill development, plus it’s the perfect opportunity to encourage creative and imaginative play.

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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Toddler development: The benefits of reading https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/1182/toddler-development-benefits-reading/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toddler-development-benefits-reading https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/1182/toddler-development-benefits-reading/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:31:34 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=1182 Reading to your toddler provides you with an opportunity to focus on your toddler's intellectual, social and moral development. Embrace your inner child and make reading to your toddler a fun time of the day!

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“A book is a gift you can open again and again,” says Garrison Keillor, a famous American author – and most children would agree, especially if they can enjoy it on the laps of their parents.

Snuggling up, listening to your mom or dad read your favourite fairytale not only releases feel good hormones; it also helps you relax and fall asleep easily, creating wonderful memories of a childhood filled with love, fantasy and adventure.

The benefits of reading

This special moment of bonding between you and your toddler also provides you with an opportunity to focus on your toddler’s intellectual, social and ethical development.

While reading;

  • Talk about morals and values.
  • Develop critical thinking by posing questions for discussion.
  • Focus on new words, their meanings and how they are used in a story which will  help expand your toddler’s vocabulary.
  • Explain how punctuation works in making sense out of words.
  • Use rhythm and rhyme to stimulate your child’s brain.
  • Practice listening, concentration and comprehension skills as your toddler listens to find answers to questions you pose about the story, or to find out what happens to characters in the story.
  • Encourage your toddler to use his imagination to make predictions about what will happen next in the story, developing his creative thinking skills.
  • Teach your toddler to order his thoughts and focus on the sequence of events by asking him what happened first, second and next in the story.
  • Encourage a love of reading, setting your toddler up for success both at school and in life (research supports this fact).

Embrace your inner child

It doesn’t matter if you are not a great reader yourself, start with simple books and watch your own reading skills improve as you read to your child.

Embrace your inner child and make reading to your toddler a fun time of the day, rather than viewing it as a chore.

Toddlers like to read the same story over

Toddlers often want to read the same story over and over again because it provides consistency and predictability, which makes them feel secure. Be patient and let them get more involved in reading the story, especially over time.

It’s about more than just reading

Remember this special time of the day with your toddler is about more than just reading. It is a time for them to attach to you, especially if they have been separated from you all day.

As Katherine Patterson, a child author advises, “it is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading, something that will stretch their imaginations, something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own.”

Happy Reading!

About the Author: Claire Marketos www.inspiredparenting.co.za
 

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Music and dance may help your baby’s social skills https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/1157/music-dance-may-help-babys-social-skills/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=music-dance-may-help-babys-social-skills https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/1157/music-dance-may-help-babys-social-skills/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:41:58 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=1157 Now, start bouncing! Research says bouncing with the beat, and with others, encourages altruistic behavior in babies as young as 14 months.

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Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada have found that bouncing to a musical beat in time with others could instill helpfulness in babies.

Music affects social behaviour

While it has already been proven that people who move in time together in activities ranging from dancing to rowing a boat are likely to bond and work together, the McMaster study is believed to be the first to study the effects on babies.

“Moving in sync with others is an important part of musical activities,” says lead author and doctoral student Laura Cirelli. “These effects show that movement is a fundamental part of music that affects social behavior from a very young age.”

Bouncing to the beat

Researchers worked in pairs to bounce each baby in the study, which tested a total of 68 babies.

When the music started playing, one researcher bounced the baby in a forward facing carrier, while the other researcher stood facing the baby and the person holding him.

The pairs of researchers bounced either in sync or at a different tempo, depending upon whether they were in the test or control group.

When the music stopped, subjects were given a classical test of child altruism in which the researcher who had been facing him would pretend to accidentally drop an object to see if the baby would help him.

The babies who had been bounced in sync with the researcher across from them were 20 percent more likely to help than those bounced offbeat.

Rhythm an essential part of learning

Cirelli believes her findings are significant towards building a more cooperative social climate and that singing, clapping and dancing in time to music should be an essential part of developmental learning.

Moving forward, Cirelli is now working on a project to determine whether the babies’ bouncing-inspired helpfulness extends to others, or if it is geared solely towards his bouncing partner.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of Developmental Science.

(AFP Relaxnews)

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How does your bilingual toddler learn words? New research sheds light https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/893/bilingual-toddler-learn-words-new-research-sheds-light/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bilingual-toddler-learn-words-new-research-sheds-light https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/893/bilingual-toddler-learn-words-new-research-sheds-light/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2014 07:48:25 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=893 Research suggests that tots learn new words best from adults who share their language experience, regardless of how many languages they speak.

