Playtime with Baby: Six Great Games!

Playtime with Baby: Six Great Games!

April 13th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Play is crucial to your baby’s development, as is interaction with you. It stands to reason that playing games with mom and dad are a great way to help your baby learn and develop. Simple, fun games are perfect for the kind of one on one attention your baby craves. Don’t worry about the flash cards just yet – your baby is learning plenty just from games just like these.

Peek-a-boo! I See You!

The classic baby game is popular for a reason; it’s fun, it’s simple, and babies absolutely love it. You can play in any number of ways too, from simply covering your face with your hands and pulling them off suddenly, to hiding around a corner and popping out to baby’s delight. Turn the tables on baby by tossing a light blanket over her head, and then pretending you can’t find her. She’ll giggle with delight when you pull the blanket down and “discover” her. Eventually, she’ll pull the blanket off herself, and watch for your reaction. Peek-a-boo comes full circle!

Bucket of Fun

Start with any kind of container, such as a bucket, basket, or box. Grab a pile of blocks or other small toys. One by one, drop them into the bucket, counting out loud, then let baby dump them out to her great pleasure. Next, change the game up a bit, dividing the blocks into colors and adding them one color at a time. Ask baby to help you pull them back out in the same manner.

Baby Hand

Play this game on a day when you don’t mind a little noise! Pull out various items in the kitchen such as pots, bowls, and cups (plastic, please!) and turn them upside down. Hand baby a wooden spoon and grab one yourself, and drum out some rhythms together! Baby will love making all kinds of different sounds, and making noise with not only your permission but your complicity is twice the fun.

Delicious Baby!

Nothing will make your baby laugh harder than pretending to eat up his little toes, fingers, and especially his tummy. Go all out with the performance, making lip-smacking and chewing sounds, and you will be rewarded with even bigger giggles. Label the body parts as you go to help baby learn their names.

Ready for Take-off

When baby is old enough to hold his head up very well, help him to take to the air! Holding him on his tummy with your arms underneath him, and fly him around the room making airplane sounds. For older babies, try lying on your back on the floor with your feet up in the air. Carefully arrange baby on your feet so that you can lift him into the air, holding onto his hands for balance. Then bring baby in for a landing by slowly dropping him onto your chest for a kiss on arrival!

Build It Up, Knock It Down

Baby will love building towers of blocks with you. See how high you can build and then get ready for the best part; tearing it down! Babies love to make a mess, and watching mom or dad get a good laugh out of their Godzilla act is just the icing on the cake.

There are endless possibilities for fun games you can play with baby, as long as you don’t mind getting down on the floor and getting a little silly. The rewards of baby’s learning and laughter are well worth it.

Your Baby: The Third Month

Your Baby: The Third Month

March 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In the third month, you will start to see your baby’s personality emerging. Along with this new insight into who this little person is, you will also watch her strength and interaction with the world around her grow by leaps and bounds. As routines become established, the early sense of chaos a new baby brings will subside, and life with baby will become a little smoother.

Growth and Feeding

Rapid growth continues into the third month of life, but you may find that your baby isn’t waking as often at night wanting to eat. As your baby gains weight, she is able to sustain herself for longer periods of time without needing food. Night feedings will continue however, as she isn’t ready to go all night without eating yet.

Sleep Patterns

Your little one should have her days and nights straight by this point, and is starting to understand that night is for sleeping. Daytime sleep will settle into a routine in the third month as well, and you will be able to predict more accurately when your baby will need to take a nap, and when it’s safe to head out of the house. Encourage the sleep routine by sticking to the schedule as much as possible. You might find that disruptions to the routine will result in a very cranky baby.

Physical and Cognitive Development

In the third month your baby will gain muscle strength swiftly. He may be able to support his weight on his feet with your assistance, and will also be able to sit up with support. Neck control becomes much better; although when upright you will probably notice his head wobbling and when tired he may lose control and drop his head down on your chest or shoulder.

Your baby will discover a new favorite plaything sometime this month: his hands! You may see him waving them around before his eyes and putting them in his mouth. He will also use his newfound tools to hold objects and move them about. In the third month your baby will really start to enjoy brightly colored toys, especially if they make noises. Different textures will also fascinate him, and he may hold items and squeeze them, exploring the way they feel. Mirrors are another great toy at this age, as baby will be utterly fascinated by his own reflection.

