| Parents across the nation have discovered that by | | | | family. Most parents don't think their baby will |
| implementing a few fun and simple activities into their | | | | understand when they say, "It's almost dinner time, |
| baby's daily routine have resulted in dramatically | | | | are you hungry?" But the fact of the matter is that |
| enhanced reading, writing, walking, and talking | | | | babies are quite capable of understanding words as |
| capabilities. The secret they say is to start early. | | | | you speak to them, especially if you repeatedly say |
| Parenting a baby these days is much more than | | | | them as part of your daily routine. |
| feeding, changing and bathing. There are a few extra | | | | Another extremely beneficial element to help your |
| steps involved if you want your baby to get started | | | | baby build a solid foundation is to teach him a few |
| on the right foot. Baby's little brains are like sponges, | | | | words to express himself using baby sign language. |
| they are ready to soak up living and life skills from | | | | Yes, I know, your baby isn't deaf, but studies have |
| the moment they are born. It's the parent's job to | | | | shown that babies do indeed have the ability to use |
| give them all the wonderful stimulants they possibly | | | | language to express their needs as early as 7 months |
| can in order to give them a solid intellectual | | | | old, they just don't have the motor skills to put their |
| foundation to build upon as they grow. | | | | thoughts into words. Parents who teach their baby |
| For instance, playing music for your baby is a | | | | sign language enjoy communicating with their baby |
| wonderful way to stimulate his mind. Many parenting | | | | much earlier than waiting for them to learn to speak. |
| magazines recommend playing lullabies for your baby | | | | Just imagine, your baby will be able to tell you when |
| at night, but what about the rest of the day? Babies | | | | he's hungry, tired or wants more food rather than |
| enjoy music just as much as parents do. In fact, | | | | you trying to guess what he needs. There are so |
| many parents find that the type of music they play | | | | many wonderful benefits to teaching your baby sign |
| directly affects their baby's mood. | | | | language; I can't possibly explain them all here. I have |
| Reading to your baby is a key factor in developing | | | | written an in-depth article about baby sign language |
| his speech and language capabilities. It is vital that you | | | | here if you want to learn more about this |
| get in the habit of reading to your baby as often as | | | | extraordinary new communication technique. |
| possible. You should read interesting books with big | | | | My final parenting suggestion is to make sure he has |
| bright pictures and a few long sentences so that he | | | | age appropriate toys to play with in order to build |
| can begin developing speech patterns and vocabulary | | | | and develop his fine motor skills. Make sure he has a |
| enunciation. Some parents even found that their baby | | | | wide variety of activities to keep his mind and his |
| enjoyed it when they read regular grown up type | | | | little hands busy. Babies love to explore all kinds of |
| books as well. Babies enjoy the rhythmic sounds of | | | | textures, colors, sizes and shapes. Be sure to give |
| their parent's voices as they read, even if there are | | | | him small items, (not too small however) large items, |
| no brightly colored pictures to look at. | | | | soft and hard toys, noisy and quiet activities too. |
| Another very important point I must make about | | | | Here is a helpful parenting hint: sometimes the toys |
| language and speech development is to speak to | | | | that are the most fun really aren't supposed to be |
| your baby in complete sentences. Try to speak to | | | | toys at all. |
| your baby as you would any other member of your | | | | |