Let’s say you are a working mom, have a deadline to meet and need to go to the office. Unfortunately it just so happens that on the same day your babysitter calls in sick and is not able to come over and watch your little bundle of joy. You are left with no choice but to bring your child to the office while you finish your work. So what can you give your child to catch his attention enough to give you time to finish your task and reach your deadline? A very brilliant iPhone application can answer this question.

Being techno savvy seems to be working in every woman’s advantage to perform her two functions: as a successful career woman and a mother, as it is able to provides her with the necessary skills to fulfill her duties both professionally and personally. Juggling between work and motherhood has been made so much easier now with the release of a new iPhone application especially made for babies and toddlers.

Babies now get their own apps! BabyFirstTV, the world’s leading 24/7 TV channel for babies, toddlers and their parents, is now offering unique free educational apps that babies can use by themselves, or as a way to interact with their parents. “We have conducted extensive research with parents and know that they want content suitable for babies on their phones,” said Sharon Rechter, co-founder of BabyFirstTV and mother of two. “BabyFirstTV is in the unique position to answer parents’ needs by providing the same baby-friendly interactive experience we offer on the television, but extended to the mobile platform for today’s world. As a mom myself, I am amazed by how even my one year olds gets the iPhone and iPad, and is able to use them to learn and have fun. At BabyFirstTV, we see iPhones and touch screens in general as the new frontier in baby interaction and are planning to release dozens of new apps in the upcoming year.”

Currently, the applications available include an innovative video-based app and multiple game-based apps that introduce basic development skills such as counting, putting puzzles together, listening to the sounds animals make and more.

BabyFirst app features:

• Nurtures hand-eye coordination
• Offers videos specially tailored for babies, created by child experts
• Safe environment
• Tested by babies, toddlers and their parents

BabyFirstTV apps can be found on iTunes in the US and throughout the world.

Related articles:

• BabyFirst Mobile – BFTV, LLC (itunes.apple.com)
• New iPhone App Introduced to Calm Your Child (eon.businesswire.com)

Have you ever felt stuck inside a department store while searching for a gift to give on a baby shower? Or debating what toys to give on your niece’s first birthday? Well, worry no more because Einstein is here to save the day. And we mean that literally. Baby Einstein has been one of the favorite items to give and receive as a gift as revealed by Susan McLain, vice president and general manager of  The Baby Einstein Company. The company has just released the Baby Einstein DVD Gift Sets which is perfect for baby showers, baby ‘firsts’ or birthdays which bring classical music, real-world imagery and entertaining puppets to moms and babies.
Perfect for any occasion, the DVD Gift Sets include a top selling Baby Einstein DVD along with a Baby Einstein CD, book or Discovery Cards, plus an exclusive Baby Einstein gift – all wrapped up and ready to go. Fit for a variety of gift-giving needs,Baby Einstein DVD Gift Sets come in four varieties:

• You’re Expecting! Gift Set
• Baby’s 1st Bath Set
• Baby’s 1st Birthday Gift Set
• Baby Loves Animals! Gift Set

With baby’s first year full of so many exciting milestone occasions, Baby Einstein has made year-round gift-giving easier than ever. From baby’s first steps to first words, Baby Einstein recognizes these precious moments and has created four new Baby Einstein DVD Gift Sets to celebrate these special firsts. Each set offers fun, interactive experiences for parents and baby to make it simpler than ever to discover the arts and humanities together.

The Baby Einstein DVD Gift Sets are available at major retailers and online at http://www.BabyEinstein.com for a suggested retail price of $26.99. TheBaby Einstein DVD Gift Sets are recommended for infants up to 24 months old.

Related articles:

• Does Baby Einstein Help Toddlers Learn? (psychcentral.com)
• Wishpot’s Favorite Baby Shower Gifts! (blogs.wishpot.com)

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

During the first 6 months of life, baby learning takes on the form of exploration. Senses are still developing, and there’s a lot going on and this helps the baby to develop basic awareness skills. When we play with baby doing things such as “patty-cake”, some may think it silly, but this is actually beneficial because the baby is learning coordination. Other such games also help to build coordination and whether it seems to have an impact or not, we are working to strengthen the baby.

As for toys during the initial 6 months of life, the primary focus should be on safety, and in addition, on the learning, or development of the baby. Toys should be of the variety intended for their age because these toys general focus on some aspect of baby learning. Certain toys are developed that will assist the baby in focusing their eyes, more work on coordination and following things around with their eyes. All tasks that are extremely important to baby’s overall development.

We must take care with these toys. Don’t let the dogs play with them, keep things reasonably clean, etc. As we may or may not be aware, another aspect of baby’s exploration includes tasting things, and nearly everything they encounter will make it to their mouth at one point or another.

Rattlers are a good toy for development. They make sounds which help baby to focus on listening. They also promote gripping and holding on to things. You don’t want the rattler to be too loud, but the baby should be able to hear it.

Another good toy is perhaps not actually a toy, but will think it is and that is a teething ring. The baby can begin to develop teeth as early as 3 months old. They will chew on this to help the teeth come through, and it is also soothing to the gums. The best ones will be those containing a gel that can be made cold in the refrigerator. Make sure it stays clean though!

There is a fantastic toy that is sort of an all in one type game that includes a frame that baby will actually lie under. Baby learning takes the form of continued development of coordination as the baby reaches for the items that are hanging from the frame. This also actually exercises baby and he or she begins to build muscle in the extremities.

Other toys beneficial to baby learning include balls, toys that roll, and even safety mirrors all work towards developing baby and getting them ready to move on to the next level of learning.

Once upon a time, people used to believe that reading to baby at a very young age was pointless. We now know that this is wrong, and the sooner that you begin reading to a child, the faster their vocabulary will develop. It is known that reading to children from a very young age has them well advanced in reading by the time they begin school, and those who have been worked with as infants have been known to read on a level 3 or 4 grades ahead of their classmates.

There are books that are geared to developing a child’s knowledge such as assisting the parents in teaching the child their ABC’s, various body parts and other such basic knowledge. Still other books such as fairy tales help the child’s imagination to properly develop. When you look at things on the surface, those who began baby learning at a young age are those who are excelling in their studies in the later years. Take a look at high school students today, and the vast numbers of children who have poor reading skills. Studies have proven that those having trouble in school at that age with learning, are primarily the ones who were never worked with at home.

Reading to children at an early age, and in fact making it an essential part of baby learning opens the door to a whole new world of words for the child. When they begin to understand the words, the door opens further still.

There’s a great many websites available online that specifically deal with toys, games and books designed to develop a baby’s mind and thinking skills as well as helping to build vocabulary more quickly and this should be an important part of your baby learning activities.

Another useful baby learning tool is music. Music affects babies just like it does anyone else. Soft music can be soothing to the baby and it aids in development overall. Again, this would affect the listening and hearing skills for baby and they will soon have a favorite song that for one reason or another especially appeals to them.

Never under estimate the ability of any child to learn, and the more you work with baby in learning, the faster they will develop the various skills needed by all of us.