Because your baby is able to stay more upright, he may show more interest in books at this age. Choose sturdy board or cloth books with contrasting patterns and large, colorful images. As you turn the pages, he may reach for the book or even vocalize in response to certain images. A familiar book will begin to elicit even more response. While the instinct might be to keep the book out of baby’s reach while you read, go ahead and let him touch and explore. You may never reach the end of the book, but he will be learning nonetheless.

Vocalizations will increase this month as baby adds new sounds to his repertoire. He may even try to imitate sounds that you make. At this point you may also be able to differentiate between different types of crying that indicate different needs. Your baby is beginning to understand better how to use his voice to communicate with you.

By the end of the third month, you may feel you don’t even recognize your baby anymore! The tiny newborn has been replaced with an active and interactive infant who is ready and willing to take on the world.

Your Baby: The Second Month

Your Baby: The Second Month

March 6th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In the second month of your baby’s life, great things will begin to happen. Your baby will begin to interact more with you, move around more, and you will likely even see that first smile.

Growth and Feeding

Throughout the second month, your baby will continue to require around the clock feedings to keep growing. And growth is still going strong this month, as your baby may gain another 1-2 pounds. You will also notice he is getting longer. Although babies gain in length in the first month as well, this will become more evident as the second month passes and he starts to stretch his legs more, allowing you to see him at his full length.

Sleep Patterns

While sleep will likely still be erratic, you can expect some longer stretches of sleep at night in the second month. Developing a bedtime routine and sticking to it will be greatly helpful at this stage, as he starts to learn the difference between day and night. Your baby still needs 15-16 hours of sleep a day, but towards the end of the second month he will start to get more of that sleep during the night hours and be awake more during the day. A simple bedtime routine consisting of a bath, feeding, and a song or story will help him to understand when it’s time to go to sleep.

Physical and Cognitive Development

Your baby is making great strides in the second month! She will be able to hold her head up at a 45 degree angle when placed on her stomach. Regular ‘tummy time” throughout the day will help her to develop the neck strength necessary to do this, as well as for future endeavors such as pulling up and crawling. She will start to wiggle around a lot, kicking her arms and legs. If you hold a toy out to her, she might reach for it or bat at it, and may even hold it and shake it around a bit.

As eyesight improves, your baby is starting to take in the world around her. She will follow an object with her eyes, and will also start to respond to your facial expressions. When something tickles her just the right way, you will be rewarded with a smile. While you may have seen baby smile in her sleep previously, you will now be seeing responsive smiles. Your baby is truly starting to interact with you!

This interaction will also start to extend to baby’s vocalizations. During the second month, you will hear her make some new sounds to get your attention. While crying is still the main way of telling you she needs something, she will now start offering coos and vowel sounds as well. Responding to these sounds will encourage your baby to continue vocalizing and develop these early language skills.

While all this new interaction is very exciting, remember that your baby is still very young and can become over-stimulated easily. Watch for signs that baby is tiring, such as breaking eye contact, becoming fussy or crying, and pulling away. When you see any of these signs, it’s time to switch to a quieter activity.

Now that your baby is stronger and more alert, you will probably want to start taking her out to explore the world. At this age baby will enjoy riding in a stroller or front carrier and being able to take in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Be sure to dress her for the weather to keep her warm but not overheated.

The second month is filled with exciting milestones and a new type of connection with your baby, and you will start to see the world in a new way as you see it through your baby’s eyes.

Your Baby: The First Month

Your Baby: The First Month

March 5th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The first month of your baby’s life is a special time of bonding, cuddling, and adjustment to the major changes that have come into your home along with this new little person. While mom and dad learn to function on a lot less sleep, baby is doing more than it might appear.

Growth and Feeding

Shortly after birth, your newborn will lose up to 10% of her body weight. This is perfectly normal, and soon after she will get started on a newborn’s main task: gaining weight and growing. It’s not unusual for a baby to gain up to two pounds in the first month of life. In order to accomplish this task, your baby will eat frequently, and need to feed around the clock. Her small body requires regular nourishment, and that includes feedings in the middle of the night!

