...Simple Steps to Successful Parenting
BEST PARENTING ADVICE
BEST STARTS FOR KIDS
Why Talking to Babies is Important
Did you know the greatest rate of learning occurs in the first three years of life?
This page contains a case study identifying the importance of opening your mind to early learning possibilities
Something to consider...
From when my eldest son was born, like most other mothers, I talked to him. I made nonsense sounds using different mouth shapes. And I did one specific thing...
I repeated the word 'Dad, dad, dad,' much more frequently than any other word.
At the time, part of my 'tongue in cheek' reason for choosing those sounds was because I wanted my husband to hear him calling 'Dad, Dad, Dad,' in the middle of the night and get up to him, (which failed.)
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But the real reason I chose 'Dad' was, it was easily recognizable for me and I wanted to find out how long it would take until I heard it back.
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What age do you think my son was, when he said his first recognizable word?
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Now if I hadn't been watching for that particular sound I likely would have missed it. But for me it was the sign that my three-and-a-half month old, wanted to communicate with me. And it changed how I related to him.
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It encouraged me to talk with him more. And as a result, he was speaking by about fifteen months. I can recall, when he was twelve months old, standing on the lounge and looking out the window. He said 'Ball, sky, Mummy.' Which was his attempt to inform me about the moon.
This showed me he was already making sense of his world, linking things he knew, and then expressing it through language.
Simple Takes
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The language you provide in your home, sets your child up for future learning:
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Language needs to progress over time to be: functional, instructional, informative and complex
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Smile when you communicate with babies. Get in close and talk. It encourages them to talk back
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Carry babies, or have them nearby. It exposes them to much more language
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Your baby has been hearing your voice in utero. Their understanding may be greater than you realise
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Read a book a day from around 5-6 months, or whenever they're listening. It builds children's vocabulary and comprehension
You may believe it, or not, but the first time I heard my son say 'Dadada,' back to me was when he was only three-and-a-half months old.
Although I'd taught hundreds of kids I was astounded. As an early childhood educator, I'd always been aware how important early learning was, but I found the time frame until he made a recognisable utterance incredible. But I've realized since, beginning to make repetitive sounds at that age is normal behaviour, although may often be dismissed as just cooing.
Strong Foundations Support Greater Success
​Now I tell you this information, not to brag. It's simply to encourage you to open your mind. Looking forward, by the age of four, he was recalling complex dinosaur names and incredible detail about them. I used his interest in dinosaurs to scaffold his learning about many other things.
By the age of seven, he represented his school in public speaking and won the local area championship. He went on to become School Captain and regularly gave speeches. My other son was selected for and attended a merit-based GATS placement.
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Both boys were selected for merit-based academic high schools. They attended university, graduated and are full-time employed in the fields they chose. I strongly believe their success began with early language.
Once, when we were visiting a friend in hospital, and he was still a toddler, he started singing the ABC Song. Everyone, including me, stared, dumbfounded. He looked like a baby singing the alphabet. And I had no idea he even knew it. It seems he'd picked it up independently from when my mother minded him and had the T.V. playing nearby.
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And this is where the real benefits of early language became obvious. As a toddler he began to learn things very rapidly and often independently.
Is it possible if you assist your child to develop early language they can communicate using words and therefore don't need to resort to tantrums to express large emotions?
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Best Parenting Advice.com is a high quality parenting website designed with child and family success in mind. It highlights what successful parents do differently to those who struggle. Best Parenting advice.com provides free online resources for busy parents who want the best practical advice on: how to give kids a best start in life, better tips for parenting toddlers, effective child rearing strategies, behaviour management tips, successful goal setting and organizational strategies for successful families, easy family dinner recipes, self-care tips for time-poor parents and free kids learning games. The aim of Best Parenting Advice.com is to provide quality practical parenting tips and advice to best help children and families succeed using the convenience of a website.
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This website provides examples of what worked for me over decades and you are welcome to use these ideas as you see fit but you do so at your own risk. Best Parenting Advice.com does not provide any guarantee that this information will work in every circumstance with every family or with every child. It is your responsibility as a user of this website to ensure that you adhere to any recommended safety suggestions either implicit or explicit on this site and supervise your children while playing any games suggested. Similarly users of this website are advised to follow any recommendations for seeking professional advice as all information on this site is generic. Best Parenting Advice.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with any other groups, clubs, religious organizations or educational systems.
Best parenting takes time. The best parenting advice ever is simple: Do your best, don't give up and love your children, no matter what.