One of the cooler topics we learned in our hippie birthing class that proved to be true and fascinating was the concept that babies have ‘quiet alert’ periods each day. This is the time when your baby is awake and calm and enjoying their time taking in the world around them. During these times the baby is not crying or fussy or hungry but instead they appear engaged and well…quiet/alert. They said those were the best times to engage with your child in regards to ‘teaching’ them something.
I think kids still have these periods throughout a day and I look forward to those moments with Lilian. I never force them. I see parents on the playground forcing information on their kids when the kids are clearly no interested in absorbing. Just the other day a small girl was being pushed on the swing by her mother – the girl was holding and inspecting a maple leaf. The mother kept saying loudly, “WHAT DOES A COW SAY?” “WHAT COMES AFTER THREE?” “WHERE ARE YOUR TOES?” “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” “WHERE IS MOMMY? WHERE IS MOMMY?” I don’t know where Mommy was but she didn’t seem present. Then again – who am I to judge.
Lilian’s quiet/alert times happen earlier in the morning and oddly enough about a half hour right before bed. At these times I can tell she is not distracted by toys, noises or crawling about. She is “locked in” on what I am saying or reading to her or attempting to teach her. At these times I focus on one item like a word “feet”. I point to my feet. Her feet. Feet in a book. Ask where are the feet? We go through this routine a number of times and when I sense she is losing interest (anywhere from three minutes to ten minutes) I stop. We are always talking to her and pointing out the names of things and reading, etc. But for me this has been the best approach yet on trying to teach her things with the best results although I think every parent must wonder if it is enough.