Sleep Patterns

In the first month of life, your newborn has not yet developed circadian rhythms. Simply put, she just doesn’t know day from night. Your baby will sleep and wake at what might seem to you to be strange and in some cases downright unpleasant hours. Some babies are often fast asleep much of the day and wide awake come nightfall. Most newborns sleep a total average of 15-16 hours per day, but this is usually broken up into 2-3 hour stretches of sleep, with wakeful periods in between. As your baby grows, her stretches of sleep will become longer.

Physical and Cognitive Development

Some babies are able to briefly lift their heads from birth, but most will slowly develop the necessary strength. Over the first month of life you will notice your baby’s increase in strength as he starts to lift his head for longer periods, especially when placed on his stomach. Newborns have limited eyesight, and see best from a distance of about 8-10 inches. Hearing is well developed and your baby will respond readily to the sound of voices, especially those that are the most familiar to him. He is already able to tell the difference between voices, and knows the sounds of mom and dad. He will start to respond to the sound of your voice by turning his head towards you and seeking for your face.

Much of your baby’s behavior at this point is instinctive. Hands will generally stay in a clenched fist, but he will grasp at a finger or object placed in his palm. The fetal position remains the most comfortable to a newborn, used to the confinement of the womb. This is why newborns often find swaddling to be comforting. Newborns startle easily, and your baby may jump at sudden noises or even in his sleep. This is called the Moro reflex, and he will grow out of it in time.

Newborns cry reflexively to communicate their needs, and your baby will probably cry fairly frequently in the first month. Soon, he will come to understand that crying elicits a response from mom and dad, and will begin to do it with more awareness. Towards the end of the first month, your baby will begin to understand that you will be there to fill his every need, and he has only to cry to get your attention. This is the beginning of trust and security.

The first month is a time to settle into life with your newborn, and to begin the bonding process. Enjoy this special time of cuddling and getting to know your little miracle, who wants nothing more than to be in your arms.

Learning at the Table: Meal Time and Motor Skills

Learning at the Table: Meal Time and Motor Skills

March 4th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

From the very first time your baby starts to eat solid baby food, a new opportunity is created to learn and practice new and important motor skills. Meal time isn’t just about eating! It’s also an important part of your child’s development.

Starting Early

Even though your baby is nowhere near ready to feed himself when he first starts on solid foods, there is no reason you can’t let him have his own spoon right from the start. Bring two spoons to each feeding, one for baby to hold and one for you to feed him. Soon he will start trying to imitate what you are doing with the spoon, dipping it into the food and bringing it to his mouth. It will be messy, but your baby is laying the foundation for feeding himself while learning new motor skills.

Finger Foods

Somewhere around 8 months old on average, your baby will be ready to start self-feeding in earnest. The right place to start is with finger foods that dissolve easily in the mouth but are fairly easy to pick up. Small chunks of banana or the classic baby snack, Cheerios cereal, are great choices for first finger foods. Using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small items, also known as the “pincer grasp” is an important milestone and finger foods will help to develop the fine motor skills required.

The Right Tools for the Job

When your baby is ready to really use utensils, she will need her own fork and spoon. Look for utensils with thick, easy to grasp handles made of a non-slip material. Plastic forks are good for early practice, but they will soon frustrate your little one as they don’t work very well. Instead, look for a metal fork with rounded tines to avoid potential injury, but enough of a point to allow easy spearing of food. When choosing a spoon, try to find one that is not too flat and won’t spill easily. Utensils should be short, as anything too long will be difficult for little arms to maneuver.

Getting Started with Utensils

Learning to use a fork and spoon are a great chance to work on manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Although the spoon is the first utensil a baby encounters, most children will learn to use a fork faster, mainly because the food stays on the fork more easily than on a spoon. Start with an easy to spear food like small pieces of melon or pear. Place the fork in your child’s hand and guide her through the motions of spearing the food, and bringing it up to her mouth. You’ll be rewarded by the sight of her face lighting up with joy as she realizes she can eat just like you do!

Using a spoon requires even more skill than a fork. Learning the scooping and lifting motion to get food onto the spoon, and then the careful balance required to get the food all the way to the mouth are difficult tasks. Thick foods like oatmeal and yogurt are a great choice for learning this skill, as they will be less likely to spill off the spoon. Encourage your child to lean forward, towards the dish so that the spoon doesn’t need to travel so far.

The process of teaching your baby to self-feed can be messy, but remember that you are developing motor skills and life skills too!

