Choosing the right childcare for your child can be difficult. Every child is different and has different needs to consider when choosing their next step into the world. Childcare can also be a big worry for parents, with concerns about their child’s welfare. And if they are getting the right care and stimulation that they need. This post will discuss what to look out for when visiting childcare centers. Also, how to make the decision of which is the right center for your kid.

1. Child/Staff Ratio at the Childcare

Childcare facilities should have a good child/staff ratio. This is to make sure that our child gets the right amount of care and attention. The child/staff ratio should be high if the staff is going to be able to respond quickly to your child. And staff should be trained to look out for and help every child’s individual needs.

High staff ratios also mean that children will be able to form stronger bonds with the staff. And ensure that they feel safer in the child care center. Individual attention is a must if children are going to grow and learn at a fast pace. While feeling like they are fully cared for while you are at work.

If your childcare center is struggling to provide a good child/staff ratio, Child Care Biz Help offers childcare consulting that can help to take the pressure off your business. With a consultancy there to help you with your business plan, you will have more time to spend interacting with and focusing on the children you care for.

2. Safe Premises

The grounds of the center should also be safe for children. You should check that the gate and fencing around the center are secure and that there is suitable protection for your child while they are at the center.

You should also check that the premises are clean and tidy as this will indicate the responsibility and trustworthiness of the company. As well as reducing the risk of your child bringing home illnesses or injuries from their time at childcare.

3. The Nature of Activities

Childcare can have great benefits for your child. However, activities should be pre-prepared and stimulating for your child’s age group. There should be a range of activities for children to choose from, as this will ensure that every child feels comfortable and at home at the center.

You should also check that each activity is also filled with opportunities to learn and exercise, as these are important factors for a healthy child while in daycare.

4. Certifications

The staff should be well-trained and most should have up to a degree level qualification in childcare or a related subject. To help your child in an emergency, the staff should be trained in first aid and other medical qualifications. If you are unsure of this, you should be able to see their certifications. And they should be able to provide evidence of these for you.

PIN IT!

Although it can be difficult for parents to decide on a good child care center for their children, this checklist will make it easier for you to make a decision based on a number of important factors for your child’s health and well-being.

The post 4 Qualities to Look For When Choosing Childcare appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hi guys, today I want to take up another important topic related to babies i.e Cognitive Milestones in Early Childhood. 

In simple words, cognitive development is the brain’s ability to act and think. And cognitive milestones help keep a check on baby’s brain and intellectual development.

Just like any other new mom, I was also obsessed with the term ‘milestones’, when Nemit was a little baby. I used to keep a check on his physical growth every month and sometimes even every week since babies grow really fast.

For the first 30 days after birth, my complete focus was only on his physical growth. At that time I was not aware that there are cognitive milestones as well. And came to know about their importance only at a later stage.

At around 2 months, when a baby smiles for the first time, it is a growth milestone. And around 3-4 months, when the baby responds to our facial expressions with a smile, it is a cognitive milestone.

Keeping a track of cognitive milestones is as important as other developmental milestones.

Many parents are not aware of the different categories of developmental milestones. These are basically a bundle of physical, cognitive, social, emotional and communication milestones. And each one of these plays an equally important role in a child’s overall growth and development.

Physical milestones involve the development of gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills such as rolling over, crawling, sitting, standing and fine motor skills like mastering pincer grip, drawing, writing, eating etc.

With cognitive milestones, the focus is more on thinking, learning, exploring and problem-solving skills.

There are many ways in which a mother can assist her baby in achieving cognitive milestones. And further helping in infant cognition.

One of the best ways is through nutrition!

Source – Gooey Brains

You will be amazed to know that a baby’s cognitive development starts from the time of conception. And that is why during pregnancy, mothers are advised to take proper care of their health and nutrition intake. DHA and Natural Vitamin E are the most important brain-building nutrients responsible for baby’s cognitive development.

Many studies and research conducted by Abbott, reinforce nutrition’s impact on cognition.

Only a mother can provide these essential nutrients to the baby during pregnancy and later through breastfeeding.

I always say that each baby is unique and they achieve their milestones at their own pace. However, this is also true that parents play an important role in their baby’s growth and development. Cognitive development is directly influenced by the quality of time parents spent with their babies. Cognition is the most important part of a child’s development as it lays the foundation for lifelong progress.

Another best way to help your baby achieve cognitive milestones is through stimulation!

