Lullabies To Lawschool (Birth To 5 years old)

Dunstan Baby Language

2008-08-16T19:36:00.001-04:00

*Recently I was at home watching a repeat of an Oprah Show that featured what I see as stress saving concept for mothers, fathers and childcare providers everywhere around the world *

For millions of sleep-deprived mothers around the world, this woman's findings could be a miracle! Priscilla Dunstan, a mom from Australia with a special gift, says she's unlocked the secret language of babies.

When Priscilla was a toddler, her parents discovered she had a photographic memory for sound. At age 4, she could hear a Mozart concert on the piano and play it back note for note.

Priscilla says her gift has helped her hear a special "second language" beyond English, allowing her to detect moods and even diagnose illnesses! "Other people might hear a note but I sort of get the whole symphony," Priscilla says. "So when someone's speaking, I get all this information that other people might not pick up."

That mysterious second language took on an astounding new meaning when Priscilla became a mother to her baby, Tom. "Because of my gift for sound, I was able to pick out certain patterns in his cries and then remember what those patterns were later on when he cried again," Priscilla says. "I realized that other babies were saying the same words."

Neh="I'm hungry"
Owh="I'm sleepy"
Heh="I'm experiencing discomfort"
Eair="I have lower gas"
Eh="I need to burp"

Those "words" are actually sound reflexes, Priscilla says. "Babies all around the world have the same reflexes, and they therefore make the same sounds," she says. If parents don't respond to those reflexes, Priscilla says the baby will eventually stop using them.

Priscilla recommends that parents listen for those words in a baby's pre-cry before they start crying hysterically. She says there is no one sound that's harder to hear than others because it varies by individual. She also says some babies use some words more than others.

Dunstan Baby Language-

www.dunstanbaby.com

-Correctly identify and address the needs of your baby.

-Your baby will cry less, settle more easily, and have more uninterrupted sleep.

-You can feel like a successful parent with an increase in self-esteem and a belief in your abilities to care for your baby.

-You will feel less stress as your baby becomes happier and more content. As your baby sleeps, so can you.

-New Mothers and Fathers alike feel more in control and confident.

American Baby Sign Language

2008-08-16T19:14:00.002-04:00

Teaching your baby, american sign language can be easy with the tips below! Have a look at the article and begin right away.

Baby Signing - Key Points to Succeeding

Now that you have decided you are going to teach your baby sign language you may anxiously want to see results and progress quickly but let's not forget some brief but important key points to succeeding.

1. Take It Slow:

Begin with one sign a week so as to not overwhelm and confuse your baby with too many signs too soon. Once you baby has learned that first sign move on to the next sign. The time will fly by before you know it.

2. Begin With Important Signs:

Begin with words that will help you decipher what your babies needs are and then their interests. Start with words such as food, milk, drink,more, done,hurt (or owie as my daughter calls it) and so on. As they grow turn you signing towards words that will be useful when playing games or any other interest they may have such as cars, trucks, or ball, etc.

3. Keep It Fun:

Chances are if you are not enjoying learning and teaching sign language to your baby, you won't keep at it. If you are frustrated with it, likely your baby will feel that frustration as well. One thing I love to do is sing with my children (although I'm not a good singer my babies never seemed to mind). I learned and taught my babies signs for farm animals. So, when I sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" I use the signs for the farm animals and they picked up on that and do them when we sing. It's fun and just becomes second nature to do while singing. Use the signs when reading to your baby or playing with a ball (sign "ball").

I've even noticed my children sign even when I am not signing back to them. They sign animal names when watching or listening to things like "The Wiggles" and "Sesame Street" or "Blue's Clues".

4. Don't Expect Perfection:

Don't expect your baby to be able to perform the signs correctly at first. In fact, they may use the same sign for more than one word but you will figure out what they mean don't worry about that. You may even decide to use a modified version of the American Sign Language (ASL).

There are a lot of products and books available to help you along http://babytalk-learn2sign.com/books.html whether you choose to teach ASL or a modified version of it.

5. Be Patient:
Signing like any thing else you learn takes time and practice. Don't expect to learn it all and teach it all in a few days or even weeks.

6. Be Persistent:

As the saying goes "Persistence pays off". Keep trying at every opportunity to use sign language and soon it will just become second nature to both you and your baby.

7. Involve Every Family Member:

Make it a family affair. Not only will this help your baby learn the signs by repeatedly seeing the sign when the word is spoken but it will also build a bond between all family members. Sharing and signing together.

Keeping those key points in mind, start now building a special bond with your baby and opening the so important line of communication.

7 Reasons Not To Mess With Children.

2007-07-20T13:24:00.000-04:00

1. A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah.” The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?” The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."

2. A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
3. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
4. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?” Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.” The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

5. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture” Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.” A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

6. A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.” Yes," the class said.” Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary positions the blood doesn't run into my feet?” AA little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet isn’t empty."

7. The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want God is watching the apples.”

10 Things To Ask Potential Babysitters

2007-03-11T19:18:00.000-04:00

10 Things To Ask Potential Babysitters

Choosing a qualified babysitter is one of the most important things a parent can do. So it's important that she not only have a rapport with children, but that she meets some other basic qualifications.

1. Ask her to come to your home for a visit.
Ideally, the candidate should visit your home, interact with your children and spend time with you face-to-face.

