new parent questions

[newracer]

The biggest thing I would say is don't treat them like a little kid, don't talk down to them, don't baby talk them, don't "protect them from the world". Be involved, read to them when you can, when they are playing, play with them and put blocks in piles counting "1, 2, 3...", let them see what you do in life. My personal opinion (worth what you paid...) is that kids look to adults to see what they should know. If you baby talk, purposely use small words, that's what they will think they should learn. Encourage them to ask if they don't know. Take the 10 seconds to explain what a word means, or why you put that there, or did this, or whatever if they ask. Don't push off the lesson or assume they wouldn't understand.

This is great advise. I have always talked to my sons as if they were adults since they were very little. Their vocabulary and communication skills have always been very good. They now have no problem interacting with adults, they are 11 and 14 right now.

Reading to/with them is huge. Start it young and do it as much as possible. Encourage it

[alxone]

my kids are a whooping 3 months old , so things like 123 and rolling over are actually the concern right now

[Tinelement]

We like the Baby Einstein/Little Einstein. If you are into Religion, Praise The Baby series.

My oldest will be 3 in March. We have been working on Abc and 123 for a while now. He is doing awesome!! He can count to 20, knows most of the letters. We work on words and word association every night during story time.

[alxone]

We like the Baby Einstein/Little Einstein. If you are into Religion, Praise The Baby series.

My oldest will be 3 in March. We have been working on Abc and 123 for a while now. He is doing awesome!! He can count to 20, knows most of the letters. We work on words and word association every night during story time.

kids were given a baby einstine toy for Christmas and they love it (just plays music and lights up ) . ill definitely look into praise the baby series

[CO Hugh]

We've got a 6 and 9 year old and some may not agree but I think it's best to let them be kids and not force anything. If there are things they really enjoy reinforce those; there’s plenty of time to focus on everything else when they start school. Spending time with them and reading to them goes a LONG way. In pre-school and Kindergarten they'll work on colors, numbers and letters so if they don't have them down by then I wouldn't stress about it.

Setting routines is also very important, things like bed time, reading time, buckling up in the car, etc.

+1 take them shooting, camping and so on. They do need routines, but let them have fun and enjoy being kids. They get big too fast.

[Great-Kazoo]

If & when you start having discipline issues. Never raise a hand, NEVER use the button instead.
http://www.gundogsupply.com/dogtra1....ining%20collar

[Musashi]

Bwahahaha!

[Lurch]

Keep them off the TV unless you have no other choice. We let our daughter watch a bunch of the baby stuff and videos and now she seems addicted to TV. I'm slowly breaking her of the the habit by getting her out shooting, boating and fishing. She actually now love to go rock hounding. I have always been the one that you are either born smart or just normal. In other words I don't think you can teach a kid to be a genius it just happens.

[Scanker19]

I have a color chart I use. It helps me pick between red and white. It also shows what glass to use. You know cause you don't want to look trashy while getting drunk classy.

[blacklabel]

Keep them off the TV unless you have no other choice. We let our daughter watch a bunch of the baby stuff and videos and now she seems addicted to TV. I'm slowly breaking her of the the habit by getting her out shooting, boating and fishing. She actually now love to go rock hounding. I have always been the one that you are either born smart or just normal. In other words I don't think you can teach a kid to be a genius it just happens.

We did really well with my son until about 18 months. Now he's addicted to TV and the Ipad. We're working on getting him active again but if you have the chance of avoiding the problem altogether, do it. A lot of our learning moments come during bath time, when we're eating, etc. Kids have a short attention span so just find time in the moment rather than trying to have too much structure when they're really young.