Family and Parenting: Information For Families

When it comes to infants, cognitive development involves learning process of language, memory, thinking, and reasoning. At this stage of life, a baby is learning to recognize your voice. He or she is also  learning to focus vision. Until this point, a baby’s vision stemmed from the periphery or the corner of the eyes. Now, the baby is learning to use the center of the eye. Further, language development progresses at this point. Babies move away to the babble and to more defined words for objects. At this point the baby starts bonding with you and trusting you. The way you hold and interact with your baby will determine how he or she will interact with you and other people.

Follow these tips on raising an infant to ensure that you are providing your child with what he or she needs.

1. Read to the baby. This promotes the development and understanding of sounds and languages.
2. Talk to the baby. Your voice soothes the child.
3. Sing to the baby. Your voice and melodies are relaxing.
4. Play music for the baby. This assists the child develop a love for music and math.
5. Hold and cuddle the baby. This adds a sense of security and care.
6. Give the baby plenty of love and attention.
7. Respond to the sounds the baby makes by repeating them and adding more words. This helps the infant develop language skills.
8. Play with the baby when he or she is awake and comfortable. This is the most effective time.
9. Make sure that you take care of yourself. An alert and happy parent is what the baby needs.

Your baby’s safety is very important. Parents might mean well, but their actions may be dangerous at times. Here are some tips on raising an infant in a safe and secure environment.

1. Do not shake your newborn. The neck muscles of newborns are very fragile. They cannot support their heads. Shaking of the baby may result in brain damage and delayed development.
2. Put your baby to sleep on his or her back, in order to prevent the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
3. When you are holding your baby, do not carry hot liquids, food, or other substances. Baby skin is very soft and fragile.
4. When your infant is old enough to eat, cut his or her food into very small bites.
5. Do not give your baby access to things that he or she may use to cover his or her face or accidentally swallow.
6. Whenever your infant rides in a car, place him or her in a car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Children who are less than a year old or lighter than 20 pounds should face the rear of the car.
7. Make sure that your child receives proper immunizations shots. This is critical for his or her safety and health, as children as prone to develop serious illnesses. Your health care provider will let you know what you need to do in terms of the childhood immunizations.

Toddlers are increasingly mobile at the ages of one and two. They move around by crawling, walking, or running, and it can be difficult trying to catch up with them. Further, their mental development is under rapid growth. If you have a toddler, you will notice that he or she will increasingly be aware of surroundings. Exploring objects will be on a rise, as will the exploration of other people. The child will be more independent and start showing signs of defiance. Temper tantrums are common at this stage, as your curious child might not be able to express his or her needs properly. The frustration will lead to these outbursts. The best thing you can do is to detect an upcoming tantrum and try to distract your child.

Further, between the ages of one and two, a toddler will also imitate others’ behavior, especially those of adults and older kids. Therefore, it is very important to be a good example to your child. He or she will be able to recognize names of familiar objects and people, form simple sentences and phrases, and follow easy directions. The child will also be able to recognize his or her image in a photograph or mirror.

During this stage of development, make sure to be a positive influence on your child. Work on building his or her vocabulary and speech. Further, promote exploration and discovery. A toddler is rather curious, so make sure you do your best to encourage mental growth. These tips will help you out:

1. Ask your child to find objects around the house.
2. Play matching games with him or her.
3. Read to your toddler on a daily basis.
4. Ask your child to name face and body parts.
5. Encourage exploration of things that surround him or her.
6. Promote language development by talking with the child.
7. Introduce the toddler to new things.
8. Take the child to visits to the park, where he or she can recognize common objects and explore curiosity.
9. Show enthusiasm and delight every time your toddler shows you something.
10. Avoid stimulation overload. Your child should not reach a state of not being able to deal with the external stimuli.

Since a toddler is very mobile, he or she is prone to dangerous situations, falls, and slips. To ensure the safety of your child, remember the following:

1. Place plug covers on unused electrical outlets.
2. Keep pens and sharp objects away from the child’s reach.
3. Lock away poisons, household cleaners, and medicines.
4. Keep household electrical and kitchen appliances away from toddler.
5. Turn handles of pots toward the back of stove.
6. Do not leave the child alone in the car.
7. Use a small gate to block off the staircase.
8. Keep the garage and basement doors locked.
9. Place latches on cabinets.
10. Secure doorknobs with childproof covers.
11. Use wall anchors to keep large pieces of furniture from tipping over.

