More than 65 delightful games and activities to jump-start your baby's amazing brainpower Can simply singing a song or blowing a dandelion under a toddler's nose help her mind to blossom? Can your baby count, remember events, and solve problems even before he can talk? The exciting answer to both questions is yes Breakthrough research is revealing the extraordinary inborn abilities of infants. It is also showing how experiences during the first years of life profoundly influence intelligence, creativity, language development-and even later reading and math skills. Now two psychologists and child development experts-authors of the bestselling Baby Signs-have created a delightful guide for parents based on the most up-to-date knowledge of how babies discover the world. You'll learn how to: _ Create a homemade mobile to stimulate your three-month-old's delight in solving problems _ Play a patty-cake game to help your two-year-old make logical connections _ Initiate bedtime conversations that build your child's memory and sense of personal history _ Develop "Baby Signs" to help your toddler communicate before he or she can talk _ Stimulate your child's natural number skills with puppets and counting games _ Use nursery rhymes and special read-aloud techniques to foster reading readiness _ Nurture budding creativity with humor and fantasy play _ And much more Baby Minds is not another program for creating "super babies." Instead it builds on activities that babies instinctively love to develop their unique abilities and make your daily interactions full of the joy of discovery-for both of you.
I wanted to address one theme I've seen in other reviews. Some reviewers have been disappointed that there weren't more specific games/activities in the book. However, I've found that the information is so compelling and well-written that it changed the way I think about learning in babies and therefore changed how I interact with my baby. Rather than giving me specific activities, they changed the way I think so that I can come up with the specific activities that maximize learning in my child. It's day to day life that impacts a child most and this book helps you understand how to use day to day life to its fullest.
lots of good ideas
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I've already had fun playing games from this book with my baby, and I just started reading it last week. It's full of a) research explaining why babies enjoy particular activities, b) fun ideas for free toys around the house, and c) encouragement for new parents.
Interesting and Useful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I received this book as a gift and read it practically cover to cover right away. It was really fun getting a peek into how research with babies works. It's amazing what they've found out babies can do. I also like the fact that the authors never forget the importance of the emotional side of everything. They emphasize that the games they describe are good ways to connect with a baby and that a warm relationship is the most effective way to help a baby learn. This book is a great choice for anyone with a child under the age of 3. I recommend it highly.
Grandpas will love this book too
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Baby Minds is a great book for anyone who has ever wondered what's going on inside their baby's or their grandchild's head and I'm sure that is just about everyone. The book is full of surprising things that researchers have discovered. I'd bet most adults have no idea, for example, that even 6 month-olds know something about adding and subtracting, or that they can remember things for incredibly long periods of time. After highlighting specific examples, the authors tie these remarkable skills to games parents and grandparents can play with their babies, not only to stimulate them intellectually, but also just to have fun. Grandpas will love it too.
Very well put together
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Great collection of child development activities for little ones! I loved the quick-reference at the back of the book too. As a speech pathologist doing transdisciplinary therapy, I'll recommend this to many parents.
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