Wednesday 23 November 2011

When and How to Start Toilet Training for Toddlers?

Learning to use the toilet is the big step for the toddler and parents. For toddlers it is something new to learn. Some children learn it quickly while others take more time to train. Each child learns at his own pace. It is important to wait until your child is ready to learn potty training. Don’t rush to teach your child. Keep patience and don’t consider toilet training as a project and don’t associate it with success or failure.
 
Recommended age to begin potty training

As such it is not easy to decide right the right age for potty training for your child. The pediatricians usually recommend age between 18 months to 36 months. Usually, it depends on the child's development and readiness. As before this age, most children's bladders empty so frequently, it becomes difficult for them to control. 

How Long Does It Take?
 
Obviously, the toddler doesn’t learn it overnight. The process easily takes between 3 to 6 months. This may differ from child to child, as may take less time or others may take more.
 
Tips for teaching toilet training -

• You can try to help your child recognize sensations like –“being wet” and "about to be wet" etc. Encourage your child to talk about these sensations whenever possible. Notice signs such as pausing while playing, when child becomes uncomfortable. Also, make the child notice these signs.
 
• It is important to make the child familiar with the bathroom equipments. A child who becomes familiar with bathroom procedures and equipment is more likely to get trained than others.
 
• Teach your child or make him practice lowering and raising training pants.
 
• Buy products that will help you to potty train your kid. Buy a handy potty chair on which the child may sit perhaps while you are in the bathroom yourself.
 
• Some toddlers may show sign of being mentally and emotionally ready but physically they may not be ready. They may not be able to handle the pressure. Therefore, best is- rather to struggle to potty train your child it is best to wait.
 
• Overall potty training process requires complex combination of physical and cognitive tasks. Your child has to learn to associate to the physical sensation with the proper response.
 
• More than the child it is the parents, who need to be ready to start the toilet training process. At least one parent requires devoting time and energy to toilet train the toddler.

Monday 14 November 2011

Celebrating Childhood on Children’s Day

Time for fun n frolic and abundant delight as Children’s Day is here to make all toddlers smile.  Yes, it’s 14th November and whole of our country celebrates it as Children’s Day.  The occasion is commemorated to pay tribute to the India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birthday. All children lovingly called him ‘Chacha Nehru’ and he truly cherished this endearing name.

He had great love for roses and often children used to gift him one. He felt children were just like roses and he compared them. According to him, children were like the buds in the garden and they should be nurtured carefully and lovingly. He also often used to say that – children are the future citizens of the nation and thus they were real strength of our country and foundation of the society.

Children are like precious gems. They are divine gifts from god to the parents. Their innocent smile and laughter makes everything so colorful and bright. Truly, they signify pure and faithful love. Therefore, Nehru emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children.

Amidst all this celebrations, one should not forget Chacha Nehru's real message. That is providing our children with a safe and loving environment to the children, in which they can grow with ample and equal opportunities. This day serves as a reminder to every one of us to renew our commitment for the welfare of children.

Celebrations in schools

Most schools hold cultural performances on Children’s Day. One such popular school – Mother’s Pride held fest on the occasion.  Children rejoiced the most as the day was filled with fun and fanfare. There was singing, dancing and storytelling and what not.
The children were let loose to enjoy to the hilt. There was no stopping for the little ones and whole environment of the school was filled laughter and smiles of the toddlers.  The school arranged special treat for the kids and the highlight was a little candy stall, that witnessed huge crowd of kids. All together, kids had gala time. They hoped celebrations would never end.


Thursday 10 November 2011

Right Age for Toddlers to begin Reading

Toddlers are at a stage where they are learning a language and familiarizing it.  Also, it is a stage when they are building their communication skills and experimenting with new words and vocabulary. Reading at such crucial juncture can help toddlers to spark up their brain development and imagination. Though every parent is aware of the fact that reading is essential for over-all child’s development but they don’t know what age to pursue their little ones to read?

What age is right age?

Children usually don't start reading before the age of 5 or 6 that’s because its takes time for toddlers to develop neural connections with printed letters and they learn slowly to decode them.
Though reading for toddlers sets the foundation for later independent reading. But before they can read independently, they need emergent literacy skills, which include – basic understanding that marks on a page represent letters and words and knowing the letters of the alphabet, knowledge of vocabulary and its usage, most importantly they need understanding of phonemic awareness.

Parents can read to their child as often as possible. It is the best way to help him or her learn to read independently. Reading words while pointing them out to the toddlers helps them to connect the sounds to words.

Choosing books for young toddlers

Toddlers have a very short attention span, and it is very difficult to keep them focused for long. It is natural for such young children. That’s why interactive books are recommended for them. By using interactive books or tools with interactive stories, the toddler improves his/her vocabulary and develops language comprehension well.

Picture books - Toddler books with pictures provide more elaborate plots and illustrations that catch attention of the little ones. Subjects range from ABCs to animals, feelings to favorite characters.

Colors and Shapes- Toddlers are dazzled by bright colors and bold shapes. One can try books which features familiar objects that will teach children basic information in an appealing, hands-on format. 

ABCs-  Playing with letter blocks and singing the alphabet song are must-dos for ABC learning, but these educational books will captivate your toddler and set them on the path to letter recognition.
                           
These types of books are great to introduce your little one to the pleasures of reading, and most have educational benefits as well.