Learning New Words

Complete Beginner Series Collection (Book 1-7) is fun and educational. 

Look at my Zachy! He is learning new words. A for apple, B for bee... I definitely recommend this book.


See book description below:

Colorful, high quality illustrations are combined with silly rhymes to reinforce learning the alphabet. The book contains 26 listening games for children from 6 months to 5 years of age.

Good listeners make good students and good friends who can understand and follow the rules in a classroom or during games. The number section includes a sequential memory game for preschool children to help them practice their memorizing skills while learning to count from 1 to 10.

The book can be used by parents, teachers and therapists to lay an early foundation for good listening skills. The book contains two supplementary books: Noah's Ark Activity Book and Fun Day on the Farm Activity Book.

FORMAT:

This book has been formatted to display well on eReaders and devices such as Kindle, Kindle Fire and Kindle apps for smartphones, tablets (including iPads) and computers.

L.O.V.E

Savine playing hide and seek with cousin Duke!

My daughter Savine and my son Zach are very emotional. They love to be cuddled and hugged. They want mommy and daddy to kiss them every night. Truly, it is important that parents show the love for their kids at all times. Following are some of the best ways to show a child your love.


Find Time To Bond With Your Kids
Quality time means finding time to bond with your kid with little or no distractions from work. Most parents today are too busy working and  that the only time they have for the family is during weekends. If you are taking your child to the park for the weekend, make sure that you will not be interrupted by calls from work. Let your child enjoy being with his mom and dad. Moreover, spending quality time with your child doesn't have to be expensive, reading a book together or listening to your son's favorite song are excellent ways to show your children that you care and love them.


When two ears are put together it makes a heart.
When your child needs someone to talk to, make yourself available. Listen attentively to your child's concerns. Did you know why the ears are shape like two Cs? Ears when put together shaped like a heart. So, it is sometimes better if you talk less and listen more to your child. When you listen to your child, you are already comforting and boosting his confidence. It makes them feel worthy and loved.


Be Unpredictable
Nearly all parents are strict when it comes to bedtime hours. Once in a while, it is okay to break your own rule and let your child stay up past his bedtime with you. You can watch cartoon classics together or you can cuddle with your little one while drinking his favorite hot choco drink.


Laugh With Your Child
Parenting is never easy. On the other hand, do not get too gripped with the normal chores and routine that you forget about your child. Some parents prioritize their daily chores over their kids. If your child is telling you a funny joke, be part of the conversation and laugh with your child. Do not be a machine.


Children love it when you show them that you care. There are so many ways to show your child that you love him. The simplest way is to always remind your child that you love him by just saying I love you.






Read children picture books to your child. Books are fun and exciting. Visit the links and read different children reading articles and helpful parenting tips today.

Importance Of Books In Character Development

Reading is a great way to bond with kids of all ages. Experts suggest reading a good book to a young child every day. It is frequently done before a child goes to sleep. It is an exemplary way to end the day as it leaves the kid's imagination flowing with wonderful thoughts. Moreover, reading books to kids aloud can help nurture creativity and expand vocabulary and reading skills. Kids are fanciful beings and they love to hear new stories, see beautiful pictures and illustrations. Parents use books as teaching aids for kids. They use books to foster character traits like obedience, kindness and courage.

Story Telling Books Form Character 
Stories have been part of man's life. In the past, stories were passed on by word of mouth. Now, there are so many kinds of books obtainable, thanks to the invention of the printing press in 1440. Story telling books these days ranges from fairy tales, princess and prince books, fables, parables, folklores and so on. Millions of parents around the globe still use these story books to teach moral lessons to their little ones. Goldilocks and the three bears and Little Red Riding Hood are two of the most popular books of all time. These books teach kids different principles which are pertinent to all aspects of life. Goldilocks and the three bears talks about respect of others property and solitude. Little Red Riding Hood, on the other hand warns children of the danger of talking to strangers.

Fables And Parables 
Parables show life lessons and instructive principles. The Bible's New Testament provides a number of parables that Jesus taught himself while he is still on earth. One of the most significant parables in the bible is the Prodigal Son, which teaches about the love of the Father to his children. Fables, on the other hand, are very much like a parable but the difference is that it uses animals in the story. Aesop is credited for a number of popular fables today. Thus, the name Aesop's Fables become a popular household name. Aesop, according to research was Greek slave and story-teller believed to have lived between 620 and 560 BCE. Some of his famous stories are "The Dog and the Wolf", which teaches the importance of being free, "The Bear and the Two Travelers" which talks about sincerity of friends.

