All4Baby » toddler milestones https://all4baby.co.za From Pregnancy to birth to baby and beyond. The place to find, chat, and share. Thu, 17 Jul 2014 08:06:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=171 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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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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