Infants in the womb are soothed by the ever-present beat of a
mother's heart. Babies of all ages still respond to a steady beat
no matter what form it takes - rhymes, music, windshield wipers, dishwashers,
etc. Rhymes also provide interesting repetition of the sounds we use
in everyday language. Using familiar rhymes on a regular basis encourages
your child to make sounds and eventually form first words.
Books
You will learn how to effectively share books with babies. We
will also provide books for independent sharing, and the instructor
may recommend books that are most popular with babies. For infants,
a book represents the closeness of being held and the soft sounds that
come from a familiar person. Eventually, they will understand how a
book "works" and that the black squiggles somehow correspond to the
sounds the reader makes. These are all pre-literacy skills that better
prepare your child for a lifetime of learning.
Free
Play
At the end of the session, we'll do what we think comes naturally
to all caregivers. Playing is how babies learn, and your involvement
can enhance their enjoyment and enlightenment. It's fun to see how other
people play and how babies respond to each other. This is where some
of your best discoveries will originate - either through observation
or conversation (with babies and adults!)
Parenting
Information
During the rhymes, reading, play or activities a myriad of skills
or hurdles will be encountered. The instructor will provide information
about many of these issues with articles, presentations, demonstrations
or simply through conversation. We welcome your questions and will do
everything we can to find solutions for you. Sometimes the best resource
is the person sitting next to you on the floor!
Handmade
Toys
The playthings that babies enjoy most are always the least expensive
ones. You'll have the opportunity to construct simple, effective toys
from items we all have around the house.
