How to Discover and Nurture your Baby\’s Interest

Children love to play and explore, and if as a parent, you are not paying attention to how they play and what they play with, you will miss important information about them. Children develop their personality from when they are babies and many are born with innate abilities which if you as their parent discover early, you can help them build on it and channel it properly.

How do you discover your baby’s interest?

Pay close attention 

What is it that your baby loves to do? Is it drumming, singing? Oh yes, babies as young as eight months sing. Don\’t be surprised. Is it scribbling, love for musical instruments? What type of toys calls her attention? Pay closer attention to your child\’s pattern to pick what interests your child and what is likely his or her talent.

Encourage their interest

My son was one, I bought him his first drum set and oh, how he drummed our ears down with it. I noticed how he operated smartphones well before he was a year old. He has a knack for technology too. Whatever ability or talent you see your baby demonstrating, encourage early by exposing them to it under your watchful care.  

Praise their efforts

When your baby does something interesting or worthy of note, praise them. Clap for them, raise them a high five, or buy a gift. If the baby tries to stack a lego, make it look like he/she has accomplished a big feat. Never make their accomplishment look small.

Give them exposure

Expose your baby to various fun activities and classes to help you discover one or more of his or her interest. This kind of exposure can also help children also discover more about themselves. You just might learn that your child loves drawing and painting. 

How to Nurture Your Child’s interest

You have found one or more interest in your child. That is great. Keep in mind that you can discover more of his or her interest and also that his/her interest can change as the child grows.

  1. Enroll your child in recreational activities that encourage this talent or gift you have discovered.
  2. An academic program, children boot camps, science workshops for children, a mathematics program, are great ways to help children who are mathematical or logical thinkers.
  3. Don’t make your child do that thing you love and was never able to do for yourself. Don’t make them into that version of you that you want to exist.
  4. Encourage your children to be themselves. Never try to stifle them. You can become too conscious of order and cleanliness in the house that you forget that in playing, children learn and build themselves. Allow them to explore.
  5. Get materials that talk to their interest. If you discover your child likes painting, always keep art materials for painting around, if he or she is interested in music than get musical instruments for kids. Let the child see how interested you are in what he or she is interested in.
  6. Make your house a work of art. Beautiful and interesting for your child. A beautiful environment helps children\’s creativity. 
  7. Start grooming your baby\’s talent early. Also, look for a school that has an all-round educational system. This is to help complement the great work you are doing at home.
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Preparation Tips: First Day at School

There are always mixed feelings for mother and child when it\’s your baby\’s first day at school. You are super excited to see your baby cross another major milestone and teary for having to be away from her. The moment you think you are going to have your \”me time\” you as the mother is happy but then you miss them. Many mothers cry the first day they drop their toddlers in school especially when their little is crying.

Preparing for the first day of school always comes with jitters, separation anxiety, etc. If you have not already done so, or accompany her on her first day of school you may not experience these feelings. The first day of school marks a new chapter of your baby\’s life. While many children cry on their first day at school, some are excited, especially those who have older ones and have been longing to join them at school.

Here Are Some Tips to Help Prepare Your Baby\’s First Day at School

Prepare your child emotionally and socially
  • Let your child know some weeks before time that she would be resuming school.
  • Take your child along with you to the school to meet her teacher if possible, and to explore the school environment.
  • Tell her the name of the school.
  • Show her the new things you bought for school, even though she might not understand what it means.
  • Allowing your toddler to be around children her age would help prepare her mind. Especially in the case of a child who never attended daycare or crèche, it will go a long way in helping your child settle into her school.
  • Explore more ways to improve your child’s social skills at home before she\’s set for school.
Prepare your Child Mentally
  • Introduce your child to nursery rhymes, songs, and games.
  • Buy her pencils, crayon, coloring books, and notebooks
  • Read aloud to your child.
  • Expose your child to trying and exploring new things.
Prepare the Physical Well-being of your child
  • Make sure your child eats a balanced diet and eat well, especially days leading up to his/her school resumption.
  • You should also ensure your little ones is up to date on immunizations.
  • Medical and dental checkups are essential before resuming school. The stress of resuming school can trigger ailment not combated before resumption. You don\’t want to juggle school and hospital visits.
Read Books or Show Them Educational Cartoons
  • There are several books and videos meant for toddlers or pre-nursery students flooded with cartoon images, comics because they are very pleasing to children.
  • Cartoons play a vital role in children\’s mental and physical growth.
  • With the help of cartoons, kids can learn and have a feeling about school life.
  • There are expert suggestions to use cartoons as a technique to create interest and develop the child\’s visual reading skills.
  • It encourages your baby\’s desire to learn and be part of the school.

Resuming for The First Day at School

On the resumption of your baby\’s first day at school, pack plenty of her favorite snacks and drinks and food. Make sure to resume early so that your baby could see other children come to school without crying while also learning the art of not being late. Your child can also take his stuffed animal or toy, which she likes. That at least might help came her as she settles into the unfamiliar environment and terrain.

When dropping off your little one, you likely will get emotional but Strong mama, make sure to keep a happy, smiley face. No one wants you bursting into tears around your preschooler. Give her that smile to reassure her that she is in safe hands as much as you are also trying to convince yourself that she is in safe hands.

Make your good-byes short. Don\’t hang around for too long. Allow the teacher to take it over from you early. Many preschool teachers know how to help their pupils settle in. Those that will cry will do that only for a time while others go-ahead to have fun around new things.

At the end of the first day, you and your little one will be all smiles. No need to panic or worry, the school will be fun.

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