Three Steps to Potty Success!

Three Steps to Potty Success!

March 3rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Are you ready to take on potty training? Is your toddler ready to learn? If you can answer these two questions with a resounding yes, then it’s potty time!

Not sure if you should answer yes? Well, you are ready to go if you are prepared to be patient, stick with it, and deal with a few messes along the way. More important than your readiness, you need to be sure your little one has the ability to use the potty. Your toddler should be capable of recognizing when she has soiled her diaper, and should ask to be changed. She should also be able to pull her own pants down and up again, and should understand what the potty is for and how it works. Finally, it’s important that she is able to stay dry for a few hours at a time.

When you are sure it’s the right time to give it a try, there are a few easy steps you can follow to maximize your chances of success.

Step One: Get Ready!

Take your prospective big kid out with you to select the tools you will need. Let her have a say in choosing a potty. Start out with a potty chair rather than a training seat that fits over the toilet, as toddlers are more comfortable when their feet can touch the ground. You will want a potty that is easy to clean, offers a large splash guard if you have a boy, and is sturdy and comfortable. You can also let your toddler pick out her first big kid underwear. Use the shopping trip as a chance to get her excited about using the potty! Talk it up, and show her you are excited too!

Step Two: Let the Diapers Go

While it may seem like a good idea to let your toddler wear a diaper for long outings to avoid accidents, it unfortunately won’t be good for the learning process. Unless he sees the results of an accident, your toddler won’t learn anything from it. The best way to achieve faster potty success is to go cold turkey on the diapers and let him learn from each mistake, no matter how many there may be at first. The same rule applies to training pants. They are useful at naps and overnight as night training often takes longer, but don’t be tempted to use them during the day. By holding in those accidents, they will hold your child back from progress. Put the big kid underwear on right away from day one, and don’t look back.

Step Three: Try, Try Again!

It will take a while for your child to start recognizing the signs of needing to go, and telling you about it in time to make it to the potty. The best way for him to learn is to spend as much time on the potty as possible. This may mean putting him on the potty every 15-20 minutes the first day, and letting him sit there as long as he is willing. Try reading books or singing songs to keep him occupied. Every time you have a success, celebrate! Let him know what he did was a very good thing indeed, and you are proud of him. Eventually, he will make the connection, and start using the potty on command. When he has mastered this, you are in the home stretch.

These three simple steps are the keys to potty training success. Remember, it might take a while for your toddler to catch on, but it will happen if you are consistent and keep at it. And the trade-off for cleaning up a few accidents is a big one – never having to change a diaper again!

The Basics of Potty Training

The Basics of Potty Training

March 2nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Every mother looks forward to the day when she will be free of diapers, but the thought of taking on potty training can scare even the bravest mother into grabbing another box of Pampers instead. Teaching your toddler to use the potty doesn’t have to be a scary proposition; just be sure your little one is ready, and have the right tools at your disposal.

Is Your Toddler Ready?

No matter how ready you are to ditch the diapers, potty training will only frustrate you both if your child isn’t ready to learn. These are some of the signs your toddler is ready:

  • Tells you when her diaper needs changing and shows discomfort with being wet
  • Stays dry for a few hours at a time during the day, wakes up from naps dry
  • Able to pull her pants up and down
  • Shows interest in using the potty, and understands what it is for
  • Can recognize the need to go

Choosing a Potty

Ready to train? Then it’s time to choose a potty. There are two potty options: small potty chairs that sit on the floor, and potty seats that fit over the toilet. Most experts recommend the potty chair to start. Toddlers learning to use the potty will be more comfortable if their feet can touch the floor, especially for bowel movements.

Potties offer many different features. Look for one with an easily removable container for waste that is also easy to clean. If you are training a boy, look for a large enough guard to keep urine from going over the seat and onto the floor. Some potties have a seat that comes off and can be used on the toilet. Others convert to step stools for hand washing. If possible, narrow down your choices and then let your child have a say in the final pick to help get her excited about using it.

The Final Touches

Before you sit your big kid down on the potty for the first time, there are a few more things you will need. Pick up some big kid underwear (again, you’ll find your little one more willing and excited if he can choose), some flushable wipes, and some potty-time entertainment such as new books. The day before you are ready to start, talk to your toddler about it, and explain what is going to happen and what your expectations are.

