Contrary to what most adults believe, children welcome the thought of swimming.  This is what I usually notice whenever I chance upon parents teaching their toddlers how to swim in swimming pools of resorts I visit during summertime. After all, isn’t it the most natural thing in the world? 

When we were just fetuses, we were already exposed to the basics of swimming; we floated 24/7 inside that tiny little pool within our mother’s womb – her amniotic sac.   Training your child as appropriately early as possible gives your child a bigger chance of overcoming his/her fear of water.  The older and, at the same time, the smarter they get, the more they become fearful of it. 

Once they learn about the dangers of swimming, it seems almost impossible to unlearn it.  Take it from me — I’m still scared of swimming in a pool more than four feet deep and I studied swimming when I was ten years old!

Most mothers dream of having slim bodies before they get pregnant but many cannot make this a reality afterwards and feel stuck in their post pregnancy bodies. But this need not be the case anymore as Stroller Strides launches it’s newest fitness program that can help to enable Moms to get their body shape back!”

Stroller Strides: (www.strollerstrides.com).

A recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, shows that mothers who partake in light exercise throughout pregnancy can actually lower their baby’s risk of obesity later in life. This is proof that exercising during pregnancy is a win-win for mom and baby.

Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Academy of Sports Medicine support exercise during pregnancy as long as the pregnant woman feels comfortable. This new data, along with anecdotal information that exercise leads to shorter labor and an easier recovery, is driving more pregnant women than ever to take part in fitness activities.

This is where the Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System™ by Nuvo Group, Inc. comes in among many other ways of keeping fit during pregnancy:

1 Sing a Song

Songs are one of the easiest ways to learn a new language. There are many Spanish songs available which are fun, upbeat, and educational. By singing, your child is encouraged to practice the words in a non-threatening environment. Many Spanish songs “canciones de cuna” also have dances which encourage the child to reach, touch, or jump. These songs use movement to teach your child new words. By adding video to these songs Children’s language programs illustrate the objects or actions that are sung. In this way songs can stimulate many of your child’s senses in a fun, relaxed environment which encourages learning.

For toddlers and babies, singing in a higher pitched, softer voice has been shown to peak interest, relax and comfort while introducing spoken language. Don’t be shy if you are not a great singer, your soft voice will soothe your child and enable them to focus on your words.

2 The “Abuelita” Factor

If you have a Grandparent that speaks Spanish this is the perfect time to get “Abuelita” involved in your child’s learning. Have “Abuelita” speak to your child only in Spanish; she will likely cherish the opportunity to pass on the Spanish language and culture to future generations. Having a loved one or parent speak in only Spanish creates a clear distinction in your child’s mind as to what words are being said in English and what words are being said in Spanish.

3 Lets get Comfortable

Speak to your child in Spanish for everyday communication like “vamos a comer” (let’s eat) or “abre la puerta” (open the door) this increases their comfort level in everyday communication and creates an informal learning environment where learning comes naturally. Using real world situations reaffirms the words they’ve previously learned.

4 Reading is Fun

If you are comfortable reading to your child in Spanish, read from a storybook each night. At the end of the story ask questions to ensure your child is grasping the concepts. If you are not comfortable with reading aloud, use audio books that can be borrowed from your local library to ensure your child is learning. Get your child involved in their learning by allowing them to choose which book they want to read next.

5 Use Movement

It is no secret that kids like to be active. In teaching Spanish we can use this to our advantage. For example, associating the act of jumping with the word “brinca” is a quick way to build your child’s comfort level with Spanish. Acting out the word is a quick and easy way to get your child involved in Spanish.

About the Author:
As a mother of three fully bilingual children, Lydia understands the advantages her children have had in their careers. However, with the birth of her first grandchild, Lydia realized that her children had no resources for teaching her grand-children Spanish. Utilizing her background in education, (Masters in Education from the University of Puerto Rico) she set out to develop a comprehensive program that will help maintain a key element of her grand-children’s culture, their language. Throughout her work and research at the University of Puerto Rico, she learned the importance early education and parental involvement play in developing children’s full potential.

Baby Amigo was developed to be easy to use for parents of all native tongues to teach their children to read Spanish.

For more on this author please fan her Learning Spanish Facebook Page

Lydia Maldonado
Founder, Baby Amigo
www.babyamigo.com

Pregnancy should be a happy experience and anything you can do to make pregnancy more relaxing for you or your husband is worth a look.

Organic baby food company founder and yoga expert husband create one-of-a-kind video
Expectant mothers and their loved ones can now more closely share in the pregnancy experience thanks to the new Prenatal Yoga for Partners DVD created by HAPPYBABY, the nation’s leading premium organic baby and toddler food company. One of the only products of its kind, this wellness DVD features HAPPYBABY CEO and founder Shazi Visram and her husband, Joe Kulak, a certified yoga instructor and physical therapist with more than a decade of experience, sharing a thoughtful yoga flow for expectant parents and practicing exercises to ease the aches and pains of pregnancy for moms-to-be. HAPPYBABY is quickly becoming a premier green lifestyle resource and is committed to the overall health and wellness of their customers and their families.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, practicing yoga during pregnancy can benefit both mother and baby by lessening discomfort and fatigue, providing a sense of well-being, and increasing the likelihood of early post-delivery recovery. Visram had these health benefits in mind as well as a desire to find a way for her husband to be able to be more involved in the pregnancy experience when HAPPYBABY set out to create this DVD.

Designed to promote relaxation, build strength and flexibility, and prepare the body and mind for labor, Prenatal Yoga for Partners features sections for both partners as well as exercises just for moms-to-be. Kulak offers instruction on traditional yoga postures, breathing techniques, massage tips for dads-to-be, and guided relaxation for expectant moms. He also demonstrates quick fixes to common prenatal aches and pains such as lower back and sciatica pain, leg cramps and heartburn, and overall prenatal stress.

“As a very recent first-time mother, I wanted to do everything I could to remain healthy and happy, stay active, and involve my husband, Joe, as much as possible during such a miraculous time in life,” says Visram. “Prior to my son’s birth, Joe and I bonded by practicing yoga together, which strengthened our partnership, helped him feel much more involved in my pregnancy, and got me mentally and physically prepared for labor and a speedy recovery. It really worked wonders, and I would recommend our DVD to every expecting couple I know.”

The HAPPYBABY Prenatal Yoga for Partners DVD will be available in March 2010 for $14.99 on the company’s website at www.happybabyfoods.com. This is just the first in a series of family yoga DVDs from HAPPYBABY.

ABOUT HAPPYBABY:

Launched on Mother’s Day 2006, HAPPYBABY is the leading brand of premium organic meals for babies and toddlers. The company makes HAPPYBABY^™ fresh frozen organic baby meals, HAPPYBELLIES^™-the only organic baby cereals with DHA and probiotics, HAPPYBABY PUFFS^™-the only organic baby puffs with whole grains, real fruits and vegetables, HAPPYBITES^™-handheld organic toddler/kids meals with hidden veggies, HAPPYMELTS™, the first USDA organic freeze-dried organic yogurt and fruit snacks containing both prebiotics and probiotics, and the recently released HAPPYTOT^™-fruits and vegetables enriched with super-grain Salba in a convenient easy-to-handle pouch. For more information, log onto www.happybabyfood.com.

HAPPYBABY believes every baby deserves to be a happy baby. The company collaborates with Project Peanut Butter (www.projectpeanutbutter.org) to feed malnourished children in Malawi and Sierra Leone. For every HAPPYBABY product purchased, Project Peanut Butter is able to provide food for a child for an entire day.