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Babies learn language in a progressive way. First, they
learn to distinguish sounds from each other, and notice familiar syllables and
patterns. They also have a sense for tone, which conveys emotion. They see
facial expressions and begin to assign them meaning, as well. For example, a
rather high-pitched repetition of their name with a smile can be recognized
early on by very young infants. Babies learn to understand language before they
have the ability to articulate the words themselves. They can learn to follow
simple directions, recognize key words like "more," and "no", as well as "eat"
and their names as young as 4-5 months of age.
The key to helping the baby to bridge the gap between being able to understand
and being able to communicate needs, wants, and even what they are thinking and
feeling. There is a way to do this. It's called "Baby Signs." Baby signs are a
helpful tool which reinforce a baby's language development. They are something
that can help with parenting, and decrease a baby's frustration (not to mention
the parents')!
The way baby signs works is that you take a simple word that you say often, such
as "more" or "eat" and attach a simple gesture to the word. Maybe it would be
pointing to your mouth. Just do the gesture whenever you say the word. Speak
directly to the baby, talk just the way you do normally - usually
enthusiastically and with great eye contact and some repetition, and do the
gesture too. If you start doing this when the baby is 6-7 months old, chances
are that when he is 8-10 months old, he will be using the gestures himself to
communicate the idea to you.
The earlier babies learn that gestures can be used to communicate as well as
words, the earlier the baby can develop language connections is his brain. These
connections give him a head start into the world of communication, and will lead
to speech as soon as he is able. In the meantime, the gestures will allow you
and your baby to communicate with each other before the baby can talk. Use of
these baby signs will greatly reduce the frustration of not knowing what the
baby wants.
Baby signing is a great technique for parenting and language development in
babies of a very young age.
Title: Learn The Secrets of Teaching Your Baby Sign Language
Author: Heather Owens Article:
Learning language is a complicated process, and yet babies manage to do it by
following an orderly series of steps. To begin with, they learn to distinguish
different sounds, and recognise patterns or syllables that they hear frequently.
Tone is also very important, as it conveys the emotion behind the words. A baby
watches your face and starts working out what your facial expression means. As
an example, if you repeat a baby's name in a high pitched voice, and have a
happy, smiling face,
very young infants will respond in a positive way quite quickly.
A baby usually learns to understand language long before he can say the words
himself. A baby can follow simple directions even as young as 4-5 months old. He
can recognise often repeated, key words like "no", and "more", their names, and
favourite words like "eat"!
The main problem is that there's a gap between when a baby can understand
language, and when he can communicate in return. This can led to an intense
amount of frustration. So if we can find a way to help the baby let us know what
he's thinking and feeling, it can reduce the level of frustration in the baby -
and in ourselves! It's possible to do this, well before a baby starts using
words - it's called "Baby Signs". You can use baby signs as an early way to help
baby communicate, and it's also valuable in reinforcing a baby's language
development.
Teaching a baby sign language is very simple. Take a word you use frequently
with the baby, such as "more" or "eat", and make a simple gesture every time you
use the word. For example, for "eat", you could point to your mouth. Make sure
you use the same gesture every time you use the word. Speak clearly, and face
the
baby as you say the word. Use an enthusiastic tone, make sure the baby is
watching, and when you have baby's attention, repeat the word and gesture a few
times.
Most parents find that if they start using baby signs around 6-7 months of age,
the baby can usually mimic the gestures back to you and communicate what he
wants by the time he's around 8-10 months old.
Sometimes parents are concerned that the baby will come to rely on signs, and
inadvertently delay the development of speech. In fact, most of the time the
opposite is true. By using the signs, the language connections in a baby's brain
are being created and developed much earlier. This actually tends to give the
baby a head start in communicating, and so speed up the process of developing
speech. While that may not be true for all babies, it's true for many.
In the meantime, baby signs will allow your baby to communicate his wishes and
thoughts to you at a much earlier age, and so reduce the frustration many babies
suffer before they learn to talk. It will also make it easier for you to
understand what baby wants, and so make parenting a lot easier. So baby sign
language has two advantages - it helps your baby develop communication skills,
and it also helps improve your parenting.
About the author:
Check out the author's book about babies at Baby's First Year For
lots more great baby information, check out Info About Baby You can
also sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips
Newsletter.
Title: Play time: Fun time, learning time, bonding time!
Author: Henrietta Joyce
Article:
Copyright 2006 Living Your Best Life
I'm sure you've experience this parenting dilemma. The sun is
shining and it's a beautiful, hot day. Your daughter or son is
begging you to take him or her to the park but there is a pile
of washing in the laundry basket, a stack of dishes in the sink
and countless other chores. On the one hand you want to spend
quality time with your child but on the other hand the housework
has to be tackled. What is a parent to do after all play is just
play or is it? In this article I will explain, that children
learn through play, different types of play and their value, how
play helps the development of a person from babies into
adulthood and finally, how playing with your child is an
opportunity for bonding, learning and fun.
