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Try This to Have a Brilliant Baby
(4-6 months old)
by Dr. Leo L. Leonidas of brilliantbaby.com
At about four months old while prone
position, she would be able to push up with her arms lifting her chest and holding her
head up in a vertical position. This is a big milestone with a new way of looking at
things. On this position, place a red ball (big enough that she could not swallow) on the
floor about 8 inches in front of her chest. Entice her to reach for the ball. If she can't
reach it, place the red ball about an inch from her right hand. If she reach or swipe or
grab it, you should smile, be happy, clap your hands, and hug her. Repeat the exercise,
but place the ball a little farther, maybe about two inches from her right hand. Let her
reach for it. If she can't, move the ball a little closer so she will be successful in
swiping or grasping it. This is an important principle: you should always let your baby be
successful in anything she does. You reward her by your smile, enthusiasm, clap, kisses,
and hugging.
Whatever you are doing at your kitchen,
show her an object and name it. Suppose you are holding a cup, show it to her and say,
"cup" at least 5 five times. Then let her touch it and hold it with your
assistance so it won't fall. Hold the cup in front of her nose from about 10 inches, then
move it horizontally about 8 inches from side to side and up and down. With your left hand
holding the cup, place your right hand in front of the cup so she could not see it. Then
remove your right hand and say, "now here is the cup!" Repeat it 5 times.
Get a spoon and show it to her and say,
"spoon" at least five times. Follow the same sequence as you did with the cup.
Show her other objects, fruits, vegetables, canned goods, soap, butter, ice, etc. Always
have a happy and smiling face while saying the word. Your emotion and joy will enhance
socialization and easy learning of your baby.
If you have not yet started the apple and
orange experiment, this is a good time to do it. With baby laying on back or sitting up,
show a red apple from about 12 inches from baby's face. Hold the apple with your right
hand and place it near your mouth. Say, "apple, apple" at least 5 times. Then
have baby touch it with the left hand several times. Cut a slice of the apple and let baby
smell it for a few seconds while you are saying "this is the smell of apple."
Then let baby lick one side of the sliced apple and say, "this is the taste of
apple." Perform this apple show four times a day, for three days. On the fourth day,
get an orange and hold it with your left hand. Say "orange" 5 times. Let her
touch it with her right hand, then smell it. Repeat the action a few times. Do this orange
show four times a day for three days. On the seventh day, show both the apple and orange.
Say the either word and observe her eyes or hand. Some babies can consistently look or
touch the apple or orange after two to four weeks of practice. If baby is losing interest,
stop the exercise and do it another time.
Your baby can focus on the language sound
you are producing. She is now watching closely how you speak, whisper, or sing. At this
age, she can associate the sounds of the environment and the accompanying events. If the
dog barks, she know that the dog is there. And when she hears the sound of the running
water, she knows that bath time is near.
Introduce different sound that your baby
has not heard before. Bounce a ball on the floor, tap a glass with a spoon, tap the spoon
on the sink, crumple an aluminum foil, rub a paper against each other, tap a pencil on the
table, flip the pages of a book, turn on the vacuum cleaner, clap your hand, snap your
fingers, etc.
If you can play a musical instrument, let
her listen to it. Let her tap on the piano keys or strung your guitars string. Introduce
new sound every day. Let her experience as many sounds as possible. Turn on your stereo
and let her listen to Mozart, Vivaldi, or Bach. But do not make the sounds loud.
At around 6 months she will be rolling all
over the floor. Put her on the floor and let go where she want to. To challenge her to
roll, put one of her favorite toy about 18 inches from right side. Let her go for it. If
she successfully reached for the toy, show your delight and happiness, clap your hands,
and say with joy, "Good girl!!"
If your baby could creep on her hand and
knees, put a sofa cushion in front of her and let her climb over it. If she manages to go
on top of the cushion make sure you watch to prevent her from falling.
Read picture books and let her point at the
picture you are reading. Reading with her should be done at least four times a day till
you pick her cue that she is about to get bored or tired. Some babies will pay attention
for half a minute, but some will read with you for half an hour.
The author of Baby Signs, Acredolo and
Goodwyn, said: "Infancy is a time of reveling in the wonders of the world, of
discovering how things work, and of sharing with important people the joys and fears that
fill each day."
Go back to previous pages
Newborn
2-3 Months
Old
This article was used with permission from Dr. Leo L.
Leonidas. Dr. Leo L. Leonidas has been practicing general Pediatrics at Bangor, Maine
since 1972. He is an attending Pediatrician at Eastern Maine Medical Center. He graduated
from the University of the Philippines in 1968, finished his Pediatric Residency at New
Jersey College of Medicine in 1972. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics at
Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He is currently doing clinical studies in
office methods on how to make infants smarter and have an advanced language development.
Please visit Dr. Leo L. Leonidas's website at http://www.brilliantbaby.com
and register for free for many more teaching ideas for your baby. This site will also show
many topics that you will seldom see or read in lay magazines and newspapers. |