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At an age where learning similar-sounding words can be challenging, research says children learn best from people who share their linguistic experience, regardless of whether they are mono or multilingual.

Parents raising children to be multilingual often worry about whether the abundance and variety of language can hinder the learning process. But a new study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Development suggests that efficient language learning is just a question of being paired with the right teacher.

Having observed subtle differences between the ways in which monolingual and bilingual infants pick up similar sounding words, Christopher Fennell from the University of Ottawa and Krista Byers-Heinlein from Concordia University, both in Canada, based their study upon the various households in which their infant subjects were being raised.

The parents’ status as mono or multilingual was connected to the infants’ ability to learn.

Adults who grew up speaking more than one language possess a subtle accent in each. Often undetectable by other adults, this accent is more obvious to children.

To answer the question as to whether monolingual children learn best from monolingual parents and the same for bilinguals, Fennel and Byers-Heinlin worked with 61 monolingual anglophone and English-French bilingual 17-month-olds.

It is well known that tots learn words easily, although they often have trouble differentiating between similar-sounding words at this stage, regardless of their mono or multilingual status.

In the study, the children were taught two nonsense words by an adult whose language background matched or opposed their own, depending on the group in which they were placed.

The results of the two groups were compared and tests concluded that monolingual children learn words most efficiently from monolinguals and bilinguals learn best for bilinguals.

“We found that all infants, regardless of whether they are learning one or two languages, learn words best when listening to people who sound like their primary caregivers,” Fennell explains. “Monolingual infants succeeded with a monolingual speaker, bilingual infants with a bilingual speaker, but each group had difficulty with the opposite speaker.”

Earlier this year, Byers-Heinlin was involved in a study that suggests bilingual children prefer native speakers of their respective languages, viewing people who speak with accents as outsiders.

(AFP Relaxnews)

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Business and Arts South Africa Partners with Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon to inspire creativity in Children https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/834/business-arts-south-africa-partners-nestle-smarties-box-thon-inspire-creativity-children/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=business-arts-south-africa-partners-nestle-smarties-box-thon-inspire-creativity-children https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/learning-development-1-2-years/834/business-arts-south-africa-partners-nestle-smarties-box-thon-inspire-creativity-children/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:26:36 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=834 Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), an association intent on the promotion of mutually beneficial, equitable and sustainable business-arts partnerships, has partnered with Nestlé SMARTIES in its annual Box-a-thon.

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The competition seeks to stimulate children’s imaginations, challenge their creativity and inspire a new generation of smart kids by inviting them to build an “out of this world” model using SMARTIES boxes.

A Whole New World

BASA Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Constant believes that art is crucial to the development of a child who feels whole and she says, “Arts and culture inspire creative thinking in adults and drive a level of social capital, humanity and imagination. With this in mind, it makes sense that art should take its rightful place as a key component in the education of our children.”

“The arts help link children to their humanity as they learn to the see the ‘other’ in their world. Through theatre or dance, by way of example, young people are introduced to worlds that are not their own, and they learn to see the differences and similarities giving them a much needed sense of empathy.”

“Parents can play an important role in their children’s art education. Art classes in the afternoon, bedtime stories, nature walks, visits to art galleries and even a fun initiative like the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon can do much to open a child’s mind and inspire their creative and imaginative thinking process,” adds Constant.

A Sense of Fun and Play

As a member of the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon judging panel, Constant admits that she’ll be looking for confirmation that entrants let their imaginations run wild and that above all, they had fun. From a SMARTIES breathing dragon to an extra-terrestrial creature from another planet, children are invited to be as creative as they wish as they engage with this “Out of this World” competition. “We’re not looking for a perfect artist; we’re looking for passion and imagination,” says Constant.

Art in the South African Context

“The arts have such an important place in our country and can do much to drive our economy. Artists are never in decline, but sadly our audiences are and as parents we have the power to change that. By teaching our children that by embracing the arts they can enjoy a sense of fun, quirkiness and even caring that can only enrich their lives, we can ensure that the arts retain their rightful place in South African society,” concludes Constant.

9Bring the arts right into your home with the Nestlé SMARTIES Box-a-Thon.  Once their out of this world model has been completed, children need simply to take a photograph of their inspired design and upload their pic onto www.SMARTIES.co.za. One winner will be the lucky recipient of a family holiday for four to Orlando, Florida in the USA. Runner-up prizes include a Kindly Fire HD tablet with fun and educational games, as well as clothing vouchers to the value of R1 500.

