Show you love them

Talk, sing, play, and read with your child every day.

• Talk and sing with your child, as this is a first step in language development.
• Understand that singing and listening to music is good for your child’s development.
• Provide a safe place for your baby or toddler to roll, crawl, and explore. If possible, “child-proof” the entire home.
• Sit and play on the floor with your child daily, knowing that children learn through play with simple toys and household items such as pots, pans, bowls, and wooden spoons.
• Recognize that daily supervised outdoor play, including running, climbing, swinging and sliding helps children develop strong bodies and minds.
• Realize that when you and your child play “pretend” together, she is learning to use her imagination and understand her world.
• Spend time each day reading to your young child, watching for her cues to continue or quit.
• Look at books, talk about the pictures and the story; this will teach language and new words.
• Try different voices for the characters in a book and encourage your child to act out the story.
• Play rhyming games, recite nursery rhymes and do fingerplays to help your child notice the sounds of words.
• Help your child notice words and other print in the world around you.
• Understand that sharing a favorite book with a caring adult can provide comfort to a child, as well as a love of books and reading.
• Limit TV watching and when you allow your child to watch, sit with him and talk about what you see, remembering that young children should not watch the news or adult programs.
• Get a free library card so that you can visit the library often and check out a variety of books.
  

Make sure your children know they are loved!

• Show love with hugs, smiles, kisses, talking and looking directly into your baby’s eyes.
• Remember that your baby cries to communicate with you.
• Understand that giving attention to a baby is not spoiling; when you respond to your baby’s cries and coos consistently, his learning is stimulated and he develops trust.
• Talk to your baby even before she seems to be able to understand what you are saying, and she will soon talk back to you.
• Imitate his coos and sounds; diaper changing, feeding, bathing and dressing are good times for you to talk with your young child.
• Say your child’s name in a cheerful, caring voice.
  Really listen when your child talks to you.
• Avoid calling your child names when discussing her behavior.
• Encourage and support your child by showing appreciation for his accomplishments.
• Improve your child’s self-esteem by teaching her how she can help others.
• Say “yes” and “I love you” more often than you say “no” or “don’t”.
• Make sure that your child has regular health exams and receives all appropriate immunizations (shots).
• Seek help from specialists if you have concerns about your child’s development or need extra help during times of family stress.

Demonstrate in ways she can understand that she is unique and special to you.