BabyChatter Ezine Archives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BabyChatter Ezine
Baby Names, Baby Freebies, Coupons & Offers, &
Parenting and Baby Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 08, 2001, Issue 11
Teri Hanson, Editor, info@babychatter.com

By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of
"BabyChatter Ezine".
You are receiving this newsletter because you
requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this newsletter.  We value our subscribers and respect
your right to privacy; therefore, our subscriber list is not made
available to anyone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=> Welcome
=> Sponsorship Notice
=> Freebies - There are some excellent ones in this issue!
=> Feature Article:
   "Is your child developing the same way as his or her peers?"
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Advertisements
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WELCOME
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome all new subscribers to the BabyChatter Ezine!  For those of you
who have been around awhile, thank you for being a member of our free
newsletter.

Check out our reading room if you haven't done so.  You'll find really
good articles on parenting and pregnancy.
http://www.babychatter.com/readingroom.html

You may view all archived ezine publications of the BabyChatter Ezine at:
http://www.babychatter.com/ezine.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP NOTICE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
For the best finds in maternity clothes.  Excellent selections, great
prices and even save up to $20 plus FREE Priority shipping by following
this link.
Get your Pregnancy Survival Kit today!

If you would like your site to appear here, please email us for
advertising rates at:
info@babychatter.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREEBIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a FREE 30 minute calling card when you sign up and create a web page
For your baby at Babies Online.  You can create it now even if your baby
hasn't been born yet!  These are great to use to talk to family and
friends. This is an excellent, fun site with a lot of great information
and many other freebies too!

For more free calling cards, check out:

Enfamil - Enroll in the Enfamil Family Beginnings program to receive great
information, free offers, and retail checks. You can sign up online or
call them at 1 800-BABY123.
http://www.enfamil.com

Free Sample of Disposable Baby Bibs

If you didn't get your free copy yet, get a completely FREE magazine -Get
a free one year subscription to Working Mother Magazine.  This is no
strings attached.  You DON'T need a credit card like many
Other magazine offers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE,
Is your child developing the same way as his or her peers?
by Michael G. Ahrens
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A good friend of mine, a first time mom, raised an interesting point.
Parents, when comparing children, often see one child being able to do
something that their own child (of a similar age) cannot do. This natural
method of comparison sometimes gives rise to anxiety. Parents often wonder
in such situations " my child cannot do this yet, should my child be able
to do this now? Is my child developing properly?" They may even look up
child development books to check up information on child developmental
schedules or scales. They will look for reassurance, to make sure when a
child should learn a specific skill. It is natural to be "anxious" about
the development of one's child. But another question may arise, are any
such "child to child" comparisons valid, and are they worth the potential
anxiety. My friend asked "should we not just let our children be and let
them grow up all by themselves, in their own good time?"

Parents are generally familiar with these "schedules", because they will
have noticed pediatricians and early childhood professionals using them to
"measure" children's development. Indeed parents will be "asked" from time
to time, by such professionals, who will want to know, when their child
first started eating solids, walking, talking, and so on.

Developmental schedules have been around for a long time. They are based
on observations of large numbers of children. These observations
(research) will then draw comparisons and conclusions of what abilities
children have at common ages and stages, we learn to accept these
observations as facts.  But should parents be anxious when their child
cannot do the things that developmental scales suggest a child of a
specific age should have acquired?  Is it not true to say that the range
of "normal development is quite broad"?  And if the range of development
is so broad, then why not let our children just develop at their own pace?

It can be stated with some conviction that it is very useful indeed for
parents who have very young children to familiarize themselves with and
access programs that contain good developmental "guidelines" because of
the value of knowing what their child should learn "next". It is the
exposure to appropriate developmental opportunities that matters. Knowing
about developmental sequences will reduce anxiety for a parent.

The use and value of developmental schedules for parents remains most
pertinent in the 21st century. The evidence of the importance of early
childhood learning has become substantial. Published evidence gathered by
longitudinal studies, which have followed large groups of children from
birth to adulthood show four important conclusions:
a) the path of a child's lifetime development is laid down mostly by the
age of three.
b) exposure to a wide range of experiences from the very first is the most
important factor in cognitive (intellectual) development,  and
c) the more experience a child has as an infant and toddler; the greater
its potential for growth.
d) but perhaps the most interesting result is that quality childrearing
overcomes adversity."

So what matters are not so much if your child can do what your friends'
child of the same age can do now, but that your child gets exposure to the
correct developmental learning. Why? Because we know that development is
predictable and follows an orderly sequence and all skills are
interrelated, and lastly children learn best from their first teachers -
their parents.

*******************************************************************
Michael G. Ahrens is a parent, teacher, researcher, writer, and program
developer associated with http://www.mylittlesteps.com a powerful online
parenting tool that ensures learning is fun, interactive and a worthwhile
experience for both the parent and the child.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to be a Guest Columnist, please
email us:
info@babychatter.com
If you would like to recommend a friend to the BabyChatter Ezine, they
may subscribe at:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AmazingBargains - Tons of coupons and online deals.  An excellent site
to visit!
http://www.babychatter.com/amazing.html
**********************************************************
Freebieaholic.com - Freebies, freebies and more freebies.
**********************************************************
Free Coupons from CouponSurfer
http://www.babychatter.com/couponsurf.html
**********************************************************
ClubMom - An excellent resource for every mom, everywhere!  Free to join!

If you would like your site to appear here, please email us for
advertising rates
at info@babychatter.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This publication is copyright (c) 2001 BabyChatter.com, White Plains, MD,
USA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
BabyChatter.com strives for accuracy in its web site and ezine content,
material and information.  BabyChatter.com or its authors are not
responsible for any misprints, incorrect information, typographical
errors, misstatements, or omissions in any of the content, material and
information provided. BabyChatter will not be responsible for any results
achieved from the interpretation or use of such information.

The Subscriber is hereby put on notice that by subscribing and reading the
BabyChatter Ezine, they will assume any and all risks in subscribing to
the ezine and information contained in this ezine.  We will not be held
responsible for the promises and claims made by any business not our own.

Search for more Baby Names

Or Try these: