How to Educate Your Baby

Today I got a Facebook question from an old friend that I had so much fun answering, I thought I'd share it here.  My friend had a baby that was due within a couple days of my Prince (I don't remember which of us ended up having our baby first)  This is what she asked.  "Since our babies are so close in age, I was hoping you might be able to point me in a direction of age appropriate learning?"

So, for her and anyone else interested in how to help your baby learn, here are my thoughts.

At this age she needs lots of free play time. Children learn through play and that starts now. She should have lots of opportunity to play with materials and move around on the floor. She's learning new motor skills so quickly right now.  Going from rolling, to crawling, to standing and eventually walking.  Give her lots of time to practice these exciting new skills.  That means trying to limit time in the car seat, swing, exersaucer, etc. to give lots of floor time. (I type this as my baby sits across from me in his baby swing).

 Avoid anything electronic for a few years. Tons of research shows that TV is really bad for babies brains. Even toys with lights and sounds are not the best for babies.  There are pleanty of advertisers out there who will try to convince you that their video, electronic toy or computer game will make your baby a genious.  Don't believe it!  Babies especially need to interact with REAL PEOPLE AND THINGS.  This is so important.  I also don't recommend flashcards for infants or toddlers, real books are so much better.

 Outside play time is importnat too- get as much of it in as possible now before the weather gets too cold.  I'm not very good at this one.  I'd usually rather be inside, but babies (especially once they're old enough to wear sunscreen, after 6 months) should have playtime outside whenever the weather allows.

 Interact with your baby. Talk with her as you go about your daily activities. Talk about what you're doing, what she's doing, what happened last, what's going to happen next, etc. etc. Then make sure you take time EVERY DAY to READ to her. She is definaely not too young to enjoy books. Start with sturdy board books and allow her to feel, play with and mouth them...you want her to learn to love books. You don't have to read the pages as written. Most of these books don't have many words on the page anyway. Instead, talk about what you see in the pictures. Use the same books over and over again, the repetition is good for her brain, but also introduce new books every once in a while. At this age babies especially like the touchy-feely books such as the Usborne series "That's Not My..." (Full disclosure: I sell Usborne books)

Sing to her too. This is great for her language development. Nursery rhymes are good for this as well.  Songs and poems accustom babies brains to the rhythm and flow of language, besides introducing lots of interesting vocabulary words.

She's a bit young yet for art, but by her first birthday you can start doing finger painting and things like that with her. That's a fun stage to look forward to :)

For more information about the best learning activities for children from infancy through the preschool years I highly recommend the book "Play- The Foundation that Supports the House of Higher Learning" by Lisa Murphy.  This book is written to Early Childhood Eduators and parents of young children

Big thanks to my brother for teaching me how to put hyperlinks into my text so you can go right to the sites that sell the books I'm recommending.

What learning activities do you enjoy with your baby?

Book of the Week- If You Decide to go to the Moon by Faith McNulty

This week my Princess was learning all about the Moon.  One day I picked up another of the many   books we had borrowed from the library on this theme and started to read it to her.  I hadn't had time to read through this book before sharing it with my daughter.  I had just flipped through the pages, observing that the illustartions were interesting, but it was fairly long.  I wasn't really expecting anything very special...but then I started to read.

This book is written in second person- the speaker is talking directly to the audience.  It is like a guidebook to what to expect if you decide to visit the moon.  They writing style was so unique that it captured my daughter and my attention right away.  We both learned a bunch, but it certainly wasn't a dry book of facts.  Did you know that there is no sound on the moon, since there is no air for it to travel through?  Did you know that the flag that was place on the moon by the Americans was knocked over when they left the moon and that it was created with wires to make the flag appear to be blowing in the wind- even though there is no wind?  But what I loved most about this book was how the author and illustrator worked together to give you an idea of what it might actually feel like to be on the moon.

There is a surprising pull-out page at the end of the book, showing life on planet earth- made possible by the water and air we need to protect.  Its contrast to the black and grey pictures of the moon is striking.  I highly recommend this book for any child who has an interest in space or wants to learn more about the moon, and anyone who just wants a good story to read.

Do you have any favorite books that are full of facts presented in a fun way?