Evolution Of Books
Over the years, books have greatly evolved. Before, books are part of every kid's bedtime routine. Kids anticipate expectantly the first page of the book that their parents will read to them. Each book has a new story to tell. Kids are intrigued to see how each story will end. Will the princess meet his prince charming? Will the frog turn to a handsome prince? Then again, there are households in which kids are no longer familiar to reading books. More parents and educators rely on the power of the internet to teach young minds to explore. Yes, having educational other educational materials and gadgets around the house is good. Then again, it is refreshing to see kids enjoying reading books. Certainly, the experience of feeling the hard covers of the book and the crisp turning of pages is different from just clicking on pages.

Although, books have evolved in style and form, it is still very relevant these days. Parents and educators alike still use books as part of instruction and grounding materials for development of moral and character to kids.

Children picture books are fun and exciting. Visit the links and read different children reading articles and helpful parenting tips today.

How To Bond With Your Children

Children age 1 to 3 belong to the toddler group. They are usually very talkative and playful. They love to run around the house and discover new things. They are curious beings. If you have toddlers at home, your day will never be boring. Bonding with your kid at this stage is very important. Below are a couple of tips on how to bond with your tot.

Storytelling
Kids love storytelling. They want to learn new things, see new pictures and they enjoy how each story will end. Reading time is a fantastic way to promote conversation and to ask your children questions. Adapt special voices for each character to make reading time lively and spontaneous. If you are reading a line from the fairy godmother, try to make your voice soft and clear. If you are pretending to be a mouse from the story, make your voice sounds like you are squeaking.

Go Out On A Date With Your Tot
Every day there is a reason to celebrate, so go out with your little tot. You can take him to a nearby ice cream parlor. Let him pick the flavor of the ice cream. Find a nice place where you can sit and talk. Play with your kid while inside the ice cream parlor. Pretend that you are both detectives and you are out to investigate. You can also play, "I spy with my little eye". Surely, your kid will enjoy the game and the delightful treat with you.

Give Warm Hugs And Kisses
The problem with many parents is they overlook the importance of touch. Touch your kids. Give those little bunnies some nice hugs and gentle rubs. If you are disciplining your little tot, hold his hand. Try alternate ways to connect, especially for little ones who doesn't like to cuddle. Try dancing together or stroking his hair.

Color With Your Little Tot
Toddlers like to color and to paint. Pick a good coloring album from your local book shop. Try to pick a book with larger pictures so that your child can understand the illustration and will not get confused with the detailing. Buy a set of color pens or pencils or if you want to get messy, paint brushes and color paint. Just make sure to pick the appropriate brush for your little one's hands. While, you and your child is having the time of your life, engage in conversation. Do not get annoyed if your little one will not pick the right colors or if there are coloring errors. Remember that bonding with your child is your priority and not the activity.

Play Musical Instruments, Sing And Dance Together
It is important to expose your child to music. Based on research, music can help develop children's language skills, boost their self-confidence, develop their listening skills and stimulate brain connections. You can encourage music by teaching your child to play drums or maracas. You can even dance together and create your own song lyrics.

Toddler Tea Party
Many families are accustomed to having tea parties at home. Why not create your toddlers' version of tea party. Instead of tea, you can serve delicious drinks like apple or orange juice. You can invite your toddler's friends too. Serve delicious treats like cookies and cakes. Make the day special by dressing your kid with fancy play clothes.

There are many ways to bond with your little tot. Some of them are listed above. When bonding with your kid, try to be spontaneous. You can even have quality time together without spending a single dime, just take your child to a park where he can play with you and that's it. It doesn't have to be fancy. Your child will appreciate it and he will certainly end the day with a smile on his face.

Just want to share brainyconnections.com. Here you can find exciting and fun Children picture books. There are so many useful children reading articles and parenting tips that you can find on this website too.

How Children Learn Through Play

Play is children's work. Parents want the best for their children. They primed their offspring to grow and to learn. But how do children learn? Many experts believe that play is important in children development. Lev Vygotsky is a psychologist who came up with the play theory that emphasizes in social development. Jean Piaget another psychologist also born the same year as Vygotsky studied the intellectual development of children through play. Hence, play is indeed very significance in learning and development of kids.


Benefits Of Play In Children Development And Education

• Based on studies, children behave better in the class when they have the opportunity to blow off steam on the playing field during the day.
• Playing also teaches children to control their own feeling, a skill that serves them well as they move through life.
• Better health. The American Heart Association advocates that kids over the age of two engage in at least an hour a day of moderate, pleasurable physical activity.
• They learn to count, to problem solve and to make friends.
• Enhancing a child's play with music and harmony not only enriches the learning experience, but also develops listening proficiency and creates a new level of relations with the world.