Source – www.essentialbaby.com

It’s important that parents provide the right environment and stimulation activities right from the birth. There are many benefits of stimulation for the development of baby’s thinking and intelligence, auditory and visual senses and also helps in improving their social and emotional skills.

To know more about the age-appropriate (0-2 years) stimulation activities check out this post here!

A baby’s brain doubles in size in the first year. And by the age of two, the brain has up to twice as many nerve connections as it will have in adulthood.

Babies are way smarter than we think. For the first 2 years after birth, they use their senses to learn about the world around them. They are constantly learning, thinking and exploring their surroundings. And working towards developing remarkable intellectual skills.

Hence, it becomes crucial for parents to keep a watch on their cognitive milestones. And take immediate action if they notice any red flags. As early intervention always help!

Check out the below chart for an age-wise list of cognitive milestones 

——–

I hope you find this post informative and helpful. Do share your experience with me related to developmental milestones in the comment below. And don’t forget to share this post!

Reference:

http://static.abbottnutrition.com/cms-prod/anhi.org/img/Cheatham.pdf

http://www.abbott.in/live-healthy/thrive/infant/boost-your-babys-development.html

https://anhi.org/education/course-catalog/B880EF2D92BB48A1AE80277F1B36C0C4

https://www.nap.edu/resource/19401/ProfKnowCompFINAL.pdf

https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2012/05/21/Abbott-Nutrition-Cognition-research-is-one-of-our-top-global-priorities

‘I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter’

The post Importance of Cognitive Milestones in Early Childhood appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

It is said that ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, how true is this in today’s world? Let’s talk about new age parenting and the role of parents in the cognitive development of their child. We are in an era where more and more families are turning nuclear and both parents have specific career goals. Due to multiple responsibilities, parents are always running short of time, still, they want to practice the best parenting method for their kids. However, I have seen parents struggling through this phase with little or absolutely no help around. Also, it’s commonly believed that the responsibility of a child is tilted more towards the mother. But times are changing and we can see many fathers proudly sharing parenting responsibilities and taking the load off the mothers’ shoulders.

Source – simmom.in

So, if you come under this category of nuclear family setup or joint family with zero support, this post is for you.

We are a nuclear family with no help around. Initially, after the birth of our son, I thought of dedicating my full attention and giving all my time to raising our kid. However, motherhood is not that easy, it comes with its own pros and cons. Postpartum depression hit me quite early and too hard that it took a toll on my mental as well as physical health. This, in turn, put a bad impact on bonding with my newborn. Luckily, my husband observed the mood changes and took the step to talk it out. That was the time when I poured my heart out and explained how difficult it was for me to manage a newborn all alone. Then onwards, we decided to follow a shared parenting approach.

Nemit and Papa shares a strong bond

You may read – How to conquer the Postpartum Depression?

I have already talked about how an impressive amount of a baby’s brain development occurs during pregnancy in my previous posts. And also how choosing the right nutrition plays an important role in boosting a child’s growth and development. We very well know how understanding the benefits of breastfeeding, choosing the right environment, and offering the age-specific stimulation exercises can all assist in the cognitive development of a child. These are some of the ways in which a mother can FeedIQ to her child.

Source – simmom.in

It is the responsibility of both parents to ensure that the child gets the right stimulatory environment by being mindful of their parenting approach. We make sure we are available for each other and for our son as and when required. This way we also try to inculcate the important values of equality in our son.

How do we ensure our child’s proper physical, social as well as cognitive development?

Let’s be true to ourselves, a mother can’t do it all by herself. She can fit well in all the roles but the fact can’t be ignored that she too needs rest and care. Here are some of the things we do in laying a great development foundation for our child.

An equally shared parenting truly is half the work and all the fun.

=> Outdoor Play – To ensure Nemit gets ample time outside, Sumit takes him to the nearby park twice a day. It’s an advantage to us since Nemit wakes up early, he gets his first dose of physical activity in the early morning hours, which in turn, helps in keeping his energy levels in check. Now, here it is important for parents to be a part of their child’s outdoor activity. Outdoor play or play dates also help in improving the child’s social development.

Toddlers still need their parents around; they feel secure and loved when parents show interest in what their kids are doing. This can also be the best bonding time for a father with his child. Just by playing with your child, you can help in reducing their feelings of anxiety and stress.

You may also read – How to make outdoor play more fun for toddlers?

=> Interaction – Talking to the child and making conversation is very important starting from an early age to develop their communication skills. And here I am not just speaking about making general talks, positive interactions with your child are helpful in a child’s social development too. Yes, your child’s social development starts with you. We do this by encouraging Nemit to share his day and activities with us, we help him in building a two-way communication. Listening to your toddler is as important as talking which also helps in their cognitive development.

