As your little one looks up at you and smiles brightly, it’s natural to wonder what is running through her mind. Is she happy? Is she learning? What prompts her to smile, think and communicate? Just as adults learn through experiences and communication, so do babies. Connecting and bonding with your baby entails paying attention to non-verbal cues and enhancing her learning so those smiles, cues and giggles continue well into adulthood. How does your baby communicate with you?
Tag: parenting
A Little Bit of Freedom, A Lot of Faith
As a mother of two teenagers, I hear the question “Why don’t you trust me?” a lot. I get it — my kids want freedom. And yes, I do trust them. But, I’m finding it difficult to allow as much freedom as they crave, and I have to admit that I’m scared for them.
Faith: More Than Meets the Eye
When I began my teaching career a little more than a decade ago, I always found it amusing to run into my college students at the mall, department stores or even the grocery store. They seemed shocked to see me out and about and not sitting behind a desk grading papers or instructing in front of a class. One time in particular I even heard one of my students whisper to her friend: “She wears jeans?”
Games for Busy Moms to Play With Tots
The toddler years are exciting for both parents and children. As he takes his first steps and utters his first words, your little one is collecting milestones left and right. Toddlers are famous for wanting to express their independence and opinions while generally lacking the abilities to do so, says Julie Temple Stan, editorial director of Hooked On Phonics. Don’t be fooled, though. “Your toddler is a little sponge ready to soak up all of the language-rich experiences you can dream up,” says Stan. “But, juggling the needs of a busy toddler, family and work can make finding time next to impossible.” It is possible, though, to develop your tyke’s mind while navigating through your routine as a busy mom with these daily games that can help the two of you bond and your child develop his mind and senses.
5 Toddler Sensory Games
Your toddler is at a key development phase in her life as she explores the five senses. She sees bright colors, feels the need to touch just about everything she can reach and is beginning to recognize distinct smells. One of the best ways to further her development is to embark on games that focus on the senses. From tasty trivia to touchy-feely games with fabrics, teach your child how to further recognize her senses while bonding with you.
Parenting Requires an Underlying Faith in All We Do
Published April 2014: The Messenger - Faith: A Fresh Take Parenting Requires an Underlying Faith in All We Do Recently, I came across an article that outlined a national survey of 1,200 parents, conducted by LifeWay Research that concluded that faith is not a significant part of parenting for many adults. Although I’m not a… Continue reading Parenting Requires an Underlying Faith in All We Do
‘In Your Face’ Faith
If you would ask my kids about my parenting style, the phrase “in your face” would probably surface. I’m the type of parent who avoids sweeping anything under the rug. If my child appears to be upset, I’m going to drag it out of him, no matter how much he resists. If my daughter is cranky and snippy, I will harp on her until we get to the root of the problem. Even though children and teens need their space and privacy to work out issues, sweeping problems under the rug does not help. I’m ‘in their face’ until they talk. This doesn’t mean I do the talking — it means my children do the talking. And, one of the most important things I can do as a parent is listen.
Toddler Games That Incorporate Music
Toddlers love to dance to music and play games, so providing opportunities to do both at the same time is a win-win. As your child jumps, skips, shakes his body and sings to melodies, he will be making memories and learning valuable skills that encourage creativity, improvisation and physical activity. From competitive dance games to sing-offs, show your toddler just how fun games can be when you add a little music.
Identity Crisis: Making a Full Circle with Faith
When I was in 2nd grade, I wanted to be a teacher. The thought of holding that red pen and bossing a bunch of kids around seemed exciting to me. In 8th grade, I wanted to be Joan Jett, singing rock songs to a crowd of screaming fans. In high school, I decided I wanted to be an accountant, crunching numbers and filing taxes all day long. By the time I took my first managerial accounting class in college, the appeal quickly faded.
Parenting Pitfalls: How to Turn Flaws Into Faith
We are all flawed. From eating too many sweets and over-indulging in material items to shirking our responsibilities at times and giving into greed. As a parent, I’d love to say that I’m flawless, but I would be lying. I’m not as consistent as I should be, I give in when I shouldn’t and I sweat the small stuff when there are bigger things to worry about. As much as it is difficult to admit it, this parenting gig is full of trial and error and even though my children are teenagers, I’m still making mistakes left and right while doing my best to get it right.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 