Small Memories

Parenting isn’t easy no matter what your child’s age. Learn how to give your child the best life has to offer with these six tips.

Every parent wants to give their child the best things in life. From the time your child is conceived, companies are vying for your attention and money. When your child is young, you search for the best diapers, carriers, feeding method, detergent, etc. In the beginning it’s relatively easy to find “the best” things with a little research. As your child grows into a young adult, the best choices may not be so clear.

Here is how you can make sure your child always gets the best in life. It’s really very simple. Give yourself. Twenty years from now, it won’t really matter which diaper, carrier, or car was bought as long as they were safe. What will matter is that you give your child the following things that money can’t buy. These are the things he will remember and carry with him for a lifetime.

• Your Unconditional Love - With your unconditional love, your child gains a sense of security, safety, the confidence to try new things, and the courage to sometimes be wrong.
• Your Ear - Listening to your child teaches him that what he thinks and feels is important. In turn, this suggests that he is worthy of your time.
• Your Eyes - When you watch your child proudly jump off the bottom step, build with blocks, play in a ballgame, etc., you are giving him a sense of accomplishment and teaching him to value his efforts.
• Your Smile - Your smile conveys so many things to your child. It can signal approval, support, understanding, humor, openness, approachability, and so many other things. Learning to read your smile will help give him confidence as well as the ability to function well in society.
• Your Hand - Giving your hand to your child teaches your child that support is available, as when he falls and needs to be helped up. It also helps your child understand what loving, appropriate, and comforting touches are like.
• Your Family History - When you share your family’s history with your child, you are giving him roots that ground him in his heritage, connect him other family members, create a sense of pride in his ancestors’ ability to overcome hardships, and teach him to persevere.

Stand on the diaper aisle for twenty minutes to decide on brands, if you must. Worry over the best book titles to buy, if you will. Spend sleepless nights pondering the consequences of getting this haircut over another, if you’d like. Whatever else you do, make sure that you give your child the really important things in life: your love, your ear, your eyes, your smile, your hand, and your history. Remember, good parents and fond memories are ultimately the best things life has to offer.

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When you give yourself and your time to your child, make sure you give them reminders of your special times together.

Reading aloud to your children during their first three years is very important. Here are a few things you should know about reading and the power of your voice.

You learned when you were carrying your baby that your voice could encourage wonderful responses from your baby. It was then that your unborn child began to learn about emotions, language, and even reading! Yes, you read it right. Reading.

During the first three years, children develop most of their ability to learn. Their little brains grow to about 90% of the size of an adult’s brain. That’s why toddlers tend to look sort of top heavy. Because they are growing and learning so quickly, You have to act fast too!

It’s important for parents to talk, read, and sing to their budding readers. When you verbally communicate with your child, unbelievable things happen inside his/her brain. Your voice stimulates the growth of new cells and links as well as strengthens cells and links that have already formed. Imagine that! Your voice has more power than you ever realized!

Many parents want to jump right in to formal education at this time but it’s through play that children learn the best…at least for the time being. What can seem like play to adults is actually work for children. Acting out a story or song, playing dress-up, doing finger plays, dancing to music, and drawing all encourage the development of pre-reading skills.

So you see, what you do or don’t do has a lasting effect on your child’s ability to read. Make the most of the time you have with your baby/toddler. Talk, read, sing, play in order to raise a reader!

Here are a couple of books to help you out. They are available in the Baby/Toddler Books section of our Family Favorites Shop.