Yesterday, I posted a blog on new science findings that suggest that babies learn in utero...
I have been fascinated by these ideas... and have taken a deeper dive on understanding how babies learn...really trying to understand the role of parents and caregivers in aiding this learn... if in fact - parents and caregivers need to do so..
I came across this CNN article discussing research that suggests that babies are smarter than we think. In this article Alyson Gopnik talks about how children learn through play - " Very young children learn best from their everyday experiences of people and things, and from being able to playfully explore the world in a safe setting with people who love and care for them" - Seems to me that the very best way to nature our children and facilitate their learning is to offer an environment that fosters play and allows kids to explore the world around them...
More food for thought... the next time I see my kids taking their time getting ready as they playfully go through our busy morning - I hope I remember Alyson's conclusions.. "Children thrive when they are loved, and they learn when they explore."
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Learning
I just listened to a TED talk by Annie Murhy Paul - that was pretty interesting....
In her talk she mentions that babies learn before they are born.- they learn about taste, smell and sounds - research shows that babies cry is shaped by their mother's native language ..so as to attract her and foster bonding... interesting...
As I was listening tot his TED talk, I drifted away to thoughts about my own experience with my 2 children - trying to remember if their cry was the same, if they have the same taste and do the same things.. when my second son was born - we were shocked at how much he looked like his big brother - and in fact, to this day - we call them "twinkies" - what has been surprising to me is that they display very similar behaviors - their growth charts are almost identical, except for the fact that my odlest son was always about 1-2 inches taller at different points in time. We find it very intersting watching them play in the same way - without having taught each other to do so .... when my oldest son was 2, he used to like lining up cars and forming this long lines with all his toy cars... my second loves to do the same - except he prefers trains over cars...
This talk kinda makes sense - and actually explains alot of what I have been experiencing... if learning starts really early on influenced in utero - then it totally makes sense that my boys learnt the same things / responses in utero - hence their similar behaviors and responses...
Food for thought....
In her talk she mentions that babies learn before they are born.- they learn about taste, smell and sounds - research shows that babies cry is shaped by their mother's native language ..so as to attract her and foster bonding... interesting...
As I was listening tot his TED talk, I drifted away to thoughts about my own experience with my 2 children - trying to remember if their cry was the same, if they have the same taste and do the same things.. when my second son was born - we were shocked at how much he looked like his big brother - and in fact, to this day - we call them "twinkies" - what has been surprising to me is that they display very similar behaviors - their growth charts are almost identical, except for the fact that my odlest son was always about 1-2 inches taller at different points in time. We find it very intersting watching them play in the same way - without having taught each other to do so .... when my oldest son was 2, he used to like lining up cars and forming this long lines with all his toy cars... my second loves to do the same - except he prefers trains over cars...
This talk kinda makes sense - and actually explains alot of what I have been experiencing... if learning starts really early on influenced in utero - then it totally makes sense that my boys learnt the same things / responses in utero - hence their similar behaviors and responses...
Food for thought....
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Mommy, I drew a picture of you and me enjoying the golden sun, do you like it?
We keep a stock of cute little cards that are blank inside that we use as "emergency cards" - in case we go to a birthday party and forget to buy a birthday card - or if we want to say hello to a friend.. etc
Yesterday morning, my almost 5 year son was adamant about drawing a card. He was adamant about getting me to give him a card to write on.
See - he is very proud of his penmanship - now that he is starting to draw and write a little better!
Unfortunately - we were running real late! I had a choice to make - let him get this card and the trade off was that I would have to get him ready "speedy style" as we call it as the option to get himself ready would have been out of the window. He doesn't like "speedy style" as it means that mommy gets to brush his teeth, hair and wipe his face - and yes dress him up - so we can be ready in 5 minutes instead of 15 minutes! And he does not like that either as he would rather do it "by self", as he says.
So -- I used the good ol' parenting tool - choices - i asked him to choose between working on the card + get speedy style dress up or - no card and you get to get ready "by self" - and the boy was torn and he asked if he can add a choice!!! What? - yeah there's another option - how about if I work on the card and we do some "speedy style" and some "by self"? I said ok - as long as we are not late. I set the timer for 10 minutes and told him that when the timer goes off I get to finish getting him ready "speedy style"... and offcourse baby brother couldn't be left out of the action - his big brother had gotten him to sit down and draw out a card for me as well -
The timer goes off - and my son was still "working on the card"...
I get over to the room where he is working on the card - trying hard not to get agitated as now we are really getting late.. and as I am getting ready to give him a little lecture - he turns around and says to me "Mommy - here's a card for you..." I looked at the card - and he said " I drew a picture of you and me enjoying the golden sun - do you like it???? "
Offcourse I love it! I feel guilty for a minute as my anger melts away - then I give him a huge hug and kiss - when he says - mommy we have to do speedy style or we'll be late....
At that moment - I realize something - maybe parenting is not soo much about us teaching kids what to do - its about following our intuition - and guiding our children to help them make the right choices - coz after all - we all end up happier when we work together to get things done - that includes getting ready for school in the morning!