Parten's Stages Of Play

Mildred Parten grouped play into 6 stages and determined that children’s play styles mirror their social development. 

• Unoccupied -- Not engaged in play.
• Solitary (Independent) -- Playing separately from others, with no reference to what others are doing
• Onlooker -- Watching others play. May engage in conversation but not engaged in doing. True focus on the children at play.
• Parallel -- Playing with similar objects, clearly beside others but not with them. (Near but not with others.)
• Associative Play -- Playing with others without organization of play activity. Initiating or responding to interaction with peers.
• Cooperative Play -- Coordinating one’s behavior with that of a peer.

Parents play an important role in children's play. Be supportive and patient if the kids want to play. Remember that parents are the first teachers and they need to create pleasant and positive experience for the kids.

Watch The Video Below And Learn More About Play Therapy:

Mother's Day

My little Miss, gave me this wonderful drawing for Mother's day. Today, we honor mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. 

My little boy, on the other hand, still cannot write. But he gave me lots of hugs and kisses before he doze off.






I also got several greeting cards and letters from my other babies - the kids/teens I am teaching every Saturday. We study the bible together. They are very dear to me.

I am so blessed to be a mom. I know I am not the perfect mother, but with God's grace and guidance, I can do everything. To all moms out there, happy mom's day!

Age Appropriate Toys For Kids

Today, parents can shop toys for their kids just about anywhere. Parents can buy in department stores and online toy boutiques. The selection is endless. If looking toys for your child, consider the following guidelines on how you can pick age appropriate toys for your kid:


Baby Toys and Infant Toys
These are children age 0 to 1. When choosing toys for your baby or infant consider those that stimulate the senses, particularly the senses of sight, sound and touch. However, avoid toys with small parts because the child may choke.





Toddler Toys
Toddlers are full of energy. They are curious beings. They learn through exploration. Pick toys where your toddler can do all sorts of physical activities like pulling, pushing, lugging, knocking down, emptying and filling. Again, do not buy toys with small parts to avoid accidental choking. 





Preschool Toys
Preschoolers love pretend games. They enjoy toys that stimulate their imagination. Find challenging and exciting toys to play with. Encourage your child to explore the wonderful world of geometry, design & construction with puzzles and games.





It is fun to pick toys for kids. However, remember that toys don't replace parents. Make time to play with your child and enjoy the moment together. For other pointers, visit this link: Selecting Toys for Infants and Toddlers (Parenting Pointers)

Reading Is Fun!

Reading is a fun activity to do with kids. Parents should continue to read books to their kids even if we are on the computer age and children are more interested in smart phones and tablets. Yes, books can be old fashioned. But, it is fun to manually flip the pages of the book and to feel its hard bound texture.


Following are the benefits of reading to kids and a couple of advice on how you should read to your little ones.


Benefits Of Reading To Your Kids:

•  Reading helps build stronger relationship.
•  Improve vocabulary and communication skills.
•  Enhances concentration and discipline.
•  Instill a love of books and language. 
•  Stimulate child's imagination.

How To Read To Your Child:

•  Choose appropriate books for your child - Storybooks, Fables, Parables etc.
•  Create the right atmosphere for reading. Find a quiet comfortable area at home where   you can read to your child. 
•  Read aloud to your child. Reading aloud teaches your child to read smoothly and with  expression.
•  Encourage your child to look at pictures and illustrations to figure out the meaning of new words.
•  After reading the story, ask your little one, "What did you like most about the story? Tell me your favorite part." 

Recommended Books For Kids: (3-6)

• I Just Forgot (A Little Critter Book)
• The Six Pirates: A Rollicking & Rhyming Picture Book. (Fun Rhyming Children's Books)
• Benny's Boogers: A Silly Rhyming Children's Picture Book
• Einstein The Lazy Kitty (Children's Book Ages 3-6)
• A Wolf Pup's Tale (A Beautifully Illustrated Children's Picture Book; Perfect Bedtime Story)

Instill in your kids the habit of reading. As a parent, one of the best ways you can prepare your child is to build a good foundation for academic excellence and your child can achieve that through reading.

Ear Piercing

My daughter is sporting her new earrings. We got her ears pierced earlier today. Actually, we did not plan it today. But, my daughter wants to have it. So, off we went to have her ears pierced. She did not cry at all. She's very brave and I am so proud of her. Actually, the reason we waited for four years to have her ears pierced is because we want her to be ready.