2. Ask her age.
Some experts advise against hiring a babysitter who is younger than 13 years old. Ultimately, it's your call. But age should always be a factor in an informed decision.

3. Ask her to talk about herself.
One of the best ways to get to know an interviewee simply is to ask. That's why "Tell me about yourself" is one of the most common requests of interviewers. By asking this question, you give your candidate an opportunity to be herself. That way, you get a chance to know her as a person. (To help facilitate a frank and open conversation, don't hesitate to tell your potential babysitter about your own hobbies and interests.)

4. Ask her why she likes babysitting.
It may sound simple — and this question certainly is straightforward — but give your candidate an opportunity to explain what attracts her to babysitting. After all, there are plenty of jobs available to an industrious young person. Find out why this is the job your candidate wants.

5. Ask what experience she has with children the same age as your child.
Babysitting a 2 year old is a quantum leap from keeping an eye on a 5 year old. So ask about your candidate's babysitting experiences.

6. Ask the sitter about what training she's received.
What first-aid training has your candidate received? Has she learned CPR or the Heimlich maneuver? Also, remember to ask about any babysitting classes she may have taken.

7. Ask practical, open-ended questions.
Scenario-based questions often are a good way to get to know how someone thinks. For example, you might ask your candidate practical "what-if" type questions, such as: What meal would you prepare for my kids while I'm gone? What kinds of games do you like to play with kids? How would you help my kids get ready for bed?

8. Ask more pointed what-ifs.
Once you've handled the more pragmatic, scenario-based questions, venture into less familiar waters by presenting questions that require slightly more thoughtful responses, such as: What would you do if my kids refused to go to bed? How would you comfort a worried or flustered child? How would you explain to my child that it's just too cold to go outside?

9. Ask about payment expectations.
It's a good idea to agree to payment expectations early on. Fees vary, but an experienced babysitter can usually expect to make between $5 and $10 an hour. If you have more than one child, sitters will most likely expect extra pay.

10. Ask for references.
Finally, ask your candidate to provide a list of references. Past performance is likely one of the most important factors to consider when reaching a decision.

Being the Stay at Home Mom of Kids Under 5 Means...

2006-12-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

*You know who Dora, Disney’s Little Einsteins, The Wiggles and Blues Clues are.

*Your "don't leave home without it" list includes sippy cups (filled with watered-down juice, of course), wet wipes, spare pants, underwear and socks, granola bars, lollipops, pull-ups/diapers, several board books, and band-aids.

*When asked, "What's that tune you're humming?", you are not at all surprised to realize it was "C is For Cookie".

*You are not embarrassed to sing several verses of "Head & Shoulders Knees and Toes", rather loudly, in the supermarket ( with actions), if that is what it takes to keep the kids occupied and get the shopping done.

*You find yourself discussing holes in the plot of "Dora the Explorer" with your husband or some friends.

*"Because I said so" has become a perfectly logical and acceptable answer to "Why?"

*You have (falsely) told your children that one or more of the following items is "broken" or "sleeping" on occasion, to get out of using it: the TV, an annoying video or CD, an annoying toy, the 25-cent merry-go-round in front of WalMart, yourself.

*You fully expect to find play-doh in the bathroom sink, Little People in the laundry basket, plastic dinner plates under your bed.

*You are sure that you will never go to the bathroom without "company" again.

*If it doesn't have a drive-up window, you don't go to it.

*Sushi and champagne have been replaced by frozen fish sticks and white 100% grape juice.

*You make a sandwich for yourself or your husband and automatically cut it in quarters.

*Pop Quiz: the kids are taking an unexpected nap! Do you: A) flop on the couch, flip through a magazine, flick through the channels; B) throw on a load of laundry, pay bills while it's washing, toss the wet clothes in the dryer, wash the kitchen floor while the laundry dries, pick up and put away toys while the floor dries...

*You sit down to update your resume for the first time in five years and come up with the following titles to describe what you do at home: maid, barber, nurse, short-order cook, juggler, chauffeur, entertainer, judge, jury, executioner, personal shopper, economist, accountant, referee, social secretary, warden.

*You have changed nearly every diaper, cleaned up every bodily-function "accident", endured every tantrum, meltdown, sibling battle and are actually glad you "didn't miss a thing".

*You know that motherhood is the hardest job you've ever had but you are so much better at it than you ever expected to be.

Oh How They Grow!

2006-12-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

1-3 months
Baby’s hand is curled into a fist that instinctively holds onto objects that are put into her palm. At two months the grasp is less reflexive and more controlled. At three months, the palm is weakly open but with little strength to grip objects.

5 months
Baby begins reaching for objects such as toys.
Baby might briefly grasp and hold toys.
Baby will enjoy sucking her own hands.

6 months
Baby is beginning to follow objects with her eyes.
Baby is sucking her feet and grasping objects between both hands

7 months
Baby is developing the ability to transfer objects from one hand to the other.
Baby’s finger-thumb grip develops and she can simultaneously grip objects in both hands.

8 months
Baby keeps hands open and relaxed most of the time.
Baby is starting to have the ability to pick up small foods, like Cheerios.

10 months
Baby is able to release an object voluntarily.
Gives toy to caregiver when asked.
Baby should be able to hold more than one object in her hand.