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Part
Four:
THE PLAIN TRUTHABOUTCHILD REARING
Pteschool
Years:
Preparation for Life
We've covered the importance of the family, healthy babies, good
parenting. Now we take you through the real-life experiences of childhood.
P
ARENTING
begins with
that wonderful moment
you first h0ld your
baby in your arms.
It is then that the educational
process starts that molds and
shapes the child into what he or
she will be in later life.
Make no mistake about it- the
early months and years are the
most critica} in guiding and rearing
of children. Here is how you can
make tbe most of this vital period
of time.
Talk to Your Child
Beginning right after birth, talk to
your baby. As much as possible
avoid baby talk. Use clear speech.
Talk while caressing him, bathing
him, dressing him, changing him.
Hearing the sound of your voice
and the language you speak is nec–
essary to his development.
Changing the position of the
baby's crib from time to time is
important, too, as he begins to dis–
tinguish differences in seeing as
well as hearing. He begins to
become familiar with different
colors and shapes.
By the time your child is 8 or 9
months old you will notice that he
has more of an understanding of
what you are saying. When you see
this spark of enlightenment, fuel ít!
February 1985
Use carefully selected words and
phrases- but speak normally.
Don't use baby talk that will only
have to be unlearned la ter.
Remember, a child will revert to
early learnings, and any faulty con–
structions you bave
instilled will come out
later- to the child's
embarrassment in front
of classmates.
Children
should be
learning
cleanliness
from the
borne
environment.
Work on your own grarnmar.
You are your child's f irst teacber
and you are transmitting the lan–
guage with which your child will
think and express bis ideas. You
surely want to transmít it as thor–
oughly and as correctly as you
can.
It
is wise also to avoid the
other extreme- once the child
can comprehend. Sorne parents
talk above the cbild's leve! of
understanding.
If
this happens
the child may "switch off," later
ímpairing concentration in
scbool.
Encourage Curiosi ty
Don't confine your baby to a play–
pen for overlong períods.
It
may be
more conveníent, but it can curtail
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