50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

41 through 50

41. Hunt bugs. Look at pictures of harmless insects (ladybugs, crickets, butterflies) in a book or magazine, then go to the park to find some.

42. Joke around. Point to a photo of Uncle Frank, and call him "Mommy." Then tell your child that you were being silly and laugh at your "joke" to build her budding sense of humor.

43. Dress up. Let your toddler play with some of Dad's old shirts. Dig out old winter hats, scarves, or orphaned gloves. Put yourselves in pretend situations, and see where his creativity and imagination take you.

44. Speak volumes. Gather a few different-size cups or plastic containers, and let your child pour water from one to another at her next bath. Sometimes she'll pour too much, other times too little. Talk about which cups are bigger and which are smaller.

45. Wear rose-colored glasses. (Or yellow or blue.) Pick a color, and ask your toddler if he can spot it when you go on a walk or car ride together. Then let him pick a color for you to hunt.

46. Put your kid to work. Little tots can help sort laundry into darks and whites. Your child may even be able to pick out which clothes belong to her.

47. Go to the library. Take advantage of storytime, puppet shows, and rows and rows of books.

48. Take a cue from Sesame Street. Dedicate each week to a letter of the alphabet. For instance, read books that start with A, eat A foods, cut up snacks into that shape, and write the letter on your sidewalk with chalk.

49. Play it again, Sam. Dig out the box of your toddler's old rattles and mirrored baby toys. You'll be amazed at the new ways he finds to play with them.

50. Talk feelings through. Cuddle up at bedtime, and ask your child what made him happy or sad that day. What made him angry -- or proud? You'll help him recall the day, understand the past tense, and label his emotions. This is an activity to keep up -- right until he heads off to college.

50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

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21. Make a family album. Include photographs of relatives near and far, and flip through it often to build your child's memories. When Grandma calls, show him her picture as he listens on the phone.

22. Let your child play with her food. When she's ready, serve foods that vary in texture -- including cooked peas, cereal, pasta, or chunks of cantaloupe. She'll get to practice her pincer grasp and explore her senses.

23. Pick it up. Even if it seems like your baby repeatedly drops toys off her high chair just to drive you nuts, go fetch. She's learning and testing the laws of gravity. Give her several pieces of wadded-up paper or some tennis balls, put an open bucket under her seat, and let her take aim!

24. Practice three-card monte. Grab a few empty plastic food containers, and hide one of your baby's small toys under one. Shuffle the containers, and let him find the prize.

25. Build an obstacle course. Boost motor skills by placing sofa cushions, pillows, boxes, or toys on the floor and then showing your baby how to crawl over, under, and around the items.

26. Play "follow the leader." Crawl through the house, varying your speed. Stop at interesting places to play.

27. Now follow his lead. As your toddler gets older, he'll stretch his creativity to see if you really will do everything he does, like make silly noises, crawl backward, or laugh.

28. Be a funny face. Puff up your cheeks, and have your toddler touch your nose. When she does, poof! Have her pull your ear, and then stick out your tongue. Make a funny noise when she pats your head. Keep to the same routine three or four times, then change the rules to keep her guessing.

29. Feel your way. Walk around the house with your babe in arms, and touch his hand to the cool window, some soft laundry, a smooth plant leaf, and other safe objects, labeling items as you go.

30. Tell tall tales. Choose her favorite story -- replace the main character with her name to make it fun.

31. Create a zoo book. On your next visit, take photos of favorite animals to include in an album. Later, "read" it together, naming all the familiar creatures or adding animal sounds and stories.

32. Let him be the boss (sometimes). Build confidence by giving your toddler a choice between two items whenever possible: different-colored bowls at mealtime, for instance. He'll learn that his decisions count -- and get practice naming his colors.

33. Put her in the spotlight. Together, watch old home videos of your baby enjoying her first bath, learning to roll over, playing with Grandpa . . . Narrate the story to build language and memory.

34. Count everything. Count how many blocks your toddler can stack. Or the number of steps in your house. Or his fingers and toes. Make a habit of counting out loud, and soon he'll join in.

35. Make more out of storytime. Point out little details in the pictures, and ask your toddler questions, ranging from the abstract ("Why do you think he doesn't want to try green eggs and ham?") to the concrete ("Have you ever seen a white dog?").

36. Turn off the tube. Your baby's brain needs one-on-one interaction that no TV show, no matter howeducational, can provide.

37. Change the scenery. Switch your toddler's high chair to the other side of the table. You'll challenge his memory of where things are placed at meals.

38. Shake it up, baby.Teach her to twist and shout, do the funky chicken, or twirl like a ballerina.

39. Make a mug-shot memory game. Take close-up pictures of all the impor- tant people in your child's life, get double prints -- and you've got a set of matching cards. Lay them faceup on the floor, and help her find the two that are alike. As she gets older, you can alter the memory game by starting with the photos facedown.

40. Play in the rain. Jump in puddles. Sit in wet grass together. It's a fun, albeit messy, way of learning about wet and dry.

50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

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1. Make eye contact. Take advantage of those brief moments when your newborn's eyes are open, and look right into them. Infants recognize faces early on -- and yours is the most important! Each time he stares at you, he's building his memory.