Yesterday morning, my almost 5 year son was adamant about drawing a card. He was adamant about getting me to give him a card to write on.
See - he is very proud of his penmanship - now that he is starting to draw and write a little better!
Unfortunately - we were running real late! I had a choice to make - let him get this card and the trade off was that I would have to get him ready "speedy style" as we call it as the option to get himself ready would have been out of the window. He doesn't like "speedy style" as it means that mommy gets to brush his teeth, hair and wipe his face - and yes dress him up - so we can be ready in 5 minutes instead of 15 minutes! And he does not like that either as he would rather do it "by self", as he says.
So -- I used the good ol' parenting tool - choices - i asked him to choose between working on the card + get speedy style dress up or - no card and you get to get ready "by self" - and the boy was torn and he asked if he can add a choice!!! What? - yeah there's another option - how about if I work on the card and we do some "speedy style" and some "by self"? I said ok - as long as we are not late. I set the timer for 10 minutes and told him that when the timer goes off I get to finish getting him ready "speedy style"... and offcourse baby brother couldn't be left out of the action - his big brother had gotten him to sit down and draw out a card for me as well -
The timer goes off - and my son was still "working on the card"...
I get over to the room where he is working on the card - trying hard not to get agitated as now we are really getting late.. and as I am getting ready to give him a little lecture - he turns around and says to me "Mommy - here's a card for you..." I looked at the card - and he said " I drew a picture of you and me enjoying the golden sun - do you like it???? "
Offcourse I love it! I feel guilty for a minute as my anger melts away - then I give him a huge hug and kiss - when he says - mommy we have to do speedy style or we'll be late....
At that moment - I realize something - maybe parenting is not soo much about us teaching kids what to do - its about following our intuition - and guiding our children to help them make the right choices - coz after all - we all end up happier when we work together to get things done - that includes getting ready for school in the morning!
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
The Internet of Things... for babies?
The fiscal times posted an article a few months ago titled "The internet of things is coming for your baby"
From baby monitors to nanny cams, to wearable devices to track your toddlers and older kids ... the internet has changed the way we do things, how we watch our kids.
I think there is a lot of good (and not soo good stuff) that can come out of all of this... Time will tell..
For now - I am thankful for these options!
Here is a list of some of the products in the market today (or in the very near future):
Mimo Smart Baby Monitor
Owlet baby monitor and alarm
MonBaby baby monitor
Withings Smart Kid Scale - and grown ups - there is something for you here as well - ranging from wrist watches with time and activity trackers, to blood pressure monitors - you name it!
I never tried the fancy baby monitors - as they weren't available when my tots were babies , but I did uses webcams and I must say, I love them and still do! I love watching my tiny tots when I am away.. or if they are in day care or even when a baby sitter is watching them... the result??? I have more peace, but I don't pay attention to my work or school or date night (woops!)
What about wearable devices for tracking kids? I haven't gone that far yet - but I must say - I am tempted to get the devices especially when I go out to crowded areas with my two kids - kids get easily distracted and wonder off... would be nice to be aware of this behavior - esp when you a parent / caregiver is outnumbered by the kids..
From baby monitors to nanny cams, to wearable devices to track your toddlers and older kids ... the internet has changed the way we do things, how we watch our kids.
I think there is a lot of good (and not soo good stuff) that can come out of all of this... Time will tell..
For now - I am thankful for these options!
Here is a list of some of the products in the market today (or in the very near future):
Mimo Smart Baby Monitor
Owlet baby monitor and alarm
MonBaby baby monitor
Withings Smart Kid Scale - and grown ups - there is something for you here as well - ranging from wrist watches with time and activity trackers, to blood pressure monitors - you name it!
I never tried the fancy baby monitors - as they weren't available when my tots were babies , but I did uses webcams and I must say, I love them and still do! I love watching my tiny tots when I am away.. or if they are in day care or even when a baby sitter is watching them... the result??? I have more peace, but I don't pay attention to my work or school or date night (woops!)
What about wearable devices for tracking kids? I haven't gone that far yet - but I must say - I am tempted to get the devices especially when I go out to crowded areas with my two kids - kids get easily distracted and wonder off... would be nice to be aware of this behavior - esp when you a parent / caregiver is outnumbered by the kids..
Monday, August 31, 2015
Product reviews
Hey guys
We are starting a new service in Kenya - to help parents find great products at great prices!
We are encouraging you all to bring in any ideas/suggestions to share as we build this community together!
Buyers can change the marketplace - lets use this forum to sound our voices on great products!
Looking forward to a great journey together
Best regards,
The Mums N Tots family
We are starting a new service in Kenya - to help parents find great products at great prices!
We are encouraging you all to bring in any ideas/suggestions to share as we build this community together!
Buyers can change the marketplace - lets use this forum to sound our voices on great products!
Looking forward to a great journey together
Best regards,
The Mums N Tots family
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