Have you ever heard the saying; two heads are better than one? Well, when it comes to the latest neuroscientific research, we have learnt that in fact three brains are better than one. Hopefully it will all make sense soon… Although we, as human beings, have one physical brain, neurobiologists have come to realize that our brains function as three separate brains in one. Each of the three brains [...]
With it being our language block currently, I’m wanting to share a little bit about the difference between reading and book sharing which is a concept we teach to our nannies throughout this block. I have heard a lot of moms mention that their little ones aren’t interested in reading and that they tend to sit down and listen to a story for a few minutes and are then [...]
From the moment our little ones make their appearance here on earth, they are naturally curious about themselves and their environment. Your tiny newborn baby will study your face and listen for your voice. Your drooly, hands-on-everything baby will put everything in his/her mouth in attempts to learn about shapes, textures and sizes, and your busy bee toddler will explore everything and anything at his/her disposal (much to our [...]
As we come to the end of our small muscles block, we want to educate you a little bit more about your little one’s hand development. Children under the age of 4 years old do not usually have the fine motor development in their hand and finger muscles to support the use of thin handled utensils. The muscles in the hands and fingers develop according to a specific progression [...]
You might have a little one who is hesitant about engaging in messy play. They aren’t the first to dive into water play or the sandpit and they are very unsure about playing with certain textures such as rice/oats/beans/lentils/porridge/slime/cooked spaghetti/shaving foam etc. Even new experiences such as various movements (swinging, sliding, rocking, swaying) or changing positions (upside down/sideways/crawling) unsettle them. These are often our sensory sensitive or avoidant children. [...]
‘Socio’ refers to social development. This includes relating to others and their environment, learning to adhere to social norms and even interpreting gestures and body language. ‘Emotional’ involves our children’s emotional development which is made up of awareness, expression, and regulation of emotions. Social and emotional development are very much inter-linked which is why we address them together. Babies socially engage and interact primarily with their caregiver(s). The quality [...]
The first 1000 days of life truly do matter and here's why... Science tells us that the first 1000 days of a child’s life sets the foundation for future years. The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s most recent research shows that more than one million new neural connections form every second AND your baby’s brain grows to 80% of it’s adult size within the first [...]
Language is more than just verbal communication. It is also the ability to express ourselves, to respond and understand when someone is trying to communicate with us. Language development is a crucial part of the child’s overall development. It supports your child’s ability to communicate, express and understand feelings. It also aids in problem solving, developing, and maintaining relationships. The basis for literacy - learning to read and write [...]
Fine motor development includes the development of the small muscles of the body, namely the tiny muscles of hands, feet, eyes and mouth. While the gross motor muscles are required mostly for endurance, strength and whole-body movement, fine motor muscles are used mostly for control, precision and coordination. Gross motor muscles are used for a large muscle activity such as throwing and catching a ball or jumping whereas fine [...]
Gross Motor Development refers to the development of the large muscle groups of the body (legs, arms and torso) which are responsible for whole body movement. This includes everyday movements such as sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running and jumping as well as coordinated activities such as ball skills, skipping, swimming or riding a bike. Development of these muscles is crucial in being able to perform natural, everyday actions and [...]
