Walking is a significant developmental milestone for every baby.  This is a sign that he wants to be autonomous and he is interested enough to explore his surroundings.  Be patient and let him walk at his own speed.  Usually babies start to walk by their first birthday, after he or she learns to roll around, walk on his knees, and pull himself up.

Spend some time training your kid and helping him take his steps.  But first he needs to balance himself and hold himself up without support.  As a parent, we are there to hold him and give him a lot of verbal encouragement and positive reinforcement.  When holding your child, kneel and grasp him by the torso.  Sometimes two people can hold both his hands and lead him to move onward.  Occasionally, let go of one hand so he can develop a sense of balance.  Leave your child to walk barefoot indoors or let him wear socks with rubberized pads.  Try various surfaces for a fresh, stimulating experience.  Comfortable and properly fitted shoes are needed once your kid ventures outside the house.  Walkers and jumpers do not speed up walking and may even hinder proper muscular growth.   Put some objects that your child can cling to and shove so he can take steps forward.

Think about proper childproofing.  Remove any appliance or furniture that may cause an accident.  Cover sharp edges to prevent cuts.  Remove items that are scattered on the floor like toys, etc.  Maintain your floor dry and skid-free. Always keep an eye on your baby.  Walking may be tiring for your kid, so let him get adequate rest and appropriate nourishment.

Baby dolls are not for girls anymore. By reinventing the pastel pink and blue outfits, ruffles and bows, baby dolls can be made gender-neutral, enjoyed by every child. Baby GoGo™ is the first baby doll product released by the company Little Sib.

Little Sib has been providing children with toys that nurture and inspire them to be healthy, loving men and women through imaginative play.

Dolls are considered as tools for teaching young children about nature and Baby GoGo™ makes this tool available for both young boys and girls to develop this quality at a young age.

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

Disgusted with the non made in America products, a European transplant living in Arizona starts her one woman attack against mass production.

Louise Felice had a successful line of childrens clothes that she sold in europe. The handmade tradition is still around, there, and her ‘workforce’ were stay at home mums who loved their job as it meant some extra income doing something they loved.

She has decided to try the same thing here. The first collection of girls dresses is out and the boys collection will be available at the end of the year. The workforce is the same … just on a smaller scale at the moment!

Fabrics are found in the most unlikely of places – estate sales, bargain basements – and vintage clothes are also recycled!

“My aim,” Louise says, “is to go off on a complete tangent from mass production. I dont buy anything from Big name stores but rather support the few surviving mom and pop places. I recycle, upcycle, and use anything i think will fit into my collection.”

This has resulted in an eclectic collection where no two items are ever exactly the same.

I asked how she keeps her costs down, as her prices are amazingly affordable. “Well, first of all, the people who work for me love their job and the freedom it allows so they are not at all greedy! I run a cost effective car, use solar power, recycle, barter etc etc – anything that helps me keep my prices low!”

She eventually hopes to be able to employ more people especially stay at home moms. Support the cause – “my prices are low as i want to dress kids and not fleece the moms!”

http://louisefelice.com