When you speak with your child look into their eyes, respond with a smile and stay focused. Never shy away from hugging and kissing your child, always make them feel loved. All this helps in teaching a child to be affectionate and compassionate to others.  These positive interactions also help in maintaining a good parent-child relationship.

Cuddles are Fun

You may also read – Ways to develop good communication skills in kids!

=> Structured Play – I have always encouraged play-based learning for Nemit. In simple terms, structured play means ‘play with a purpose‘, and this may include pre-planned skill-based activities. These activities provide the right stimulation which in turn boosts the child’s cognitive development.

Play-based learning

The power of play should never be underestimated when it comes to a child’s cognition. In fact, these stimulation activities play the most fundamental role in their physical as well as intellectual development.

Finger Painting

I resort to these pre-planned activities mostly during the daytime when I am alone with Nemit. During Nemit’s summer break, this structured play helped in keeping me sane through the long summer days.

Pre-planned activities

I usually plan 3-4 activities which help in keeping him busy for good 2-3 hours. These are not just fun but helps in strengthening our bond too. Also, following the Montessori approach has helped in planning activities based on day to day life skills. I will be sharing more about these toddler activities in my next post.

You may also read – Activities to boost a child’s brain development (0-2 years old)!

When the parents provide attention and the right environment, it helps in shaping their child’s physical, social as well as cognitive development. This is how I manage being a work at home mom without feeling the undue pressure even in our nuclear setup. I understand this approach is not applicable for everyone, and I have no intention to portray that only equal parenting is better for every family than another parenting model. But this has surely helped us in many ways.

How do you moms manage your work-life balance? Does your family also follow the equal parenting approach? Share with me in the comments below. And if you liked this post, please do share it with your friends and family.

The post Role of Parents in the Cognitive Development of a child appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Have you ever wondered how fast a baby grows and learns things? I get amazed daily by the activities my kid chooses to do, how he interprets the signs from his surroundings and acts like a pro even at the age of 2.

Did you know that 90% of the child’s brain development takes place in the early years of their life?

If you know me then you must be aware of how keen I have been since my pregnancy days to raise a healthy child. I strongly believe that the child’s healthy growth is completely in our hands apart from our genetics. Hence, we mothers not only pass on our genes to the baby but also IQ through proper nutrition and stimulation exercises.

A baby’s brain development is based on the environment, genetics and nourishment she/he receives in utero and via breastfeeding. The right stimulation i.e. infant brain exercises also boost infant cognition. This is called FeedIQ.

Let’s see how nutrition and stimulation can help in the child’s brain development during the initial years.

 Role of Nutrition during Pregnancy

We often hear from our elders and doctor about taking care of our food intake during different trimesters. I was advised to eat a mindful balanced nutritious diet. There’s a myth that says we should eat for two people when pregnant. In fact, one should not look at the portion as eating healthy food is more important. Only during the 3rd trimester, should the intake be increased to meet the body’s demands. Also, eating right food plays an important role in baby’s growth and overall development.

Source- Google

So when a mother takes care of what she eats, she is literally feeding IQ to her baby!

• Include a variety of foods in your diet
• Be mindful of what you eat, portion size doesn’t matter
• Don’t forget to take daily supplements as suggested by your doctor
• Try to add all food groups in your diet from the very beginning
• Apart from protein, iron, and calcium, DHA or omega 3 is very important for brain development
• Always remember the developing baby gets all the nutrition from the mother
• Most important, avoid drinking alcohol and smoking as that impacts the learning ability and growth of the baby

Importance of Breastfeeding

Mother’s milk is baby’s first food and is best for newborn’s development and immunity. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months. Breastmilk not only provides nutrition to the baby but also passes on the disease-fighting substances that protect the baby from illnesses.

Source- Pinterest

No matter how difficult it seems, the best gift you can give your baby is exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Various researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development.

• A mother’s milk consists of all the essential nutrients
• Breastfeeding helps in emotional bonding, further improving the brain development
• Mother’s body produces the antibodies which pass on to the baby through breastmilk and provides immunity
• Breastmilk also has DHA which is an important nutrient for brain development
• Research says breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests

You may want to read Breastfeeding Challenges are Common!

Apart from essential nutrients, the environment (or stimulation) also plays a vital role in baby’s development. As I said earlier, child’s initial 2 years are the most crucial for the proper growth and development of the brain. A baby’s brain doubles in size in the first year. And by the age of two, the brain has up to twice as many nerve connections as it will have in adulthood. Hence, the role of brain exercise is an important part of baby’s brain development.

