You’ve probably heard the expression, “Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” That’s empathy—the ability to understand and share another’s emotional experience, while setting aside one’s own thoughts and feelings. The development of empathy begins at birth. It grows over time as your child experiences all the different emotions and feelings that come with life, […]
Simple Ways to Nourish a Cherished Quality “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” – MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Kuhl, P. (2000). The scientist in the crib: What early learning tells us about the mind. New York, NY: Harper Perennial.
One of the best strategies to help your baby learn to speak is to take the time to slow down the conversation. Give your baby time to respond, verbally and nonverbally. Imitate her sounds and expressions along with your own words. Imagine taking your preverbal baby to the market. You can use parentese to help […]
Parentese isn’t the same as baby talk, which is basically made-up words. Instead, parentese is actually tailored to help your baby learn! Scientific research confirms that parentese enables babies to more easily distinguish the sounds and rhythms of their native language. Babies actually prefer parentese to the kind of speech we use with adults; they […]
Do you talk to your baby differently than you talk to other adults? If you’re like most parents, you absolutely do—and very differently at that. The playful, exaggerated style of speech that you use to talk with your baby is called “parentese.” Parentese is distinguished by: • Slower speech patterns. • Raised speech pitch by […]
The Art (and Science) of Parent Talk “The world talks to the mind. Parents speak more intimately—they talk to the heart.” – HAIM GINOTT
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2007). The timing and quality of early experiences combine to shapebrain architecture: Working paper #5. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2007/05/Timing_Quality_Early_Experiences-1.pdf
• Take your child for a walk. Share the experience together by using all of your senses and pointing out the smells of the flowers, the feel of the wind, the sounds of birds, and the beautiful colors of nature. Each time your child uses one of his five senses, a neural connection is made […]
• Being fully engaged with your child is paramount. Use your Eyes and Ears to help you stay focused—look, listen, and respond to your child. • When you engage with your child, put away technology and try to resist multitasking. • Clear your mind of other thoughts and feelings so you can be present with […]
