Your Child's Cues

Layla is now 11 months old, and she has started to hit.

Oh No!  I was not expecting my sweet little cuddly baby to have aggression like this.  She hits me, Daddy and the dog, she even hit Memere when she was here this past weekend.  I was flabbergasted and dumbfounded...I didn't think I was going to have to use the time-out method or discipline with her so early in her little life, and the truth is I don't!

Layla is not hitting because she's mad or showing aggression...I mean how can she have aggressive feelings before her first birthday!?!  I am "listening" to her CUES now, instead of being in shock that she was actually exhibiting this behavior and have realized that she's just TIRED!

Layla was trying to communicate with me.  She is 11 months old and not talking much yet so she did not know how to tell me she was ready for a nap.  Hitting was her way of getting my attention and letting me know what she wanted.  I took her to bed as soon as she started exhibiting this behavior today and she instantly layed down and went to sleep.

DUH!  How did I not get this sooner?

Now that I know why she is "showing out" and "making bad choices" I can help her to change that behavior into something positive.

I can teach her a way to communicate with me more effectively than using her hands!  As soon as I lay her down today i decided I would learn the sign for "nap" or "tired".  When she starts to show me she is tired in her usual negative way,hitting, I will show her the sign for "tired" and put her down for a nap.  This is showing her I understand what she needs but there is another way of expressing this me.

I will keep you updated on how Layla responds to this new method.  Also if you have realized that your child is exhibiting this same behavior please try this and update me on your child's progress!

The sign for "tired" is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-AZCZlPECE

Here is the sign for "sleep"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUyXhxeunF4




Use the sign that you think will be easiest for your child, I think i am going to try the sing for "Tired" myself.

Again I will keep you updated on her progress and please keep me updated on yours!  Also comment If you have any questions at all:-)

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to All You Fathers and Men who act like Fathers out there!!  You do an Amazing thing for the children you love! All children need a Father figure in their life whether it be their actual Dad or an Uncle, cousin, God-father, friend.....

I am lucky enough to have an Amazing husband and father to my beautiful daughter and would like to share some pictures of his First Fathers day!!

He spent most of his day actually watching ME in a play at the local community theater, so much for the day being all about him:-)  He is such a sport about it and said that his day was perfect anyways:-)

My parents were in town to see my show and we got to spend the whole weekend with family which is always nice since none of them live close!

Layla only got one nap since they spent a good part of the day watching my show so we put her to bed super early...the reason for the Pj's in broad daylight:-)







Although i know James would have loved relaxing and reading his book tonight, instead he took the time to bathe Layla, make her a bottle, read her multiple books and lay her down and was even the first one to get up and go running when she woke up crying.

I am bragging on my husband because i feel truly blessed and know that not all fathers are as dedicated and loving as he is:-)

Tell the fathers or father figures in your life how special they are to you, I know mine are to me!

Daddy Month

Why A Daughter Needs a Dad:
To teach her to believe That she deserves to be treated well.

Why a Son needs a Father:
To teach him to weigh the consequences of his actions and make decisions accordingly.

Singing To Baby

We have talked about reading with your baby and signing with your baby now lets talk about the importance and the FUN of singing with/to your baby!

First of all when I say your "baby" I mean YOUR baby, which could mean your five year old but you know your baby is ALWAYS going to be your baby.

Alright enough with the word baby...lets talk about singing! La La La!!!!!

You may think you have an awful singing voice and honestly you may, but that doesn't mean that your child doesn't want to hear you singing to them!  Singing with your child can help them learn some very important things, like body parts and sounds, but what I bet you didn't know is that singing to your baby can seriously help their language skills.  A lot of the children that I have personally come across throughout my many years as a preschool teacher, used their first words while singing a song!

My baby, Layla, says the word "baby" all the time and I truly believe it is because daily, and sometimes hourly I sing her the song....

Layla, Layla BABY
Layla, Layla BABY
Laaaaayla, Layla BAAAAABY!
(TUNE ON SHERRY BABY by, The 4 Seasons)

Layla also LOVES dancing and moving to Music and I believe it is because we sing to her often.  Singing to your children can help with coordination and learning certain specific movements!


(Daniel Dwase, editor of the online Child Development Guide, agreed that nursery rhymes set to music can aid a child's development. But, he added, teaching a child to dance is also important.

"Music assists in the development of a child's speech," he said. "Singing nursery rhymes and simple songs teaches children how language is constructed and assists with the acquisition of language. Singing songs with your child will also teach them about tone, beat and rhythm.

"Even better than just singing, though, is to teach songs with actions and encourage your child to dance along to the music, they will learn balance, co-ordination, body awareness and rhythm," he said.END.http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/may/08/singing-children-development-language-skills)

Here is a list of some songs that I Love to sing with Layla and That I think will be beneficial to your child's development! 
1.The Itsy Bitsy Spider

2.The wheels on the bus. ( It's good to get a refresher!  Plus these girls are...funny.haha.)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT6CaDkGwQ&feature=related

3.Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.(Gotta love The Wiggles)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFuZ6LPDYQc. 

4.You are my sunshine. (This Video also teaches you how to use ASL with this song.)
         
            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzM0oa9ZxGY)

5.ABC. ( I sign the alphabet while I sing her this).

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMQHd1UBkeI

6.Shake your sillies out.  (I LOVED Rafi when i was little!)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZde3-0RjrM


Those are just some and there are of course many many more!  Start with some of these, you will be surprised how attentive your child will be while you are singing to them and if you add movements you will love watching them learn and soon start to move and sing with you!

How great is that! And such an easy and fun thing to do! Everybody likes to sing, don't deny it, it's just that most of us only do it in the shower!!  But now we can have an audience that will applaud and love us even if we are tone def!! Wonderful News!

I have talked about reading to your child and I think it is even more fun when you add songs and movement in there as well, it also keeps your little ones attention as well!Here is a list of some songs that I Love to sing with Layla and That I think will be beneficial to your child's development! 

Daddy Month

I am going to post as much as i can this month with these sweet little thoughts and statements about why children need there father/ or a father figure!

Also please check out the survey on the right of the screen and answer what you would like to hear about the most on this particular blog!

I hope and pray everyone's weekend was amazing!!  I was without my little one for the first time this weekend and it was very hard!  She went with her Father to Gainesville and she was gone for two full days and one night.....ahhhhh!!  The  first day was okay but after that i was in agony, just wanting some love from my little one!  I now know 2 days in a row is a no go for being away from her!!!
 So here's a sweet thought about all those Father Figures out there!
Why A Daughter Needs a Dad:
TO TEACH HER THAT HER VALUE AS A PERSON IS MORE THAN JUST THE WAY SHE LOOKS!!!

AND WHO WILL NEVER THINK SHE IS TOO OLD TO NEED HIM!!

It's Daddy Month

June is Father's Day which means i am dedicating this Month to all those wonderful Daddies, Grandfathers, Uncles, friends, and anyone who acts as a father figure in your little ones life!!!
This Month's Cozy Thoughts are going to be all about Daddy and why a Daughter/Son needs a Dad:-)
I cant wait to get started so here you go!

A Daughter/Son Needs A Dad:
-WHO WILL MAKE SACRIFICES SO THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO SACRIFICE!

A Daughter Needs a Dad:
WHO DOES NOT MIND WHEN SHE STEPS ON HIS DANCING SHOES

Featuring my adorable Husband, James and daughter Layla.