Why bribing kids with rewards doesn’t work

Dear stranger: Yes, my hands are full. . .

What sensitive boys need from their mamas

What’s trending: The top 10 kid’s Halloween costumes on Pinterest

I knew I wanted a mama tribe—I just didn’t know how much I needed it

Why we’re asking for experiences, not toys

Of course we all want to thrive—the problem is just getting there during a uncertain, chaotic period of life that is new motherhood.

When I read the study that revealed mothers work on average 98 hours a week I was relieved.

 

Why?

Nappy changing is a task you do so many times a day. When you realize how valuable this time is for bonding and sensory development, it will never again be a chore, but rather a valuable time for relating and stimulating the senses.  

From newborns to toddlers, our babies spend much time in back lying.
Many new skills will emerge in this simple position over the first 6 months of life and the opportunity for your baby to play and explore here is endless.

Did you know that tummy time helps shoulders, hands and fingers to develop?

These days many babies seem to dislike lying on their tummies.

Possible reasons for this may include that:

• We seldom place babies in tummy lying to play and explore because they cry and fuss: therefore they don’t practice this position; they don’t become stronger in this position, and so they remain intolerant of it.
• They may experience discomfort when lying on their tummies due to re-flux.
• They may have sensory sensitivities.
• They may have been born prematurely and thus have undeveloped patterns of movement.
• They may have weak muscles for various reasons.

Bath time presents such a wonderful opportunity for play, exploration and learning. Bathing with your baby fosters closeness and bonding and will most probably be the best quality time you will spend with your baby all day.

Did you know... Textured objects and ‘feely’ experiences enhance learning, encouraging exploration and concentration, body awareness and fine motor co-ordination.


...read more

When it comes to stimulating your baby’s development on a physical level, keep it easy, age appropriate, and functional.
Remember that your baby needs to be touched, held and engaged when practicing movement sequences and various positions.

Placing your baby in a side lying position is an important posture for baby to experience, from as early as birth and into the early months of life. There are many benefits of the side lying position, and its value in normal development cannot be underestimated.

Side lying positions can be used during Sleep time (using wedges), Wake and Play time, as well as when dressing and undressing your baby.

...read more

When it comes to stimulating your baby’s development, keep it simple, natural, intimate and interactional. Your baby does not need fast paced ENTERTAINING, but rather slow paced, gentle interactions with YOU.

Newest research points to what is really important for a baby’s developing brain, and they call it “Serve and Return”. This is all about how you respond to your baby’s eye gaze, facial expressions, gestures, his cooing, babble and cries, her head and body movements. This is how your baby ‘serves’, and your attuned responses are the ‘return’. It is this cycle of intimate engagement and back and forth interaction that grows neural pathways.

Did you know…

...read more