child development

According to the results of a new University of Virginia study, adoptive children living in different parts of the US are developing well regardless of whether they are living with lesbian, gay or heterosexual parenting couples. The research finds that whether or not adoptive children develop in positive ways is unrelated to the sexual orientation of their adoptive parents.

Multi-tasking, or as the ancients called it: monkey mind, is a disease that has many consequences. One is the impact is has on youngsters. Kids are so inundated with media that their minds jump from metaphorical branch to metaphorical branch without ever resting. One of the consequences is that many children have trouble reading. Experts have coined a term: reading stamina. This is the educational field's version of the one-pointed-mind: the ability to stay with a text for extended periods of time while putting off extraneous thoughts. Reading, then, is a form of mindfulness.

Most babies and young children tend to suck their thumbs. While you may be concerned about your child’s habit, it is actually quite harmless.

The toddler phase in a child’s life can be sharply marked by an increasing need to assert its independence. This will be a time fraught with challenges for you, as you try to support your toddlers’ impulses to explore his environment, while also safeguarding them from any harm.

Even when babies are young, their nails are quite sharp. This can easily lead to babies injuring either themselves or adults who are handling them. To avoid this, it is essential that you start trimming children’s nails from the time they are still young.

Do not attempt to cut your baby’s nails with scissors or anything else that is likely to cause injury. Instead, use clippers and scissors that are especially designed for children. They have rounded tips and prevent accidental injury from taking place.

Shyness is a normal response seen in infants to an overwhelming social experience. Such children may or may not retain this behavior for life. Remember that shyness is not abnormal and is a phase of the development process. Ensure that your baby is not experiencing severe discomfort or fear in new situations.

Causes

While there is no known cause for shyness in babies, several possible explanations exist that include:

We know that exercise is important for our health as adults, but did you know that the same philosophy applies to babies? It is recommended that babies should work their muscles at least half-hour each day, although not necessarily all at once. Here are basic exercises that you can do with your baby, to stretch and tone the muscles:

Stretching