There are a number of different schools of thought on how to get a toddler to use the potty. Some parents use rewards such as small treats or a sticker chart. Others use heaps of praise. What all successful parents have in common are persistence, patience, and consistency.

It’s Potty Time!

When you are armed and ready, it’s time to sit your little one down on the potty. Don’t expect results right away. Give him a few minutes, and if there is nothing, try again soon. Set a short interval between attempts, fifteen to twenty minutes. If you are consistent and stick to the plan, it won’t be long before you are celebrating your first success! When he has an accident, express mild disappointment and move on. Remember that toddlers learn as much from accidents as they do from successes.

Potty training doesn’t happen overnight, and every child is a little different in how quickly they will catch on. Some kids will get it in a few days, and others may take a week or more. Don’t give up! Soon, your diaper days will be only a memory.

Talking to Your Baby: An Important Learning Tool

Talking to Your Baby: An Important Learning Tool

March 1st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The first sound that a baby recognizes is his mother’s voice. In the womb, it is the sound that is most frequently and easily heard. From birth, a newborn will respond readily to this familiar sound, and it has the power to soothe, comfort, and calm. As the baby grows, both parents’ voices also have the power to teach. Talking to your baby is the best and easiest way to encourage his language development.

Why Talking Matters

For most parents, talking to their baby comes naturally. Greeting him in the morning, encouraging him at new tasks, and even holding one-sided conversations are all things parents do without thinking. Eventually, the baby starts to talk back, first with simple sounds and then with more complex vowels and consonant combinations that will eventually become words. What most parents don’t realize is just how much impact they are having on baby’s language development, just by talking to him every day.

The Truth about Baby Talk

While you might feel a little silly using baby talk with your infant, it actually helps your child to learn language if it’s done the right way. You may have heard that using baby talk can be detrimental to language development. The truth is that it really depends on what you mean by the term “baby talk”. Some parts of what we know as baby talk are good for language development, and others are not.

It’s important when talking to your baby to use the proper words for things, so that he can learn them. Your baby may call his bottle a “baba”, but although it may be cute, you should continue to respond with the correct word to encourage him to learn it. It isn’t necessary to correct the improper pronunciation, but be sure that your child hears it pronounced correctly. When it comes to sentences, keep it simple or it will be difficult for an infant to pick up the words. Use short sentences with fewer words, and don’t say more than you need to at once.

When you hear the term baby talk, you probably think of speaking in a very sing-song cadence with a pitch that rises and falls. It may seem instinctive, but there’s good science behind it. Research shows that babies respond well to this tone, much better than monotone speech, and learn to recognize words better.

Labeling and Learning

The concept of pointing out and labeling objects when talking to babies isn’t a new one. Parents have been doing it since the birth of language. But recent research shows that there is a new dimension that can really help your child to pick up new words. In their recent bestseller NutureShock authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman reveal the concept of “motionese”. It’s a simple idea – just move each object around in the air while you name it, drawing her attention and keeping her focused on that object. This easy to use tip will help your baby pick up new words faster.

The authors of NutureShock also share research supporting the theory that how much you talk to your baby is just as important as what you say. The more you speak to her, the quicker language will develop. Furthermore, how much you respond to your baby’s vocalizations is important too! Respond to her attempts to communicate with you as much as you possibly can, and you will see, or rather hear, the results.

Talking to your baby is the most important tool any parent has to teach language and improve communication. With a basic understanding of what works and why, parents can maximize the effect of every spoken word.

Choosing the Right Books for Your Child

Choosing the Right Books for Your Child

February 28th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Reading books with your child is crucial to his development of language skills, and of course, literacy. But the children’s section at a bookstore or library can be daunting, with thousands of books to choose from. Luckily, there are a few simple things to look for based on your child’s developmental stage.

From Birth to Twelve Months

In the early months of life, babies are drawn to high contrast images and more than anything to human faces. Eyesight is still developing, and babies focus best at a distance of about a foot. Choose books with simple, large images with contrasting colors, especially black and white, and simple patterns. Books with a lot of close-ups of faces are a wonderful choice at this age.

