Reading Habits in Toddlers

Question from Love to Read

Dear Ms. Mimi,

I’m not a big reader.  It just wasn’t my thing growing up, but I want my son to enjoy it.  What can I do to help foster this love for reading in him that I didn’t have growing up?

Dear Love to Read,

Oh, what a lovely question!  Reading is a fabulous way to incorporate language learning into the lives of your little ones. Children are curious and full of wonderment, and they are constantly seeking stimulation to fuel their rapidly growing minds. Maria Montessori calls it the Absorbent Mind.

Within the first few years of a child’s life including birth, they are actually mini geniuses.  Their minds have the capacity to take in new information and process it without effort!  Have you ever said something out of habit and the next thing you know your child repeats it the exact same way you said it?  Yes, this is the absorbent mind in full swing and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it!

That’s where reading comes into play. Reading is essential in building communication and introducing language. It promotes and helps build listening, memory, and vocabulary skills and while infants may not understand the words, they are able to intake your emotions and expressive sounds which help develop emotional and social development. 

Children love being with mommy and daddy, by simply setting aside special reading time to read aloud to your son he will see that reading is fun, and begin to make the connections between what he loves - you, your voice, and your closeness- to books. 

Here are a few guidelines to make the process picture perfect:

-  Keep it Short: Infants have short attention spans so reading for 10 -15 minutes once or twice a day is good.

- Book Choices: Pick books that you enjoy to read that is appropriate for their age. By doing so you will be more animated and bring more emotion into the story for your child.  Also choose board books or fabric books as they will want to nibble on them. "It's okay if they eat the pages," says Dr. Remer-Altman. This is their way of exploring. Soon they will learn to point as they make out familiar images.

- Repetition: By reading the same book over and over, the child will begin to know when to show certain emotions based on the inflections of your voice.

- Follow the Child: You will start to see your child evolve in his reading abilities. By seven to nine months your child will begin to copy you and turn multiple pages at a time.  By 1 year, your child will be more advanced and start turning single pages. He’ll also stop using it as a teething-ring which is a great time to start introducing paper books.

All children seek stimulation and reading is a great way to help satisfy their hungry minds while still sharing the closeness they love so much with you. But I will warn you, they may end-up turning YOU onto reading. Who would have thought? 

Ms Mimi Ha

Infant Montessori Lead teacher

Mimi Ha, winner of the 2013 Milpitas Post Best Teacher of the Year and Best Infant Program awards, has been working with young children for nearly a decade.  She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Degree in Sociology and Liberal Arts. Ms. Mimi worked with various leading non-profit organizations that support children with Autism. Ms. Mimi Ha believes that children are the key to a brighter world and through them we can learn a great deal about ourselves.

How to soothe a crying baby ?

Question from Her Pain is My Pain:

Hello, Ms. Mimi.

I am a new parent and I am at a loss when my 8 month old cries over everything. Some of my friends and family have said to pick her up every time while others advise that I let her cry it out. Could it be that she is always hungry? I simply don’t know what to do. I feel like horrible for not knowing how to comfort my own child. Please help!

     

Dear Her Pain is My Pain,

Great news!! You are not alone. Children are complex even in infancy, and when their only means of communication is crying, it can become overwhelming to both the child and the parent, but fret-not, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Many parents believe that when a child cries it must mean they are hungry or in physical discomfort or pain, but that is not always the case. Babies can cry for many reasons. Maybe they’re scared, cold, hot, worried, bored, lonely, or they may simply be experiencing a sad or bad memory.

So how do we soothe a crying baby the Montessori way?

Dr. Maria Montessori advise that we “follow the child”, in which case, it is important to spend time with your baby to learn what is being said with each cry. Only with that will you understand how to meet your child’s needs.

In The Joyful Child, Michael Olaf states that a crying infant rarely requires food. In fact, he wonders if babies were less soothed with food if that would alleviate the obesity problems we currently face. He also states that it is the responsibility of attentive parents and caregivers to understand the cries of an infant so to better understand their sense of communication.

Here are a few guidelines to help with the process, as it will take some time to learn to differentiate the cries.

- First, speak in a calm and gentle voice, reassuring her that you are present.
– If that doesn’t work, make eye contact so to redirect her focus onto you.
– And if those don’t work, then check for physical pain or discomfort i.e. wet diaper, hungry, the need to be repositioned, etc.

All children are different, and all children will have their own distinct cries to express their needs. Be patient and be present. You will learn to decode the cries and know that not all situations require immediate adult intervention. It is important to watch for learning opportunities, and while it may be a bit irritating to the child, the space to work through their discomfort and gain independence and confidence in oneself is critical in their development.

Ms Mimi Ha

Infant Montessori Lead teacher

Mimi Ha, winner of the 2013 Milpitas Post Best Teacher of the Year and Best Infant Program awards, has been working with young children for nearly a decade. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Degree in Sociology and Liberal Arts. Ms. Mimi worked with various leading non-profit organizations that support children with Autism. Ms. Mimi Ha believes that children are the key to a brighter world and through them we can learn a great deal about ourselves.

Source: https://msosv.com/soothe-a-crying-baby-the-montessori-way/

“They’re Just… Babies”, A Mother’s Journey through Montessori

The number one question I get asked as a mother is, “Why Montessori so young? They’re just… babies”.

As working Parents, we feel the tremendous pressure and stress in finding the right daycare or school for our child when we are not there. I had to ask myself what I was looking for:

1. Do I want him to learn?
2. Do I want him to play?
3. Do I want long term?
4. What do I want for him to get out of it?

With these 4 basic questions, I was able to weed out what kind of program I wanted for my infant son. I chose Montessori because I wanted him to learn and play, I wanted something that was long term, and for my son to be the best he can be. I know that my son is unique, in fact, EVERY child is unique. The Montessori Method supports the concept of child uniqueness and individuality, actually, it is the foundation! Children learn at different paces, they take in information differently than others, and through this understanding teachers can create an environment where children learn at their own natural rhythm, develop confidence through real experiences, and independence.

This holds true for children of ALL ages, including infants. I was most shocked by the follow up comment, “they’re just babies”, no they are not JUST babies. Think of an infant child like a dimmer switch, cranked up very bright that represents their absorption for learning, and as they get older, the light dims as a natural process when children age and begin to selectively choose what they want to do/learn. Because Montessori follows the needs of the child, we can catch those moments of special interests and keep the light bright, not because a teacher’s hand forces the switch, but because a child’s own love for learning is generating power keeping it on! This is where learning feels like playing and playing is learning! Imagine the endless possibilities of continuing the Montessori education throughout his preschool life where he felt this way about learning, building knowledge, discovering the world and himself. And it all started when he was, yes, just a baby.

 Milinh Villanueva

 About Milinh Villanueva

 

 I have been working with children since 2003, with ages ranging from 6 weeks through Kindergarten, and developmental abilities ranging from typically developing to special needs. I have a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University reflecting special and childhood education. My Montessori certification is nearly completed with all coursework and I am eager to start practicum. Not only as a Director, but also as a mother of a child who attends Montessori school, I believe in the Montessori philosophy wholeheartedly. For me, the Montessori Method is more than just an approach to learning academics; it is the way to developing the child as a whole taking into account their physical, emotional, and social growth.