What do children learn through play?
Why is play vital and why should it be encouraged? Children it
is the main way that children learn, in fact for children play
is work. Play helps children to communicate ideas, it allows
them to develop important skills and also it excites children.
Through play our children learn skills and habits that will help
them develop into happy, healthy well-balanced adults. For play
to be meaningful your child needs your participation sometimes.
Twenty minutes a day or more will increase your children's
development. Playing with parents and carers is wonderful but
playing with friends of their own age and older children is
enriching and will help them learn social skills.
What are the benefits of play?
There are many ways in which children benefit from play. It has
been proven by psychologists that children who do not play fail
to thrive. For play to be meaningful, children need someone to
play with, choice, variety and enthusiasm. The benefits of play
can be seen in five areas, they are:
Physical - Developing co-ordination, physical fitness and health
Social - learning about friendships, personality and emotions
Emotional - practicing adult roles through role play Language -
communication skills, problem solving Cognitive - through play
children develop an understanding of concepts, group objects and
explore different materials Children need a range of toys and
materials to develop in all of the five areas.
Different types of play and their value
Play can take many different shapes and forms however your child
needs a balance of all forms in order to develop into a
well-rounded adult. Play type can be divided into four main
areas, imaginative play, construction, creative play, physical
play and board games. Through imaginative play or pretend play
children dress up and act out different aspects of daily life.
Children learn to tell stories and make sense of daily life
experiences.
Construction play uses a variety of toys including, duplo,
bricks, and magnetic blocks and also re-cycled materials such as
boxes. Children love to create things out of 'junk'; I know my
two-year-old granddaughter can play for hours with large boxes.
They become houses, ships, washing machines the list is endless!
Construction toys help children learn about shape, colour and
size, improve fine motor skills, problem solve and concentration.
Creative play covers a wide range of activities such as
painting, drawing, collage (cutting, gluing and sticking), play
dough and sewing. Creative play provides opportunities for
children to develop manipulative skills experiment and make
choices for themselves. I find that in the summer most creative
activities can be relocated outside but during the winter a
cheap shower curtain can protect surfaces from damage.
Imaginative play such as dressing up, playing with farms, train
sets, dolls' houses enable children to develop their
imaginations. They learn how the world works as well as making
up stories and re-enacting favourite tales. When Ella plays with
her baby doll Amy, we have to rock Amy to sleep, feed her and
bathe her. A client, Carmen learnt that playing hospitals
prepared her son for a visit to the hospital. She was amazed by
Sam's confidence. Sam a quiet 6 year old talked to the Doctor as
if they were old friends. Old clothes make fantastic dressing up
outfits.
Physical play covers many activities, which can be indoors or
outdoors. It can involve large play equipment like bikes,
climbing frames, tunnels, smaller toys like bats, balls and
hoops or no equipment at all. My niece loves to play hide and
seek or chasing games. Physical play is not only healthy but
develops large and small motor skills (necessary for muscle
control), self-confidence, spatial awareness and co-operation.
Board games and playing cards such as ludo, snap, snakes and
ladders provide hours of endless fun and also provide children
with an opportunity to develop language skills, turn taking,
sharing and how to be a good sport.
Playing with children from birth onwards
Babies respond on a very instinctive level. Play with babies
from birth onwards by talking, making faces, tickling and
playing peek-a-boo games.
The best way to ensure a child plays with a toy is to make it
fun. If you play together with the toy he will enjoy it much
more and you will increase the learning potential. Playing with
your child makes him or her feel loved and special. It is
important to follow your child's lead when you are playing
together and don't worry if your child plays with the same toys
over and over again because its quite normal.
How does play help children develop into well-balanced adults?
I am sure you have met and worked with people who you find
difficult to get along with? It could be they lack confidence,
poor communication skills or an inability to work as part of a
team. Through play children learn to share and develop their
sense of self. Play as I have explained offers opportunities to
develop language, physical, social, emotional, creative and
intellectual development which are all vital skills necessary
for a productive and happy adult life.
Play is essential to a child's develops and grows.
Playing with a wide range of toys helps children learn a wide
variety her of skills that will prepare her for adulthood.
Choosing the most appropriate toys for your child is quite
simple. Think about safety, take into account her preferences,
is it suitable for her age and will it develop a skill? Next
time you are faced with the decision of whether to play with
your child or complete a chore you can choose to play knowing
that you are enhancing his or her development. Your enthusiastic
participation will establish a special closeness that will
resonate throughout both your lives.
About the author:
Henri Joyce is an experienced teacher and coaches effective
parenting and parenting through divorce. She teaches a
Pro-Active parenting techniques at the University Of Masters. To
claim some valuable downloads and newsletters on effective
parenting, you can subscribe to her popular newsletter at:
http://www.effectiveparenting.co.uk or join her class at
http://www.universityofmasters.com
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