After about 6 months old, your baby will start to interact a lot more with toys, people, and books too. In addition to wanting to touch books and turn pages, you will probably catch him chewing on books as well, as babies at this age explore the world with their mouths. Because your little one is now so hands – and mouth – on, look for sturdy board books that can withstand baby’s attention.

This age of learning by touch is the perfect time to introduce books with tactile features, such as a book about animals that offers fuzzy patches of fur for little hands to feel. Your baby will also start to recognize familiar images of things that are a part of his daily life, so books that include simple images of these things are a great choice.

With baby learning to sit up in the tub, this is also the age to check out bath books. Books made of waterproof materials, with simple stories and colorful images will make bath time as much about learning as it is about fun.

The Second Year

Around the time your baby smashes his first birthday cake, you will be noticing great strides in language and communication skills. At this age, the words in the book will start to become more important. Look for repetitive, rhythmic and rhyming text, and simple stories involving everyday things. Images are still important too! Look for colorful illustrations that help to tell the story, and that she can start to associate with the text.

As the second year of your child’s life unfolds, she will be learning at a very fast pace, and books are an important part of improving vocabulary skills. Books that have only a few words related to what is on the page will help her to recognize and learn the names for the objects pictured. It’s a great time to start a dialogue about the book by having her point out what she sees on the page.

Toddlers and Beyond

Further into the toddler years, your child will start to enjoy the story as much as the images. Understanding the text and being able to ask questions, point things out and even read along as familiar books are committed to memory, children at this age become truly active participants in reading. You will even start to catch her repeating the words to the story aloud while thumbing through the pages without your help. This is a great time to choose books with more involving stories. Books that address common childhood hurdles and fears are a good choice, and as her sense of humor develops, funny stories will be a hit.

Choosing the right books is not hard when you are aware of how age and development play a role in reading. With the wide selection available in bookstores and libraries, the possible choices are endless, and so is the fun you can have reading with your child. Still need a little help deciding? Take a look at this comprehensive list of the best books by age from Parents magazine.

How Reading Aloud Benefits Your Child

How Reading Aloud Benefits Your Child

February 27th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Reading is one of the most important things you can do with your child, and the list of benefits is long. By reading to your baby from early on, you will give him a head start on literacy and language skills as well as expose him to whole new worlds of knowledge. And on top of all this important learning, reading is also a wonderful chance to enjoy quality time together.

A Time for Bonding

Holding your child in your lap to read a book is important bonding time for both of you, and it will help to encourage a love of books and reading. Your baby will learn to connect reading with love and comfort, and he will look forward to the quiet time spent cuddled with you while enjoying a good story. Reading offers a one on one experience with your child that he will come to treasure, and develops a deep connection that will last a lifetime.

Developing Language Skills and Vocabulary

Reading aloud to your child introduces him to all the basics he needs in order to learn how to talk. Your child will hear new sounds, which will help him figure out how to pronounce these sounds and form them into words. While it might be a long time before you hear complete sentences from him, your baby is already picking up the concepts of sentence structure and grammar both from your speech and from the books you read aloud to him. Children who are read to are more likely to begin reading at a younger age, as they have developed a familiarity with and love for the written word, and have more advanced language skills.

Expanding Knowledge

You may not be able to take your child to visit a farm, to another country, on a cross-country journey by train, or sailing on the ocean. But with books, she can experience and learn all about these things right at home. Reading about a variety of topics gives her a wider knowledge base, which will serve her well later in life. Choosing the right books will also offer you the opportunity to teach your child about different cultures and places; this in turn sets the stage for teaching opportunities about diversity. This is one of the many ways in which books can help you to instill values and ethics in your child.

Preparing for School

Learning to read is a basic and necessary skill in school, and the better prepared your child is the stronger her chances of success. Reading to your child helps her to learn the most basic concepts of literacy, like being able to tell words from images on the page and knowing that the words go from left to right. Not only will she already have a good foundation for learning to read on her own, but she will also have learned to listen, as well as to sit still and pay attention. These abilities are all vital to your child’s academic success. Research has shown that children who are read to early do better not just in reading, but in all their studies.

Reading to your child is so important to her intellectual development that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you read to your child daily from 6 months of age. However, there is no reason to wait until 6 months; you can start reading to your newborn right away. Even if your baby falls asleep, or is more interested in playing with the book or chewing on it than in reading it, making books a part of her day will set her up for a lifetime of literacy.

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