by Carla Raley

Created on: July 15, 2009   Last Updated: July 18, 2009

All parents are interested in helping their child become an intelligent, happy, ready to learn person. And almost all children are born with a natural curiosity, ready to get into anything and everything. Just a little effort on the part of the parent will make your home environment a learning friendly place!

From the very start, catch the interest of your newborn by giving them bright, interesting things to look at. Hang mobiles over their bed and changing table. There are many toys you can hang on the bars of their cribs with lights, mirrors and music. But if money is short, put the crib near a window and pull back the curtains so the baby can see leaves moving in the wind, birds flying and clouds floating by. Make their room a place of contrasting colors and hang bright posters and pictures on the walls. Take the baby on walks as often as possible, either shading them in their stroller or bundling them up against the cold. Take baby with you where every you go, giving them lots of opportunities to see new things. Talk and sing to them constantly. Keep up a running commentary on what you are doing, and show them. They will love it.

As babies grow and you begin to buy things for them to play with, consider what you are buying carefully. Don't give them toys that do all the playing for them while they just watch. Buy toys that they will need to interact with. Give them a lot of blocks, Lincoln logs, legos, and things like that to manipulate and build with. Let them play with play dough. Put them in the tub with cups, spoons, and any type toy that they can pour, float, measure, and stick on the walls of the tub.

From the time they can walk, try and have a safe place where they can get outside and wander often, even if it's very small. A sand box and little shovels and buckets are wonderful outside toys for a young child. Give them lots of balls, push toys, and riding toys. Being outside is so good for a young child. If you can fence off a small area around the front or back door of your house, you can leave the door open and get some of your housework done while the child is entertained outdoors.

Very important is to realize that despite what the media would have us believe, TV and videos are NOT good for the young child. Studies are now showing that a child should not be exposed to TV before the age of three. It's not good for their developing brains, even if the makers of baby Einstein try to convince you otherwise. Your child's intelligence will be

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>