The competition starts on April 15th and ends June 30th 2014. Winners will be announced on August 8th, 2014 on www.SMARTIES.co.za. Terms and conditions can be found on the website.

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Toddler development: Your Nursery School tips! https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/creche-childcare/772/toddler-development-going-nursery-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toddler-development-going-nursery-school https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/creche-childcare/772/toddler-development-going-nursery-school/#comments Tue, 27 May 2014 08:53:27 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=772 Enrolling your toddler in a Nursery School is a big step in your toddler's development. Toddler Sense Author, Ann Richardson shares some transition tips.

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One of the biggest steps in your toddler’s development, is enrolling her in nursery school.

The modern trend is to enrol your toddler at a nursery school from three or four years of age. She may have attended a playschool from an earlier age, or may have been happy and content at home with you until now.

While most playschools focus mostly on socializing and playing (for younger toddlers), nursery schools differ in that learning takes place in a more formal and structured way.

Many nursery schools have separate classes or sections for different age groups, so try to find one that will allow for your child’s progress without having to move her unnecessarily.

Follow your gut

Trust your instinct when looking for a school, and decide whether the school will suit you and your toddler’s needs with regards to accessibility, safety and hygiene and quality of teaching and care.

Transition tips

If your toddler has never been to playschool, starting nursery school may be the first time that she will be separating from you, so expect her to feel anxious and apprehensive. Try these few tips to ease the transition for both of you!

  • Trust your instinct – if you don’t get a good ‘feel’ – don’t enroll your child if you have other options.
  • Visit the school beforehand – take your toddler there a few times beforehand to familiarise her with the new surroundings.
  • If possible, find a playmate who attends the same school beforehand – it always helps to see a familiar face.
  • Teach your toddler some independence beforehand – let her get used to being separated from you for a few hours each day before “D” day.
  • Let her walk, don’t carry her in – the wrench at crunch time will be difficult for both of you to handle.
  • Distract her as you are arriving and walking in – say, “Wow! Look at that nice swing! Let’s go and try it out.”
  • Don’t linger – be firm and encouraging. Tell her that she is safe and loved, then leave.
  • Try not to be late in picking her up – it is not fair if all the other kids have gone home and your little one is wondering where you are.
  • Be confident and positive – if you are, so will your toddler.
  • Trust the teacher – once you are happy with your decision about your toddler’s school and her teacher, allow the teachers to take control whilst your child is in their care.

When to keep your toddler at home

If your child is still anxious, clingy and cries inconsolably when you leave her at nursery school and after two to three weeks is showing no signs of improvement, consider keeping her at home for a while and trying again later. In some cases, a change of school may be necessary. If the problem persists, consider a psychological assessment.

Extra-murial activities

You may be feeling pressurised to enrol your child in every extra-mural activity on offer. Stimulation in the form of gym, swimming, music, karate, ballet or modern dancing can be most beneficial for your child, but beware of over-scheduling your child.

Choose her extra mural activities with care, bearing in mind your child’s temperament and personality, as well as being aware of the hazards of over-stimulation.

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Your toddler is not slow, she is just shy! https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/527/toddler-slow-just-shy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toddler-slow-just-shy https://all4baby.co.za/toddlers-1-2-years/parenting-a-toddler/527/toddler-slow-just-shy/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2014 10:30:33 +0000 https://all4baby.co.za/?p=527 New research has emerged that may comfort parents who fret that their toddler has delayed or deficient language skills. Because really, they could just be shy.

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After evaluating 816 toddlers in Colorado, researchers from the University of Colorado and the University of Connecticut concluded that just because children were less verbally responsive, it wasn’t for lack of comprehension.

They understood what was being said and were capable of speech, but were merely reluctant to respond.

“Our findings suggest that inhibited behaviors like shyness don’t hamper language acquisition overall but instead relate specifically to how toddlers express themselves through words,” the researchers say.

For their study, published in Child Development, researchers asked parents of 816 children to file reports on their children’s language progress at home, at 14, 20 and 24 months.

Scientists also evaluated the children at home and during lab visits, by asking them questions and gauging their comprehension and speech skills.

The findings showed that girls showed higher levels of shyness and language skills compared to boys.

To encourage shy children, researchers suggest trying to develop self-confidence, social skills and independence. One easy way is to arrange for playdates with other toddlers.

Better yet, enrolling tots in preschool has been shown to be a highly effective way of speeding up their language skills, particularly when they’re learning with older, more developed kids.

Another study out of Ohio State University found that preschool children with poor language skills showed marked improvement when they were placed in classrooms with higher-achieving classmates.

(Relaxnews)

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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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