2. Blab away. All you may get is a blank look, but leave short pauses where your baby would speak. Soon she'll catch on to the rhythm of conversation and start filling in the blanks.

3. Breast-feed, if possible. And do it for as long as you can. It's a fact that schoolkids who were breast-fed as infants have higher IQs. Plus, nursing is a great time to bond with your infant by singing, talking, or simply stroking that delicious baby hair.

4. Stick out your tongue. Studies show that newborns as young as 2 days old can imitate simple facial movements -- it's a sign of very early problem solving.

5. Let him reflect. Have your baby stare at himself in the mirror. At first, he may think he's just eyeing another cute kid, but he'll love making the "other" baby wave his arms and smile.

6. Tickle her toes. In fact, tickle her all over. Laughter is the first step in developing a sense of humor. And playing games like "This little piggy" (finish by tickling her under the chin) or "I'm gonna get you" teaches your child to anticipate events.

7. Make a difference. Hold up two pictures about 8 to 12 inches away from your baby's face. They should be similar but have one small difference (perhaps a tree is in one but not the other). Even a young infant will look back and forth and figure out the distinguishing features, which sets the stage for letter recognition and reading later on.

8. Share the view. Take your baby on walks in a front carrier, sling, or backpack, and narrate what you see -- "That's a little dog" or "Look at those big trees!" or "Did you hear that fire engine?" -- to give your baby endless vocabulary-building opportunities.

9. Go gaga. Your baby really tunes in to your silly cooing and high-pitched baby talk.

10. Sing a song. Learn as many tunes as you can, or make up your own verses ("This is the way we change your diaper, change your diaper, change your diaper . . . "). Play Bach, the Beatles, or Britney Spears. Some research suggests that learning the rhythms of music is linked to learning math.

11. Make the most of diaper time. Use moments on the changing pad to teach body parts or pieces of clothing. Narrate to help your baby learn to anticipate routines.

12. Be a playground. Lie down on the floor, and let your baby climb and crawl all over you. It's cheaper than a jungle gym and lots more fun! You'll help boost her coordination and problem-solving skills.

13. Go shopping. When you need a break from your song and dance, visit the supermarket. The faces, sounds, and colors there provide perfect baby entertainment.

14. Clue him in. When you announce, "I'm going to turn on the light now" before flipping the switch, you're teaching cause and effect.

15. Surprise her. Every now and then, delight your baby by gently blowing on her face, arms, or tummy. Make a pattern out of your breaths, and watch her react and anticipate.

16. Grab a tissue or two. If your baby loves pulling tissues out of the box, let him! For a few cents, you've got sensory playthings that he can crumple or smooth out. Hide small toys under them, and thrill your tot when you "find" them again.

17. Read books. Again and again! Scientists have found that babies as young as 8 months can learn to recognize the sequence of words in a story when it's read 2 or 3 times in a row -- this is believed to help them learn language.

18. Play peekaboo. Your hide-and-seek antics do more than bring on the giggles. Your baby learns that objects can disappear and then come back.

19. Get touchy-feely. Keep a box of different-textured fabrics: silk, terrycloth, wool, and linen. Gently rub the cloths on your baby's cheek, feet, and tummy, describing the way each feels.

20. Don't forget to give it a rest. Spend a few minutes each day simply sitting on the floor with your baby -- no music, bright lights, or playful tricks. Let him explore, and see where he takes you.

So which should you give first, milk or solids?

There are varying opinions, but experts recommend starting out with breast milk or formula, saving solids for a second course, and washing them down with more milk. The reason? If your baby is very hungry, he may be too distracted to concentrate on maneuvering solids in his mouth and may reject them.
Here are some guidelines to help you determine the proper daily ratio of milk to solids for your baby. Note: One medium jar of baby food usually contains 35 to 50 calories.

My Baby Spits Up

Almost every infant spits up.It usually happens because a baby's digestive system is still immature. An infant's esophageal sphincter -- the muscle that holds in the stomach contents -- doesn't close tightly like an older child's does. As a result, it's easy for a baby's most recent meal to splash back up, so be prepared to do a few extra loads of laundry from now on.

Usually, spit-up is nothing to worry about. If your baby is gaining the proper amount of weight and your pediatrician says he's thriving, then you know he's getting enough to eat. Another strong sign that your baby is well fed is six to 10 wet diapers per day.

To reduce spit-up episodes, feed your baby only when he shows signs of hunger, keep him in a semi-upright position during feeding, and burp him regularly throughout the meal. It's also a good idea to sit him upright and minimize jostling for half an hour after feeding.

