A baby is a wonderful addition to any family and it brings on much laughter and so many challenges for the new parents. Starting from taking care of an infant to rearing a feisty little toddler who is forever testing the waters (and your patience), there are a number of things that go into becoming a parent to a wonderful child who blossoms well.
Communication is one of the key traits that all parents need to have. There are many new parents who are mistaken when they think that communication starts only at the toddler phase. In reality, the way you begin to communicate with your infant is what will set the tone for the bond between you and the child when the child starts to grow up. So follow these steps for setting the right tone and forging a good communication pattern with your infant and toddler.
The Needs of an Infant: The infant has many needs which cannot be well articulated. You will have to learn to listen and decipher the cries of this little one because that is all he or she has when it comes to asking for attention. Mostly, an infant cries when it needs feeding, diaper changing, or is colicky which is also gas that most infants go through at a particular time of the day. This can make them cranky.
Communicate to soothe: At this phase, it is important for the parent and the baby to feel comfortable with each other. If you panic and get hassled, the infant will only get more cranky as this is the cue that he or she will get from your mood. Instead, you must seek to soothe. When the baby cries, you may want to lift him or her in your arms and talk in a soft soothing voice with encouraging words, or even sing to the baby. You must also develop a night time routine at this phase so that the child knows that it is time to sleep. A massage, a bath or some singing will generally help lull the child into peaceful slumber.
The Toddler: As your toddler begins to come of age, you will that he or she will try and assert his or her personality in a certain way. This can turn out to be a pretty trying time for most parents, who will find themselves at the receiving end of many tantrums and also, they will find that they are constantly saying no.
Setting Boundaries with Love: Here, communication is all about body language too. You will need to stoop and meet the young one’s eyes to carefully explain why he or she cannot do a certain thing. Also, develop a bond with play where the child gets to lead you, and read plenty of stories at bed time. Also, start doing activities which the child shows interest in. Take the child on various outings and teach him or her many different kinds of words which can build the vocabulary.
It’s time to go back to school again! This wonderful time of the year triggers a range of emotions among kids as well as parents. Students can find this period overwhelming because of the high levels of excitement for the new semester as well as the difficulty of getting back into a routine after a restful summer break. It is imperative to prepare back-to-school essentials to ensure a smooth transition into the classroom. One of the best ways to ease the students out of their summer break and into school is through the right books. Back-to-school books need not be read exclusively on the first day or the first week of school. They can be treasurable reads to return to throughout the academic year.
Back-to-school books that revolve around the school setting are a great spot to begin. These books will aid in portraying schools as inviting places, thereby preparing your little one emotionally and academically. Here are three books that will strike a chord with your children.
Rain School: Written by James Rumford, Rain School is a picture book that most children adore. This story is set in Chad, Africa and revolves around the concept of younger siblings being led to school by older kids. The narrative also follows the passion of a boy named Thomas who loves to learn. It beautifully sheds light on the difficulties faced by kids as they must build their mud school building that will be taken away by the rainy season. Your little one is bound to be amazed by the determination of these kids.
Back to Front and Upside Down: An excellent work by Claire Alexander, Back to Front and Upside Down portrays the different challenges that students face within the walls of a classroom. This back-to-school book focuses on the ability of Stan who has trouble during an activity conducted in a classroom. He struggles with the formation of letters and is left feeling discouraged. Not only is the book great for kids, but it also helps parents understand the importance of helping kids through their troubles and minimizing the pressure to accomplish tasks.
School’s First Day of School: A lovely narration by Adam Rex, School’s First Day of School is a beautiful back-to-school book as it addresses the nervousness that kids may feel before their big day. The book has intriguing illustrations too. This clever back-to-school book traces the journey of students on the first day of school.
There is no denying that summer is a blissful time when all that you want to do is relax and laze around as you try to recover from the previous stressful school year. However, you cannot escape from the fact that summer is the perfect time that you have in your hand to prep for the coming school year.
Don’t know what to do this summer? Here are six ways in which you can enjoy your summer while preparing your mind and body for the challenging school year that is just around the corner.
Go on an adventure
As they say, there is no classroom out there that is better than traveling. So, pack your bags and follow the call of adventure. The best part about traveling during your summer vacations is that you need not worry about missing work or any other family obligation. Try to plan at least one trip every summer, in which you can see a new place, get a glimpse of a different culture and learn about the life of the locals there, in turn, getting a lifelong learning.
Pursue a new hobby
For those who complain that they don’t get enough time to pursue their hobbies during the school months, they can pursue their passion and join hobby classes.
Enroll for a summer class
Those who feel that the upcoming academic year will be hectic for them because of the advanced classes they are planning to take can consider enrolling themselves for extra summer classes that will help them learn the subject or additional skills in order to perform better in their academics.
Pick a sport
Though you will be very tempted to be lazy in the summer and not work out at all, it is vital that you at least play one sport or go for regular walks that will keep your body healthy and let you not succumb to the sedentary lifestyle.
Join a cause
It is rightly said that the more you give, the more you get. Volunteering is not just a great way to pass your time, but it also enhances your people skill and many times helps you find new interests that who knows might someday turn into a career?
Earn some extra bucks
Summer is also the perfect time to work hard and earn some extra income that you can utilize for shopping for your new year school outfit or simply to manage your other expenses. Apply for part time jobs in advance so that you can find the perfect job before the summer even begins.
Preparing for the school year ahead need not necessarily be finishing all the books that you are meant to read in the course to ace your classes, sometimes it simply means making the most of your summer doing interesting things, so that when you are back to school, you are proactive and ready for the academic year.