How she wanted to have pink earrings or this cute hello kitty like the one below: 

But they are not available. So we settle for red hypoallergenic earrings. She love them even if they are not pink.

When we got home, my husband was thrilled and he's a proud daddy. I told him how brave our daughter is. I did some research about ear piercing and I came across this interesting site,  babycenter.com. Everything you need to know about your baby, you can find it here. Meredith Goodwin, a family practitioner said that, there's no medical reason to wait for ear piercing. Some people allow their children even newborns to be pierced. However, the procedure is not without risk. 


Here are some of them:


- Not all ear-piercing operations have the proper equipment or staff trained to work specifically with young children. 
- Risk for Infection
- Some people develop allergic reaction to metals 


If you are still undecided whether to have your child's ears pierced, then just wait. Do not be swayed because all your friends' baby girls have pierced ears. Of course, you know what is best for your child.

Reasons To Encourage Kids To Play Pretend Games

Have you seen a toddler jumping up and down pretending to be a super hero like Superman or Captain America? Probably you have a preschooler who still believes she's a princess and her subordinates are her fairy toys and Barbie dolls? If you find it weird, do not worry. Your child is perfectly normal and she is just playing pretend. Pretend play is actually very healthy especially for kids, because this type of play builds the child's vocabulary and language skills. Moreover, it encourages the child to use her imagination.

There are many ways to encourage your kids to play pretend games. Here are some of them:

Dress Up Games – Dressing up is fun for kids. Children like to dress up as their favorite fictional characters. Many girls like to pretend they are Disney Princesses. Boys like to pretend they are cowboys and astronauts.

Who Am I? – This is a classic acting party game used mostly in children's masquerade party. It is like a guessing game where one kid can choose a character and then choose the mask from the selection. The other kids would then guess who the child's character is.

I came across this site and it is amazing. Look at the masks below. Are they not cute?

Masketeers.com offers colorful masks for kids to print out and play with. To learn more, Click here to visit Masketeers.

Puppet – Puppets can be made from recycled brown paper or even socks. Be creative with your kids and make cute puppets from scrap. After making puppets, plan to host a puppet show at home. Invite your family or all your kids' friends to join the show.

Pretend games are so much fun. Many parents encourage their children to play these games because it helps children to use their imagination. A pretend game doesn't have to be costly. You can keep your child's Halloween costume out year-round. Don't wait until Halloween to play dress up. Lastly, have fun. Play with your kids and enjoy the moment. Remember that kids grow fast and this is the best time to create good memories together.

Watch The Video Below And Learn How To Raise A Creative Child

Teaching Your Child To Swim

Look at Zach, my three year old son. He is having a blast with his grandpa. When it is hot outside, swimming is a fun activity to enjoy with kids. I came across this book in Amazon, Teach Your Child to Swim (Usborne Parents' Guide) and it offers useful advice for parents on how to teach children aged three months and upwards to swim. The book also covers basic swimming activities like preparing your kids for his first splash, teaching all the major strokes, as well as diving, swimming underwater and floating techniques.

Teaching your kids to swim has several pros. For one, it is great for their health. Two, it enhances their self esteem. Three, your worry about your child drowning is somehow lessened.

However, it is important to note that parents should always supervise a child when swimming even if he is already capable. As they say, no child is drowning proof. From experience, I think that letting go of my kid and helping him realize that he can float is the hardest part. What about you?

Watch The Video Below And Learn Pool Safety:

Charlie And The Numbers

Are you familiar with Charlie and the numbers? My kids love Charlie! As Charlie visits the Number Kingdom, numbers and counting turn into a fun and magical adventure. My kids enjoy singing, dancing, and counting in this enchanting TV series.

If you do not have BabyTV at home, you can also download apps on your Iphone or Smartphone. It is certainly a must have. Once you have downloaded the app, you and your kids can watch Charlie go through his wonderful adventure even without WiFi connection. Enjoy!

Here's their theme song!

Learning Through YouTube

My children love to watch YouTube. They can spend hours just watching their favorite Barney and other educational videos about alphabet and shapes. 

Can't believe that this video has 89 million hits and counting. Well, I have to say, this video has been very useful to me. My son learned the alphabet at age 2. Now, he can sing and even do the alphabet hand signals, which I learned when I was already in high school!

If you have a tot or a preschool at school, you can also watch the videos from Super Simple Songs. They have their versions of BINGO, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Little Snow Flakes and Five Little Monkeys. The videos are very cool and interactive. My kids love them.  Just one piece of advice. When your kids are watching try to join them in singing and counting and you will all have a blast!