Infant Learning

great thanks to Pamela Brill

Baby Einstein series

With more than 20 videos in the “Baby Einstein” collection, parents can select from a variety of subject matters, as outlined below. Viewing tips are suggested for enhancing the learning experience either during the showing or afterwards. Download video guide here for easy reference.

“Baby Einstein Baby’s Favorite Places.” Babies 12 months and up are introduced to first words from around town, both spoken and in sign language.
Parent-child viewing tip: Walk or stroll into your own town and explore all the places — the park, library, school — seen in the video. Say the word for each place and sign it with your toddler.

“Baby Einstein Meet the Orchestra — First Instruments.” Infants 12 months and up learn about the instruments that make up an orchestra and the different sounds each produces.
Parent-child viewing tip: Create your own orchestra using things around the house. Pot lids become cymbals, a wooden spoon and plastic bowl can be drums, and an empty paper towel tube can be a trumpet.
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Thanks to Shaun Elmore, Clyde Hart, Caroline Brose

What Is Baby Sign Language?

Baby Sign

Communication cannot be bound by the barriers of age or language. Even babies can communicate their needs to their parents through sign language. It is the way of communicating with infants through signs and simple words to comprehend their needs. Have you thought how a newly born feels when he or she is unable to communicate what they want? To ease this problem, baby sign language has been developed. We have discussed it in the previous article, how to talk to your baby in his first year.

When one is unable to give words to expressions, then one takes the help of signs. Through the movement of the hands and other organs, a message is communicated to its receiver. This unspoken communication through signs is termed as sign language.

The concept of baby sign language was developed after the concept of sign language for the deaf. With the passage of time, it was discovered that the same technique could be adopted to deal with the kids. New born babies were in a position to listen and understand but what they lacked was the ability to speak.

The kids cannot give words to their expressions. They generally speak or start using words only after they reach twelve or eighteen months of age. This technique includes usage of small and simple words used at home or in day to day life.

Baby sign language is beneficial to both child and the parents. It becomes an instrument to build a communicating link between them. It also helps the child to improve his intelligence.
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Baby Einstein

In any given day, 8-month-old Anthony Esposito can be found clapping his hands, dancing, and chiming in to tunes pealing from his collection of videotapes. The Staten Island, N.Y., infant is apparently a big fan of the Baby Einstein series, with titles like Baby Mozart, Baby Shakespeare, and Language Nursery making regular rounds in his family’s VCR.

Across the country, in Alameda, Calif., 17-month-old Lauryn Nakamura seems to be equally riveted with her Baby Einstein products, says her mother, Lilybell. The Baby Einstein line of videos, DVDs, flash cards, software, books, CDs, and educational toys has captured the attention of many infant households. This week alone, Amazon.com’s top toy sellers include teaching materials such as the LeapStart Learning Table, Bake-A-Shape Sorter, Learning Drum, and Hug and Learn Baby Tad.

The Kaiser survey found that children 6 months to 6 years spend an average of two hours a day with screen media, mostly watching TV and videos. “There was anecdotal evidence of the trend toward younger and younger kids using media, but there had not been any national documentation of it,” says Vicky Rideout, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
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By: james sameul, nlwest21, and robi

First Baby Tooth

We have talked about baby teething in All About Baby Teething. But still, this topic is so interesting to be discussed. Baby teething can be a frustrating time for both the parents and the child. The first baby teeth to emerge are usually the two front teeth on the bottom gum, known as the central incisors. Some babies will start teething earlier. The majority of babies will begin to break in their first teeth between 4 to 7 months of age. It all depends on the child and how quickly their bodies will develop. You may find that your child will not break in their first tooth until they are 1 years old or less then 4 months of age.
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