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[C1288]Crochet For Babies And Toddlers

by Connie Limon, Con

&bull Provides baby with a variety of learning opportunities
&bull Baby and/or toddler can explore his environment at his own pace
&bull Self-reliance
&bull Learns how to focus attention
&bull Learn from mistakes
&bull Strengthens identity
&bull Frees mom and dad to do tend to chores, make phone calls or just relax
&bull All the above experiences boost a child's self-esteem

Children usually see themselves as a separate individual for the first time at around 8 months of age. Independent play helps a child become a friend to him and helps him to feel comfortable around other children.

A baby content to play solo is a great asset for parents as well. While your child is entertaining himself, mom or dad is free to do a chore, make phone calls, or just relax. Introducing your child to solo play is not just a matter of placing him in a room by himself and leaving him there.

Before you introduce your child to solo play, here are a few things you need to consider:

&bull Your child's age and developmental stage (the older he is, the longer he will be able to play alone)

&bull Your child's temperament (an even-tempered, calm child may be more willing to start solo play at a younger age than a feisty, demanding child.

To begin solo play:

&bull Establish an alone time period every day
&bull Put the child in a small area that has been childproofed
&bull Offer the child a few of his favorite toys or books
&bull tart playing or reading with him
&bull When your child is involved in an activity, remove yourself from his immediate vicinity.

If your baby is under one year old, do not leave him alone completely. Instead, sit a few feet away and offer words of encouragement every few minutes to help give your baby a sense of security. As your baby gets older, go to the other side of the room or leave the room entirely for short periods of time. Be sure to stay near enough to hear inside the room where baby is. Peek in regularly to ensure baby's safety. Before you leave the room, talk to baby a little about what he is doing before you leave, and after you have peeked in on him.

Some children will stop playing as soon as you do. If this happens, try playing with him for a few seconds, then walk away for a few seconds. Return to play. Keep up this routine for a few days so your child understands when you leave, he can expect you to return shortly. Over time children become more interested in their toys than in your comings and goings.

If your baby cries the moment you are out of sight, try letting him initiate solo time. If he crawls into a nearby room, wait a minute or two before you follow him. If you need to leave baby for a few minutes, tell him you're going and reassure him with your voice when he fusses rather than rushing back to him. It may take some time, but eventually your baby will learn being alone is not so scary.

It is not always the child who resists solo play. Sometimes it is mom or dad, who has received so much information about stimulating their children. If they are not stimulating some kind of activity every spare minute of the day they think they are doing something wrong and feel guilty.

The importance of quality time for parents and children cannot be overemphasized; however, parents should not take this concept to the extreme. It may be difficult to sit and watch your baby play alone. You just need to remind yourself that it is a necessary, positive learning experience for your child.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use the information in this article to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

By: Connie Limon -

It's best to start a bedtime routine as soon as possible with your baby. As young as 6 to 8 weeks, your baby can benefit from establishing a bedtime routine. Having a nightly pattern will allow your baby come to appreciate the consistency. Knowing what's coming next helps your baby to relax. Being relaxed helps your baby to go to bed easier and fall asleep faster. Even when you are away from home, try to keep your baby's routine. While trying to settle down your baby in an unfamiliar place, the routine can help make it easier.

Giving your baby a bath, putting on pajamas, story time, or playing a game are some ideas to include in your routine. Choose activities that are calming to your baby instead of being exciting so it is easier to fall asleep.

A bedtime routine is not only good for your baby but for the parents also. It gives a special time for bonding at the end of a long day. Here are some ideas for bedtime routines you may want to try.

Sometimes before settling your baby down allow him or her to release pent up energy. Having a horsy ride or bouncing in a bouncer or on a knee is great ways to let off some steam. After all this excitement, be sure to follow up with an activity that is calming and quiet. Only do this if your baby falls asleep easily when it's bedtime otherwise it's probably too much excitement.

The bedtime ritual that has a soothing effect is a bath. Your baby gets warm, clean and usually relaxed. Try using lavender scented baby wash for an aromatherapy bath. It's probably best to skip the bath for a nighttime ritual if it awakens your baby or your baby doesn't like them very much.

Play peek-a-boo, stack blocks, or have some floor time. Playing quiet games add some fun to your bedtime routine.

Reading a bedtime story to your baby is one of the most popular routines parents establish. This benefits your baby by exposing him or her to a large vocabulary, which helps with language skills.

Playing CDs or tapes of classical music, lullabies, or kids' favorites can drown out outside noise. This may help your baby go to sleep faster if they listen to the music. If you don't want to play music, use a sound machine instead. Sound machines usually play nature sounds like rain or ocean waves. It is a good idea not to let your baby rely on music or sounds unless you plan to take it with you should you have to travel.

Try singing to your baby at night. Sing a well-known song and start a tradition in your family. Your baby will eventually learn that after the song is complete, it's time for sleep.

As you're taking your baby to bed, say good night to household objects, pets, people, favorite toys or other items. This is a fun way for your baby to recognize bedtime and no favorite stuffed animals are left out.

There are many activities you can include in your bedtime ritual. Have fun experimenting with the different methods and choose the ones that work for you and your baby.

Article Source : Toddler Activities

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Both Connie Limon & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Connie Limon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Dogs and Colon Cleanse. For More Article Of This Author Visit ::