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Parenting tips for toddlers.

Parenting tips for toddlers discipline and encouraging good behavior

Why the first three years are important in the development of a child

- The period begins at 8 months and ends at 3 years of age is uniquely important in the development of a human being. Growth and development of the brain’s neurons and the number of synapses(gaps between neurons where messages are being transmitted) created escalates during the first 2 years of life. During this period, connections that are frequently used will be strengthened, while the least-used connections will be eliminated.

Major Task in this age - The child’s major task in the first year of life is taking control of the body. Sitting, crawling, and walking are quickly followed by running, jumping, climbing, and other feats of dexterity as fine and gross motor coordination increases.

Since the formation of neural pathways is dependent on the number and variety of experiences that a toddler is exposed to, early intervention programs are essential in increasing opportunities for later success.

Following are good parenting tips for toddler-

1.) Focus on touch-Your baby is perhaps most sensitive to touch, the skin being our largest sense organ. The entire birth process is like a massage for the baby, stimulating her skin senses and getting her ready to breathe.

2.) Focus on the sense of hearing- It is good to focus on the quality of the sounds that reach your baby’s ears. One measure of quality is loudness; another is harmony and rhythm. One of the most pleasing sounds to your baby is your voice. Not only does she start to recognize your voice and your partner’s, but if you hum or sing, she will be especially soothed. Getting into the habit of singing will help your child’s language development and sense for music and rhythm, and it’s a delightful way to share.

3.) Proper sleep- The child needs so much sleep because it is entirely sense-organ. It could not otherwise endure the dazzle and noise of the outer world. Just as the eye must shut itself against the dazzling sunlight, so must this sense-organ, the child—for the child is entirely sense-organ shut itself off against the world, so must it sleep a great deal.

4.) Use natural Fibres-Hospitals have found that premature babies gain weight faster when they are placed on wool sheets, but no one knows why. It is believed that natural fibers can contribute to the body’s vital energy, whereas some synthetics rob the body of energy. Having a special blanket made of natural cotton or silk can help build up associations with sleep over the months and then can help your older baby settle into sleep when she is tired at night or at nap time.

5.) Sense of warmth- A sense of warmth is especially important for your baby because her ability to regulate her body temperature is not yet fully mature. The baby’s brain grows as much in the first year as it does throughout the rest of life, and for this process, it is good to keep the head warm and protected. The sense of warmth is very important throughout early childhood, and it is important to keep babies and toddlers warm and protected from drafts so their energy can go into development instead of maintaining their body temperature.

6.) Maintain Body Temperature- Don’t let your baby get overheated, but it is important to keep all the organs warm, especially the organs of digestion. This is why the formula has to be warmed to body temperature and why traditional remedies for colic often involve warm wraps on the stomach.

7.) Keep a check on movement-Freedom to move the arms and legs ensures that muscles will strengthen and that processes such as language and cognitive development, which are related to physical movement, will unfold appropriately.

8.) Make home a safe place- Making your home a safe place for the baby is one of the best things you can do to aid your child’s development. It is much better to let your baby roam than to keep her in a playpen because babies need to crawl, need changing stimulation, and need to be around you.

9.) Don't teach them in initial years- As per research babies can be taught to read words with enough condition-response training, they are not reading for meaning and are using a lower part of their brain, simply because the parts of the brain that should be used in reading are not yet developed. Such activities risk your baby developing habits that are hard to undo later. Let your baby be a baby. Play with her through language and movement and enjoy one another.

10.) Avoid bottle during sleep- Letting a baby fall asleep with a bottle in his mouth can result in serious tooth decay because the juice or milk sits in the mouth and the sugars can encourage bacterial growth and “bottle mouth syndrome.

Your overall goal should be not to ‘teach’ your baby but to help her discover how to organize experience for herself.… Babies come equipped with the ‘need to know’; our job is to give them love, acceptance, and the raw material of appropriate stimulation at each level of development. Your common sense, augmented by current knowledge, is the best guide.”. You will be providing most of what your baby needs for healthy development if you do the following:

1.) Touch or hold your baby often. 2.) Talk to him or her.

3.) Spend time face-to-face, making eye contact. 4.) Generally, respond quickly to fussiness or crying.

When you respond promptly to your baby’s cries, she learns that the world is a friendly place and that your love and protection surround her. Surrounding your baby with love, warmth, and touch provides a secure foundation for later life that is almost impossible to make up for if it has been lacking. So, enjoy your motherhood.

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