Beauty Sparkling

Posts Tagged ‘education’

The great parenting debate

It’s a dilemma that you’ll face quite a few times throughout your parenting life – do you go for something that you know the kids will love and go crazy over (usually either junk food or based on a TV character), or do you buy something that’s healthy – for either their body or mind? Fortunately, it’s a topic that you won’t have to tackle for some months after you become a parent, as there is little difference in toys for babies. Today we explore how you can create a healthy mix of ‘fun’ baby toys and educational baby toys from ages 0-3.

Before their first birthday

Before your child turns one, there is actually no debate to have. Every single toy you can offer your baby is educational … no matter how fun it looks. There’s no way to ‘spoil’ your under-1 year old with baby toys. It doesn’t matter how much advertising a toy contains, and how pointless it seems to an adult, all baby toys can be learned from equally and drooled on equally at this age. Even some of those that are ordinarily vilified…

Is television good for my baby?

Yes, even television has plenty to teach young kids – the stimulation of bright colours and music, the challenge of pattern recognition, as well as the abundant human faces (which babies are pre-programmed to pay attention to) mean that television can be a great learning experience for babies. Of course, your child can have too much of a good thing – the key is balance.

Into toddlerhood

As your child moves into toddlerhood, you’ll start to have to focus on creating a mix of ‘fun’ time and educational time. Some children naturally pay little attention to advertising and television, and would far prefer to be playing with age-appropriate puzzles or challenge-based baby toys, getting muddy in the garden, or being read to. And of course, it’s wise to let your children lead if they naturally lean towards activities that will stimulate their learning. In other situations though, you’ll need to provide alternating ‘fun’ and educational experiences in terms of baby toys, television and activities.

The case for ‘fun’ baby toys

Here are some pertinent points when you’re thinking about baby toys for over-1s that are purely for fun:

• All toys, even fun-based toys, provide some level of education at this age

• Toys that your child finds fun will likely get played with more often, making them both better value for money and more likely to help him learn

• Children usually stop finding toys fun when they stop teaching them something …

However, you do need to make sure (especially with older toddlers) that they don’t fall into a mental rut where they habitually play with baby toys that they find ‘easy’. If you notice this, you’ll need to take the lead and start showing them how to use baby toys for older ages, helping them build confidence.

The case for educational baby toys

Educational baby toys are usually thought of as those that help build those skills that will be used in formal education. For example, shape naming and recognition toys, colour matching toys, and any baby toy that has a ‘purpose’ and presents a significant challenge can be thought of as educational. Here’s why it can be great to use these baby toys to push your toddler past the boundaries of fun:

• Educational toys can instil a sense of pride in achievement which is very useful later in life

• Building the skills of traditional education means that your child will feel more comfortable and confident in a kindergarten or school environment, and therefore do better

• Educational toys usually need parental involvement … it’s a great excuse to spend time with them!

Planning a baby or expecting one? Thrilled? Naturally. After all it’s your baby, a part of you. You are giving birth to a new life….

 

A new kind of excitement, anticipation, fear will surround you in those nine months before the baby comes to your life. Planning can only ease your stress and make you go ahead in life. Start thinking about the cost of childcare, maternity leave, medical bills and at the same time, you may lose one of the parent’s incomes. Taking wise financial moves can help you overcome the fears and anxieties. Followings are certain tips to follow during pregnancy or planning for a baby.

 

Prepare yourself mentally- Becoming a parent can change many aspects of your life. You have to be more responsible towards your newborn and your family. It is always better to talk to your partner about your feelings and anxieties. Before the baby arrives, planning is very important.

 

Plan for big buys-There are certain things you have to buy after the delivery like crib, car seat, stroller, diaper, baby clothes, changing table etc. Start buying them during pregnancy. The hospital will not let you take the baby home without a car seat. Therefore, install it beforehand.

 

Save money and spend wisely-When you learn you are expecting, start saving from the day one. Most parent-to-be are thrilled with the good news and start spending in buying everything for the kid, decorating the room, even buying a bigger house. Do you know the baby needs very little space in the first few years? And if you cut your expenditure and spend wisely, you can save that extra money for the baby’s future. Understand what you need to buy and when do you need to buy. After the baby arrives, suddenly your expenditure will go up in buying formula and diapers and for babysitter.

 

Think about child care-Most excited parent-to-be never think about post- delivery period. Whether you afford to stay at home for the baby or appoint a nanny-decide before time. May be you can ask for grandparents or other elderly family members for help. Better to plan ahead and set a budget for it.

 

Plan ahead for education-In U.S.A., the cost of raising a child varies- depending on social background, place of residence and your economic condition. That’s why, start saving right now, not after 10th grade.

 

All these planning can ease your anxiety, stress and make you prepare for the new arrival in the family both mentally and physically.

There is no wonder that each parent is striving to provide the best items to their kids. We provide the infant with best living style, best playmates, best clothings, how about the best babies toys?

Researches have discovered out that babies will become familiar with a great deal throughout their play time with babies toys. Toys are no longer only a way to entertain the baby, it is a way to educate your child about the world. However, the question is here: how we are going to pick the suitable babies toys for our babies?

1. Safety is first issue to think about
If you have to select a baby toy, make sure to consider the safety reasons, the TS factos we’re referring to are:
T for Toxic: would be the babies toys made with toxic plastic or fabric? What are the quality guarantee?
S for Size: Exist loose parts in the baby toys that may result in a choking hazard? Would be the babies toys can fit inside a mouthwash roll, if yes, it might choke an infant. Could little fingers get pinched?

2. Think about Baby’s interest
Just think yourself, we often choose what interests us most, you’d put your baby inside your shoes too. Choose the baby toys that the baby find most interested. Usually, baby under 18 months will invariably like musical mobiles, plush toys, walking table and stacking toys. It’s also interesting to let and train your baby about what will interest him.

3. Think about Baby’s age development
Baby’s interest and ability go with age, so it’s vital that you cherish age factor.
For example, you might take the reference from the age label instructions, so you would choose the appropriate toys for your baby. However, you need to be careful about if your baby is a touch bit lap behind the age reference, if so make the adjustment for the baby.

4. Think about the educational factor
It is usually true that baby toys will be an extremely effective educational tools for him to learn about the world. Data has shown us that children develop 50% of the intelligence within the first four years. That’s the reason choosing a proper baby toy is so important.
Baby toys can be an education channel of creativity, think about the baby einstein blocks, it’ll train the eye-hand coordination power from the baby. Tell him to reveal face from the block with flower, then reveal the block with letter… Such playing will intensify the educational values.
For instance, you are able to choose baby toys that are related to our real world. It can help your child find out about the real life at the time of playing. For example, Baby Einstein DVDs for example Baby Da Vinci: From Head to Toe is good for your child to learn our body parts and the relevant functions with music and funny animations; Baby Einstein Neighborhood Animals, your child will become familiar with all kinds of animals and poultry and also the relations between those animals with man; with Baby Neptune Discovering Water, your child will be educated about our ocean. That’s an effective way of learning. Besides learning factors, it will likely be a good time to foster close parenthood together with your baby.