Baby's mom: Eddie Murphy's a bad dad

August 5, 2007
LOS ANGELES - A day after Eddie Murphy confirmed that he is the father of Melanie Brown's baby, the former Spice Girl's lawyer complained that Murphy isn't accepting his parental responsibilities."He has not indicated in his statement or to us that he plans to visit the baby," attorney Gloria Allred said Saturday.Brown's primary concern is that Murphy "see his child, spend time with her, hold her, love her and bond with his daughter," Allred said.
Murphy, 46, "always has and will continue to honor his responsibilities as a father," according to a statement released Friday by his publicist, Arnold Robinson."He acknowledges paternity of the child Angel and has paid child support to Ms. Brown, as well as covering the expenses of her pregnancy," Robinson said.Murphy considers the matter private and planned to have no further comment, he said.Angel Iris Murphy Brown was born April 3. Brown also has an 8-year-old daughter.Murphy, nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Dreamgirls," has five children from his marriage to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, who filed for divorce in 2005. He got engaged last week to film producer Tracey Edmonds.

Aggression: How to deal with hitting, biting, and more

Why it happens

Shocking as it may be to you, aggressive behavior is a normal part of your toddler's development. Still-emerging language skills, a fierce desire to become independent, and undeveloped .Let your toddler know that aggressive behavior is unacceptable and show him other ways to express his feelings.

What to do

• Follow up with logical consequences. If your child gets into the ball pit at the indoor play center and immediately starts throwing the balls at other kids, take him out.


• Keep your cool. Yelling, hitting, or telling your child he's bad won't get him to curtail his behavior .In fact, watching you control your temper may be the first step in his learning to control his.


• Set clear limits. Try to respond immediately whenever your toddler is aggressive. Don't wait until he hits his brother for the third time to say, "That's enough!" He should know instantly when he's done something wrong.


• Discipline consistently. As much as possible, respond to each episode the way you did last time. Your predictable response ("Okay, you bit Billy again — that means another time-out") will set up a pattern that your child will recognize and come to expect.


• Teach alternatives. Wait until your toddler has settled down, then calmly and gently review what happened. Ask him if he can explain what triggered his outburst.


• Encourage him to find a more effective way of responding — by "talking it out" ("Tommy, you're making me mad!") or asking an adult to help.


• Reward good behavior. Rather than giving your child attention only when he's misbehaving, try to catch him being good —


• Praise him lavishly when he verbalizes his desires and, in time, he'll realize how powerful words are.


• Limit TV time. Cartoons and other shows designed for young children can be filled with shouting, threats, even shoving and hitting. Try to monitor which programs he watches, particularly if he seems prone to aggressive behavior.


• High spiritted, give him plenty of unstructured time, preferably outdoors, to let off steam.


• Don't be afraid to seek help. Sometimes a child's aggression requires more intervention than a parent can provide. Remember, your child is still very young. If you work with him patiently and creatively, chances are that his pugnacious tendencies will soon be a thing of the past.

Six easy ideas for getting into the savings habit

Pay yourself first
Don't give yourself a choice. Pay into an emergency savings account with an automatic monthly transfer from your bank account every month - no matter how small the contribution is. You're aiming to make regular saving a healthy habit that will turn into a routine you can't live without. And at the end of each month you'll have the immediate satisfaction of knowing you managed to put something away in the bank.

Be your own loan officer
When you finish paying off a car loan or other type of loan, keep making the monthly payments - to yourself. Put them into a savings account if you can.

Motivate yourself with a goal
Pinpoint what you really want (a new sofa, an iPod, a holiday) and what it will cost, and set a realistic goal, such as giving yourself six months to save for it. Cut out pictures of your goal and put them on your bulletin board at work, your fridge at home, and in your purse. Every time you think about buying new shoes or towels, for example, ask yourself if you want or need them as much as what you're saving for.

Start a loose change jar
Put a jar - preferably a large one with a narrow mouth, so you can't get your hand into it - in a prominent place, and empty your change into it at the end of the day. If you can't stand the thought of rolls of coins, use the change-counting machines available at some supermarkets when the jar is full. At the end of the year, this found cash could add up to enough money to pay for a Christmas gift, or a health club membership, for example.

Put away surprises
Any time you get an unexpected windfall --such as a holiday bonus, or cash gift - put it into your savings account. You weren't counting on this money as part of your regular income, so don't spend it as such.

Make saving a challenge
Keep track of what you spend each month, and each month try to save just a little bit more. If you make saving a challenge, you'll learn to avoid the luxury buys at the supermarket and to skip the stroll around the clothes shops at lunchtime.

Listen to your baby

Would you like your baby to be happy, cooperative and to sleep all night? Then you must treat him as an individual from the day he is born.
He is a unique individual. When your newborn baby cries he is calling for you. Don't ignore him. Go to him immediately.He may need feeding, changing or a cuddle. Feed on demand. Be aware of his needs and give him what he wants.
Hang colourful toys or mobiles above his bed to stimulate him. As he gets older you can attach activity toys to the bed and you can put some safe cuddly toys or rattles at the foot of the bed.
Whatever time of the day or night he calls you, always go to him with a smile and a pleasant greeting. If you are grumpy he can sense it and will be uneasy, so try to be cheerful. He may not understand your words but he likes the sound of your voice.Set aside a time each day when your baby can have your undivided attention.
Look at him, talk to him, play with him. Let him pull your hair, poke your face, roll about on you lap. This is the time that you and your baby can get to know each other. You know he's precious so show him how much you love him. He'll appreciate it. You will be the most important person in his life.