We like "Through Edina's Eyes"; a blog focused on child development

It's always a pleasure whenever we find a kindred spirit when it comes to enthusiasm for child development.  We are adding a link on our sidebar to Colorado-based Dr. Lynn Hellenstein's site,  click "Blog" on her website to reach "Through Edina's Eyes" or click HERE.  You will find useful information about health, child development for special-needs and typically developing kids, and a focus on vision. 

Dr. Hellenstein

Here is some information from Dr. Hellenstein's website:

Children go through distinct periods of development as they move from infants to toddlers to grade-schoolers to young adults. During each of these stages, multiple changes in the development of the brain take place.

When your child starts walking on his or her own, it opens up a whole new world of freedom. Exploration of the environment is your child’s mission. Language development also takes major leaps. Your child learns words which turn into sentences.

By the end of 24 months (2 years), many children are able to:

• Have approximately 200 words in vocabulary
• Speak in small sentences
• Show some independence, including defiance
• Imitate motor movements like dance, gestures, etc.
• Run
• Use stairs independently
• Kick a ball
• Build a 6 cube tower with blocks
• Start coloring
• “Pretend” read (look at pictures and babble-like reading)
• Have interest in potty training

Ways to Encourage Development:

• Baby-proof your house. Bumps, bruises, eye injuries & other serious injuries can occur as your baby begins to physically explore the environment. Keep cabinets that contain cleaning supplies or dangerous objects locked. Put barriers in front of stairwells.
• Provide plenty of playtime, including playing alone, with peers and with their parents
• Have plenty of SAFE objects and toys that can be pulled apart
• Use building blocks, puzzles and balls of all shapes and sizes to play with to boost fine motor skills
• Read or tell stories to stimulate your child’s ability to visualize and pave the way for learning and reading
• Listen to music and play with musical toys
• Provide tools for drawing, cutting and other artistic activities (crayons, markers, safe scissors, paint, clay, etc.)
• Get your child outside as much as possible, even in the colder weather. Well-chosen outdoor play games can provide for plenty of fun, exploration, education and physical development.
• With all the electronic media available (computers, tablets, TV, movies, etc.), electronic input for children of this age should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day (including educational programs).

Research shows that the key to healthy child development is the amount of time children spend time with their parents, having fun and learning at the same time.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season, from all of us at Clear Speech, Inc.