Book of the Week- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Last week I recommended a book published in 2013.  Once in a while I find a treasure in the books written today, but most of my favorite children's books were written some years ago.  Why?  It's not because there aren't still great children's books being written today.  The problem is that so many of the books written today are what Charlotte Mason would call "twaddle"- books with no depth, that really don't encourage children to think and use their minds.  Books that I can't be bothered to read mroe than once.  I'm sure there was much twaddle written fifty years or more ago as well.  After all, Charlotte Mason coined the term more than one hundred years ago.  But those books didn't stand the test of time.  When I reach for a book that is still being published many years later, I find that I'm much more likely to find a treasure, simply because the books that weren't worth reading have been weeded out with time leaving mostly the really good ones.

All that to say that the book that is our favorite this week is a book originally written in 1941.  As I told Princess this morning, that's before I was born and even before her grandparents were borh!  But this story is timeless and I love reading it again and again.  The pencil drawn illustrations are rich with detail, leading to conversations about different things every time we read it.  "Make Way for Ducklings" was a Caldecott winner.  It tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard who must find a place to raise their ducklings and of the great adventure Mrs. Mallard has leading her ducklings through the city.

This is not a story for children who are inexperienced with read-alouds.  The sentence structure is complex and the pictures aren't as bright as most modern books.  But for a child who has been gradually lead into more and more complex stories, with daily read-aloud times since infancy, this book is a gem.  My 2 and 4-year-olds both love it. 

Are there any older books that are favorites in your home?

Book of the Week- The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf

Princess- "Little Pig, Let me Come In!"
Angel- "Not by my chinny chin chin!"
Princess- "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!"
Crash!  Down goes anther house of blocks followed by giggles and squeals of delight.

My children can often be heard acting out the story of "The Three Little Pigs".  I'm sure I've read at least half a dozen different versions of this traditional story to them.  It neven ceases to be a favorte.  We've already read and enjoyed some spoofs of this story, including "The True story of the Three Little Pigs".  Sometimes when the kids want a story and I don't have a book on hand, I tell them my own version, "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig".

Recently we discovered a new version of the old story at the public library.  My book recommendation this week is "The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf".  With bright illustrations that draw in both my girls and a humerous story line that keeps me saying yes to the "read it again Mommy" requests this book is a winner in our home.  The story is of the three little pigs, recently laid off from their job on the farm, who go out to make homes for themselves.  The somewhat bad wolf comes along and is surprised to find that he can actually blow down a house!  I like that the wolf is portrayed as not too good, not too bad.  Often times the characters in literature for young children are very one-dimensional.  This book shows the wolf in a different light.  I love the surprise ending of this story, but you'll have to read it yourself to find that.

What is your family's favorite fairy tale?

2013 Curriculum Choice

 

My 4-year-old Princess is the only child officially doing school this year.  For her pre-k year, we are using the curriculum from My Fathers World called “God’s Creation from A-Z”.  This curriculum is designed for kindergarten, but I believe Princess is ready for it now, so we are using it this year.  This program starts below the level Princess is at presently with reading, so we are supplementing with readers such as the Bob books and the books from the Usborne Very First Readers series.  I am so excited about doing this program with her.  There are great Bible lessons, tons of Science activities and good practice  pages for her phonics and fine-motor skills.  Also, there's a book list of hundreds of titles that I'm excited to share during our read-aloud time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to The Read-Aloud Momma

Hi!  Welcome to the Read-Aloud Momma's all new blog.  I'm so glad you decided to stop by.  I thougt I'd start by letting you know what to expect on this blog.  As a homeschooling Mom I spend most of my days at home with my family.  I love it (most of the time) but others might wonder what we do all day.  So, I thought I'd share some of the experiences I have along this journey with you.  I plan to focus mostly on the fun things we do in our little homeschool and especially the great books we share together.  I'm a little obsessed with children's books and I'm a huge believer in the benefits of reading aloud to children, so you can expect to find lots of book reviews along the way.

So, who are we?  Well, I'm the Mom, teacher and reader.  I'm a daughter of the King of Kings and trying to follow His leading in my everyday.  I'm the wife of the love of my life, who I married only three months after we met in Bible school (sometimes called Bridal School).  I have three young blessings.  My princess is 4-years-old.  She loves to paint, play in the sand, draw, and listen to stories.  She is also learning to read.  My angel is 2-years-old and she likes to climb, build with blocks, put puzzles together and listen to stories.  Finally, my little prince is 6-months-old.  He likes to move, watch his big sisters, try new foods and listen to stories. 

I'd love to hear about your family.  What is your favorite book that you like to share?