Nerve Connections. Source- Google, Corel, JL.

Types of Brain Exercises to develop baby’s IQ

Every mom will agree with me that following a nutritious diet during pregnancy is not easy when you face food aversions and mood swings. Similarly, breastfeeding is a natural biological process which has its own set of challenges. However, let’s talk about activities which you can do with your baby to stimulate his brain; fun for both mom and the baby.

Source- QuotesGram

Let’s see some age-appropriate brain exercises which you can do for your baby to boost his skills and brain development.

Activities for 0 to 6 months old

The smiles while playing Pee-Ka-Boo

• Vision – Young infants can’t differentiate colors, so for vision, you can show black and white drawings. Once they are 2 months old, you can put them in front of the mirror while giving tummy time. You can also place some small green plants around them, once they start rolling. Pee-ka-boo is my son’s favorite game till now. I started doing it around 3 months and in return, he would give me the most beautiful toothless smile.
• Hearing – I like the idea of using white noise for newborns as that makes them feel secure. You can play any soft music or even sing to your baby. Talking to your baby using wide facial expressions and hand movements works best as that also strengthens the bond between the parents and the baby.
• Touch – You can use various objects for developing their sense of touch. I used to give small clothes of different textures in his hands to touch and feel. My son started loving water when he was 5 months old. He could not sit properly but during bath time he loved to splash water. Let them touch and feel various shapes.
• Cognition – Let your baby explore his surroundings. Don’t stop if he’s putting his hands in his mouth as that’s his way of understanding how the body parts work.

Activities for 6 to 12 months old

Stimulation Exercises for 6 to 12 months old

• Vision – This is the best age to introduce books with big colorful pictures. You can show them things in the book and point to the same things in real. You can also roll the ball on the floor for the baby to follow and crawl towards.
• Hearing – Start reading stories to them, they will love it. You can bring in variations in the voice like emphasizing, whispering, singing, talking slowly or fast, and changing the pitch too. My son loved the tearing sound of the paper and would laugh every time he heard that sound.
• Touch – I introduced sand-play at this age using kinetic sand. Babies at this age want to touch and hold everything that comes their way. And then they put these things in their mouth as that’s their own way of exploring objects.
• Cognition – I did many DIY activities with my son to improve his cognitive skills. Mess-free painting, putting sticks in the bottle, sorting toys, cause and effect games etc. to name a few.

Source – AZ Quotes

Activities for 1 to 2 years old

Stimulation Exercises for 1 to 2-year-olds

• Gross motor skills – Babies grow rapidly during this age and their brain development is also at its peak. Encourage them for more independent play. Most babies start walking during this time and they want to test their physical ability. My son’s favorite activity was pushing the chair around the house and later on, he started climbing up the chair.
• Fine motor skills – The best way to help develop fine motor skills is to let them eat their food on their own either with hands or using a spoon. Another way is to give them crayons and let them test their scribbling ability. However, keep a watch as that’s when they would want to use the walls as their canvas.
• Social & Emotional development – Allow your kid to mingle with other kids by arranging play-dates. This is the age when separation anxiety sets in and your young toddler will not let you leave his side. Be considerate and cooperative, as a lot is going on inside their little minds. They are at a stage where they start understanding instructions but are unable to control their impulses enough to obey.
• Language & Vocabulary – Introduce new words and arrange to play around that word for a couple of days. Instead of talking to your child, start talking with your child. Start with 1 word, then 2-word sentences gradually increasing to 3 words. Repeat their words and form a sentence to assist their language development. By the age of 2, most kids start forming 3-word sentences to indicate their needs. And their vocab increases from 5-20 words to 150-300 words by the age of 2.

You may also want to read Reason for speech delay in toddlers!

Watch this cute video of Nemit learning new words using picture book at 22 months!

A post shared by Neha Sharma (@growing_with_nemit) on Nov 28, 2017 at 10:21pm PST

I would like to sum up my post by saying that we should not ignore the importance of nutrition and stimulation for boosting a child’s brain development and improving IQ.

If you liked this post, don’t forget to share with your friends and family. Tell me in the comments section what activities you include in your child’s day to day play.

References:
https://simmom.in/
http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/
https://www.usnews.com
https://in.pinterest.com/
http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/
https://www.health.ny.gov/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

The post Best ways to boost your child’s brain development from an early age appeared first on Growing With Nemit.