Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Developmental Milestones

Today, I want to talk about developmental milestones, a term not heard much anymore. Developmental milestones are those markers in a child's development that let you know your child is developing normally and at the correct rate. If you don't know to watch for these markers, you won't know if your child is having a problem. For example, if your child is six month's old, he or she should be able to do the following:

Motor Skills

  • hold head steady when sitting with your help
  • reach for and grasp objects
  • play with his toes
  • help hold the bottle during feeding
  • explore by mouthing and banging objects
  • move toys from one hand to another
  • shake a rattle
  • pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands
  • sit with only a little support
  • sit in a high chair
  • roll over
  • bounce when held in a standing position


Sensory and Thinking Skills

  • open his mouth for the spoon
  • imitate familiar actions you perform


Language and Social Skills

  • babble, making almost sing-song sounds
  • know familiar faces
  • laugh and squeal with delight
  • scream if annoyed
  • smile at herself in a mirror
Now there will be differences in the rate at which each child develops. Do not expect your child to be able to do all of these on the exact day that he or she is six months old. However, be aware of your child's progress so that you spot a problem early on. With regard to children and their development, the earlier you spot a delay, the earlier you will be able to intervene and get help from a professional.

Check out the following website for other developmental markers as your child advances in age: http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm And if your child is not developing at a normal rate, talk to your pediatrician. Early intervention is the key and can make the difference between success or failure in your child's school career.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday With Shirley: One, Two, Three

Teaching your child to follow oral directions can begin as soon as your child understands language. This skill is important because it helps your child to build auditory memory, an essential life and school skill. We take for granted that children can remember three-step directions. They cannot do that without practice. I recommend beginning with one direction at a time. For example: "Go get the book." Simple, right? Ok, that's good. Practice directions such as that until your child masters them. Give different directives so your child has to think....but only one direction at a time.

Once your child is really good at following a single direction, add another. For example: "Go get the book and lay it on the table." Or, "Go to your toy box and find the ball." Eventually, you can add and descriptive word, such as," Go to your toy box and find the big ball." This requires that your child remembers to go to the toy box, look for the ball, and discern that it is big. You are teaching not only memory skills but attribute skills, as well. (big, small, thick, thin, etc.)

Finally, you can move to three step directions. This is appropriate when your child is between two and three years old. "Go to your room, find the ball, and bring it to me." Your child will think this is a game and will enjoy the repetition. At this point, you could add a color word if your child is beginning to learn his or her colors. " Go to your room, find the red ball, and bring it to me."

Through these activities, you will be helping to build a skill set for your child that is essential in school success and learning to read. Your child, however, will simply think that Mommy or Daddy knows how to play really good games.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What's Cooking?

All children have a natural curiosity with food and cooking. Think about it. Food is something that starts out one way and after cooking, looks totally different. That is very scientific and very appealing to a child.

There was a time, prior to state accountability and assessment testing, when kindergarten children had cooking as a part of the weekly curriculum. That is no longer the case. Cooking has been relegated to the Pre-Kindergarten curriculum (if you're lucky) or has been removed from the curriculum completely. Therefore, you must have it as a part of your curriculum at home.

Even if you are a working Mom (and all Moms are working Moms!), you can engage in simple cooking activities with your child. I'm not talking about anything dangerous involving sharp knives (although this must be taught too as your child matures); I am talking about simple activities such as helping you measure, helping you stir, and helping you serve. Yes, this does take extra time and there will be somewhat of a mess. But you can begin with something simple like "Ants on a Log", celery stuffed with peanut butter with raisins on top; or Rice Krispies Treats---food items that require no cooking.

Later, you can advance to a simple cookie recipe that requires baking and you can discuss oven temperature, creaming the butter (creaming? What is that?), and using the mixer. You will build your child's vocabulary with each new activity. You will be teaching measurement and precision. You will be teaching your child hand/eye coordination as you teach stirring and spreading techniques. Even a child as young as two or three can learn to stir and follow directions.

It doesn't have to be complicated. You will be a rock star to your child if you have him or her help you with cooking. Little children are naturally interested in this activity. If you begin when your child is young (as with everything I have discussed in this blog), your child's interest in cooking will only grow and mature as he or she grows and matures. Just think, you may have your own personal chef in the house by the time your child is twelve.