Play is as vital to child development as learning to read, write or do sums!
Is there any standard guideline for attention span in children? What would be the appropriate attention span for a 16-month-old child?
I am interested in receiving information regarding indicators of gifted children. My son is 15 1/2 months old and has a vocabulary of 140 words, and he adds more words every day. He is zipping through his motor milestones as well. He can unlock the "childproof" cabinet locks, too. I am curious to find out whether this is usual behaviour for a baby his age, and I would like suggestions on how to further facilitate his development.
My baby will be a year old in a few weeks and still will not eat by himself. He has absolutely no interest in even trying finger foods. He just throws everything on the floor. I show him how to pick it up and eat it; I stop his hand and say, "Don't throw. We eat the carrots, apples or whatever", but he throws it and just cries until I feed him from the spoon. Should he be eating by himself by now? If so, what can I do to encourage/help him? Will my continuing to feed him pose any eating problems later on?
From the moment your baby starts to move around by herself - be it crawling, bottom shuffling or taking those first wobbly steps - she discovers a new and very interesting fact: that she can choose, to some degree, where to go and what to do.
Separation from a parent is a normal part of childhood development, and of parenting too. It's marked by developmental milestones like learning to use the potty and going to day care or nursery.
My son has just turned 1, but he still prefers crawling to walking. He's been pulling himself up since 7 months and could stand and walk short distances with no problem at 9 months. Can I do anything to encourage walking?
In Germany, where we're from, children learn to walk barefoot. But a shoe shop in the UK told me doctors here recommend children learn with shoes for better balance. Should I let my 9-month-old learn to walk in shoes?
My son is 28 months old and we have a hard time dressing him. He only wants to wear pyjamas. What can we do?
Our 2 1/2-year-old daughter is very easy-going and generous in nature (which is fantastic!). However, during play we have noticed regularly that other children take the toys she is playing with. She doesn't seem to be able to stand up for herself (although verbally she is very proficient) and take them back. Instead she just cries, forcing someone to intervene. In the past we have let children take things from her, choosing not to fight all her battles. However, we are now concerned that she is just going to become a "pushover". She seems to be an overly sensitive child. Do you have any suggestions?
How can we get our 18-month-old to drink from a cup?
Your little one still has lots to figure out about the world and the people in it. One thing that's pretty much settled, though, is Mummy's role: Mummy is her Mummy, and that's that. Now it’s time to broaden this view.
We want our children to behave well but without suppressing creativity or sense of self.
My 16-month-old son welcomed his new baby sister home a month ago and seemed to love her instantly. Now he's very upset. He won't eat like he used to and throws tantrums. I tried to introduce them properly by letting him touch her and show her all his toys. I try to pay equal attention to both except for breastfeeding the new baby and not my son. He recently stopped being breastfed. Is there anything I can do to help him?
My son is 14 months old and if he doesn't get what he wants, he throws a terrible tantrum, throwing himself on the ground or hitting out at whoever happens to be near. Help! What can I do to stop this terrible behaviour?
Well-baby visit: 18 months-2 years
