by: Anne Rimando
As parents, it is a common denominator to have the desire for our
children to grow up prepared to any challenges their lives have to
offer. Mothers, just like my own mother, are always anxious that they
are making the right decisions for their children or guiding their
children make the right directions every single day as early as possible
to get a head start in this world. This is not a bad thing at all. In
fact, this is the very manifestation of unconditional love that many
writers such as myself love to write about.
I’m not exactly a mother yet but I have often wondered that if I have to
start a family soon, what values can I impart my children to at least
say that I’m proud of what I have accomplished later on. Paranoid much?
No, not really. If you watch the news or read the daily news and see
crimes being committed, I’m sure most of you have tried to analyze and
understand the inner workings of the criminals’ minds. And you also
realize and agree with experts that the common thieves and common
rapists are products of broken homes. The basic values have not been
instilled and these individuals suffer from low emotional intelligence.
Probably as children, they haven’t been guided to think creatively and
solve problems according to specified rules. These individuals become
lawbreakers because they think that there are no other ways to solve the
problem they are faced with. Discipline and self-control are concepts
they have trouble grasping.
I’m not an expert so I won’t be dwelling much into how criminals become
criminals. Instead, I’d like to focus on the idea of rearing our
children to become creative thinkers and effective problem solvers. If
you’re not aware of this yet, there is a strong correlation that exists
between music training and brain development. Mental development is
crucial in helping our children become better citizens because
obviously, everything happens in the brain. I love music. It has helped
me so much in my life in dealing with problems, and emotional outbursts.
And so when I heard about researches regarding music and the brain, I
became interested. I learned that music literally light up all the areas
of our brain. Our brain have left and right spheres where only a
certain region is utilized in most activities but with music training,
all of the regions are utilized. Advanced technology such as PET scans
and MRI imaging have made it possible to monitor the brain while the
subject is engaged in listening to music or playing an instrument. And
the entire brain “lights up” when we do so.
So in line with this, it is a great idea for your children to engage in
musical training. I’m sure you are already familiar with some parents
making their child listen to classical music as early as possible. The
idea is there but I suggest kicking it up a notch. Sharon Burch, a
product of musical environment and influences came up with a way to make
music learning easy and fun for young children. To help parents make
their kids smarter, Sharon Burch created Freddie the Frog® where through
his adventures, musical concepts are easier to grasp and retain for
children.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
How to Adjust Your Baby's Natural Sleeping Rhythm
Day sleeping is similar to eating, every child is different. Develop a
schedule based on what you see in your baby, and once that schedule
naturally forms, try to stay to it. You have to bend your schedule
around your child's if you want consistency. In other words, if your
baby usually goes to sleep at 7:30 P.M., don't take her to a class that
starts at 7:00 P.M. or leave for the mall after 6:00 P.M. Plan your day
around baby's sleep schedule, and both of you will be much happier
because you'll soon fall into a predictable rhythm.
A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M. to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00 P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after 7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of course she's fussy¡ªshe's tired, and it's past her bedtime!
The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes. By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on. To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime¡ªgive baby a bath, sing a special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do something that signifies this is different from a typical nap¡ª and stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise.
Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.
A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M. to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00 P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after 7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of course she's fussy¡ªshe's tired, and it's past her bedtime!
The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes. By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on. To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime¡ªgive baby a bath, sing a special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do something that signifies this is different from a typical nap¡ª and stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise.
Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.
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