DOCUMENT RESUME PS 029 584 ED 454 962 Family Connections Early Start, No. 1-10. TITLE AEL, Inc., Charleston, WV. INSTITUTION Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), SPONS AGENCY Washington, DC. 2001-00-00 PUB DATE NOTE 42p. RJ96006001 CONTRACT AEL, Inc., P.O. Box 1348, Charleston, WV 25325. Tel: AVAILABLE FROM 304-347-0400; Tel: 800-624-9120 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.ael.org. Guides Non-Classroom (055) PUB TYPE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE *Child Development; Early Intervention; Infant Behavior; DESCRIPTORS *Infant Care; *Infants; Parent Child Relationship; Parent Materials; Play; Preschool Education ABSTRACT This series of 10 booklets provides information to new parents on their infants' behavior and development. The topics covered in the "Welcome to the World of Babies," including four-page booklets are: (1) information on infants' communication, baby books, and developmental "Language: All about Communication," milestones from birth to 9 months; (2) including suggestions for activities using music and rhythm; "Baby's Very (3) First Toys," including suggestions for toys and songs; "Good Health (4) Starts with Nutrition," including information on choking hazards, "Read to Your Baby," including immunizations, and maternal health; (5) non-reading activities that lay foundation for learning to read; (6) "Choosing and Using Child Care," including information on extended family relationships and on developmental milestones from 6 to 36 months; (7) "Simple Activities Develop Young Minds," discussing the importance of play "Learning Positive Behaviors," and providing play suggestions; (8) "The Impact of Being a Parent," introducing positive discipline; (9) including parents' role as teachers; and (10) "Nutrition: Keep It Natural," including information on food choices. (KB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Family Connections Early Start, No. 1-10. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. EST COPY AVAILABLE 1: 2 Famil nne ns etio ar tai Welcome to the World of Babies Congratulations on your new baby. Whether you have just added an infant to your household or are about to, you're entering a whole new world. It's a happy time, but it's also a little scary. Babies are small and helpless, and you may wonder how ready you are to take on this big new job. The best known of all pediatricians probably offers the most reassuring words. Dr. Benjamin Spock told parents: "Remember, you know more than you think you do." But you have an expert even closer than Dr. Spock's bookyour baby. Brand-new babies can decide at least four things from day one: when to eat when to stop eating when to sleep when to wake up A good deal of common sense goes ..winto bringing up babies. As a reasonable and X:)loving parent, you will feed your baby when she's hungry, comfort her when she's lonely or in pain, and stimulate brain ndevelopment by talking and reading to her. Excellent help is available to you from doctors, nurses, books, and publica- tions such as this one. These briefs are short and to the point, but the information is from experts who learned with both research and practice. Consider what you read here, do the best you can, and try not to worry too much. Enjoy your baby, and baby will enjoy you, too. 3 Baby's Tears Tell rying is a baby's first way to communicate. Your baby's cries can tell you about different needs. "I'm hungry. I'm tired. I have a pain in my tummy. I'm lonely. Pay attention to me." Soon you will be able to tell which is which. Some people may tell you that paying too much attention to your baby will "spoil" him. Don't worry. Babies, unlike milk, don't spoilespecially not from too much attention. They need all the nurturing, love, and understand- ing you and others can give. Sooner than you can believe, your baby will be so busy she won't have time for you. Take advantage of the opportunity now to hold her and rock her and sing to her. It's your reward for being a loving parent. SIDS Foundation Suggestions very year in this country some 3,500 babies die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). That's about 10 babies a dayand we still don't know why and how it happens. But doctors hope that following these steps will reduce Never Ever Shake a those numbers. Baby or Child Always lay a healthy baby face up 1. Don't ever shake an infant or to sleep. child, not even in a playful Don't allow smoking near the baby. 2. way. Shaking can damage a baby's brain, and can result Don't let the baby get too hot. 3. in death. Lay the baby to sleep on a firm 4. Don't throw a baby in the mattress. air, and don't let anyone else do it. This kind of play can Create a healthy lifestyle for you 5. /-/-1 cause blindness, and your baby. seizures, and mental 1 If possible, breast-feed your baby. 6. retardation. f Go Ahead and Goo ere's some good news. It turns out that silly-sounding baby talk can be good for your baby's learning potential. Many people instinctively use high-pitched, exaggerated tones with babies, and a recent study found that it's good for them. Another study showed that such talk also soothes crying, and it helps babies learn the sounds of their native language. Talking to your baby also stimulates the development of the brain and lays the foundation for future learning success. Be sure to talk to your baby about everything that is going on around her. Say things like "This is a green leaf' or "See the blue clouds in the sky?" She will soon be using those words. About Baby Books ead to your baby from the very beginning. Even though he might not understand the words, he will love the sound of your voice and being held in your arms. But he will soon want to get his hands on the book, so be prepared. Babies use all their senses to learn. He will want to chew the book. He may shake it, or try to separate the pages. Soft cloth and vinyl books that can be washed are available. Some babies like to sleep with soft books. You can sometimes find children's books at yard sales. Exchanging books with other parents of babies is a good idea, too. Taking care of babies and young children can be tiring and frustrating. It is a good idea to write down some things that will help you relax when you feel frustrated. Your plan can include putting the baby in a safe place while you listen to music, doing some housework, or calling someone. This plan is important because it is hard to think clearly when you are feeling upset. Arrange to have some time to yourself to relax and enjoy other things. Being good to yourself will also be good for your baby. \-- 5 Most Babies . . . very child is different, but there are general milestones in development. Here are some for the first nine months, from the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education. At one month, most babies At four months, most babies Lift head a little when lying Hold head up for a long time on stomach. without bobbing. Watch objects for a Laugh out loud. Roll from front to back. short time. Make "noise in throat" Grab object held near their sounds. hand. Sleep, cry, and Make sounds when IP' CrV elpI wiggle. talked to. (0' At two months, At six months, most 4-1,1 most babies babies Hold their head up. Sit with little support. Sometimes smile back at a smiling Roll from back to stomach. Turn and look at sounds. person. Roll partway to side. Change object from hand to hand Make sounds of discomfort. or mouth. At nine months, most babies At three months, most babies Say "mama" and "dada." Lift head and chest when lying Crawl, creep, or on stomach. Recognize scoot. Respond to people bottle or breast. Smile when they know. talked to. Respond to their Show active name. body movement. Follow moving things with their eyes. Remember, all children grow and develop at their own pace. If you have concerns about your child's development, trust your instincts. Contact your physician or your local early intervention program by calling your department of human services. No. 1 © 2001 by AEL, Inc. P.O. Box 1348, Charleston, WV 25325 This publication was developed under contract RJ96006001, 'Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department or any other U.S. government agency. 6 Famil nne ns ctio ar tai Language: All about Communication People tell one another about thoughts, feelings, and events by listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These communication skills build on one another. As babies learn the spoken language, they lay the groundwork for learning to read and write. One idea for helping your baby learn to listen and speak is to take your baby outdoors and describe the trees, grass, birds, houses, and other things you see. Your baby will participate, listening as you speak and making sounds and words for you to hear. You can also help your baby get ready to read and write by finding simple books with colorful pictures. You and your baby can look at these books together. Talk about words you read and pictures you see. Let your baby take part in this process in his own way. When your baby can hold a crayon, pencil, or marker, let her write. Scribbling on paper helps young children develop coordination, grip, and other skills they will need for writing. Singing is another way to communicate. Sing to your baby. Don't worry about carrying a tune or remembering the words. You ,might even make up a song as you go. Before long, your baby will try to sing along. Babies and young children also learn about language and communication by how you respond to them. It is important to answer your child's cries, coos, gurgles, and later, their frequent questions. You can 5 answer them with words such as, "Yes, you are feeling happy today!" or with gestures such as cuddling. These experiences seem simple and natural, but they are also important. They give your baby what is needed to start making sense of spoken and written language. 7 &ODE QQ J LM 0 'ORS' LlyvWXv7, Did You Hear That? old your baby in your arms and take a "listening walk." You can walk both inside and outside. Whenever you find something that is making a sound, listen to the sound and then talk about it to your baby. Tell what is making the sound. Talk about whether the sound is loud or soft. You might hear an alarm clock, a barking dog, an ambulance siren, an airplane, or a dishwasher. You can also make sounds: ring a bell, tap a spoon on a glass, or clap your hands. This is a good experience for other children, too. Make it a family walk. Be sure to protect babies and all young children with sunscreen. It should have a protection factor of 15 or more. Don't use sunscreen on babies under six months old; they should not be exposed to sun. Use the carriage or stroller awning for cover. Broad-brimmed hats provide good protection, toofor you and the young ones. Hearing Music ou might think it's a little early to talk about math and your baby, but it turns out that music now may make a difference in her math skills later. Recent studies suggest that listening to certain kinds of music may be valuable to a child's mathematical ability. Mozart and Brahms are among composers whose music is named in the research. If you have never listened much to classical music, you might want to try it again. Public radio stations play it frequently. Some classical music can be borrowed at no charge from your local public library. You could open a new musical window to your whole family. But even if classical music doesn't become your favorite, be sure to let lots of good music of all kinds into your baby's life. 8 00 aRsTu /.,ABCDE'CH iii Sounds Like Bath Time ath time provides a great opportunity for learning. It's a natural time for baby to begin learning parts of the body. Place your baby in the bath in a way to make her secure. Then, in an orderly way, wash each part of her body. Talk about what you are doing: "First, let's wash your faceyour nose, your mouth, your ears. Now let's do your arms. How about washing your tummy?" Most babies soon look forward to bath time. Toddlers like toys in the tub, and have such good times that they may be reluctant to come out! Sounds Like Feeding Time eeding time is a perfect time for naming foods and utensils. The act of eating also stimulates the beginning of conversations, sounds, and facial expressions. Make sure your baby is comfortable and secure in a high chair. Then set up your baby's food. Name the food in a way that helps your baby look forward to it. You might say something like: "Yummy applesauce" as you spoon it into baby's mouth. "Now, let's have some green beans. Aren't they good?" "How about some milk? You can drink it from your own cup." Keep it clear and simple when you talk to your baby, and begin now to form the good habit of speaking with respect. Children know early whether you think they are important people. J'LM 0 QRS. U B D E. Let's Find Some Rhythm abies and young children enjoy nursery rhymes and songs with a simple D beat. Sit with your baby on your lap. Some old favorites are "This Little Piggy Went to Market," "Where Is Thumbkin," "Patty-Cake," "Hickory, Dickory Dock," and "Old MacDonald." Do any hand motions you know that match the rhymes or songs. When your baby babbles, stop and listen to the sounds, then continue with the rhyme or song. Toddlers can sit across the floor from you while you do this activity. They enjoy doing the hand motions with you, but don't expect them to use both motions and words until they are three or four years old. Try this with Patty-Cake. Patty-Cake, Patty-Cake, Baker's Man. Bake me a cake As fast as you can. Mix it, and pat it, And mark it with a "B" And put it in the oven For Baby and me. You can mark it with the initial of your baby's name, for example: "Mark it with a T, and put it in the oven for Tommy and me." Use his name often, so he will quickly get to know it. No. 2 © 2001 by AEL, Inc. P.O. Box 1348, Charleston, WV 25325 This publication was developed under contract RJ96006001, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department or any other U.S. government agency. 10