Toddlers who are two to three years old are all about freedom and exploration. With improved motor skills that help them with coordination and strength, they can better their skills in running, climbing, and jumping. They have a growing impulse to assert their independence, and this can be quite challenging for parents. This is why this stage is called the “terrible twos.” It is definitely not all terrible, however. It is also a fascinating and exciting time with many social, intellectual, and emotional changes. The child would be able to explore the new world and start understanding it. At this age, he or she will start making connections and discovering relationships. The toddler will be very involved with new abilities like performing and communicating. He or she will have better control over body and mind. This is when potty training starts for a toddler.

This is a time of learning. The toddler will start to make use of tasks learned in the past. He or she will also gain confidence. During this stage, the child is very receptive to learning new things. In terms of vocabulary, the toddler will be capable of responding to two- or three-phrase commands. The typical two-year-old has about a 30-50 word vocabulary. The child can form two word phrases. A three-year-old can usually form three word phrases or sentences. He or she can use pronouns like I, you, me, and we. Further, the child can start using the pronouns and words to express emotions. Adults can understand around 75 percent of what a 3-year-old child says.

Further, from the ages of two to three, a child will also be able to detect objects by shape and color. Scribbling becomes important for the toddler at this stage. While they will not be able to color in the lines, they can learn to draw circles as a start. Further, this is a time when they imitate the actions of adults and peers, and express a many different emotions. In order to ensure developmental health for your toddler, when he or she is between two and three years old, it is recommended that you encourage certain activities that involve the development of language, imagination, discovery, and role-play. Therefore, it is helpful if you:

1. Set up a time to read books with him or her.
2. Play games like follow the leader.
3. Encourage pretend play.
4. Ask your child to say his name and age.
5. Give your child the opportunity to explore surroundings during a walk.
6. Teach your child simple nursery rhymes and songs.
7. Encourage scribbling. Give your child crayons and paper!

Since independence is growing at a rapid rate, you need to make sure that you have control over the situation. Follow the following safety precautions.

1. Teach your toddler to refrain from putting crayons and pencils in his or her mouth.
2. When your child is sitting on your lap, do not drink hot beverages. A sudden movement can cause a spill.
3. Encourage your toddler to sit during meals.
4. Make sure he or she chews food thoroughly.
5. Check toys frequently for broken parts.
6. Do not leave your child around water unsupervised.

Early childhood is very exciting. The world opens up for a child. Independence increases and the child focuses on adults and kids outside the family unit. Expect many questions at this stage, as kids can be very inquisitive and curious. Their personalities develop based on the interactions with family and people around them. Thus, it is important that kids have positive role models and influences around them. Individual ways of thinking and acting are molded now. Further, during this stage, the child gains independence with daily activities. He or she will be able to ride a tricycle, dress and undress, sing songs, play with other kids, stand on tip toes, hold utensils and crayons with more ease, and be aware of gender identity. By four years of age, a child is usually fully potty trained.

Further, a three to five year old will draw letters and shapes. He or she will also draw family members. Concerning language development, the child will be able to form sentences and use plurals. He or she will thoroughly enjoy listening to stories. The child will memorize parts of a book or story. Further, he or she will start thinking about other objects and making associations. For instance, the child will know that a certain type of ball is meant to be kicked.

The terrible twos will dwindle away at this stage, because of improved vocabulary. Children do not get frustrated because of the inability to express themselves. They can communicate more clearly while using more words and forming full sentences. They learn that they can express feelings and thoughts through speech. They also get a vague understanding of right and wrong. During this stage, children become less attached to their parents or caregivers. They learn how to interact with peers properly—by taking turns and sharing. They also start bonding with pets. Further, they get excited over upcoming holidays.

In order to ensure the proper development of a child, follow these tips:

1. Read to your child.
2. Take your child to the library or bookstore.
3. Encourage your child to interact and play with other kids.
4. Discipline your child properly and clearly.
5. Be a positive role model.
6. Speak to your child in “adult language” and complete sentences.
7. Promote drawing.

Further, make sure that your child is safe. A three to five year old needs guidance. Keep a watchful eye. Here are some tips to help you.

1. Make sure your child knows to stay out of traffic and refrain from running after stray balls in the street.
2. If you take your child to ride a tricycle in the neighborhood, stress the importance of staying on the sidewalk.
3. Make sure you teach your child how to swim. Water safety is important.
4. Check playground equipment for sharp edges or loose parts.
5. Teach your child how to act around strangers.
6. Always keep an eye on your child, when he or she plays outside.