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laying Baby Computer Games ? The New Parent-Child Tradition? - By Emma RathImagine cuddling up with your small child to look at a picture book together that is interactive, musical, responsive and talks to you?This is the experience that people are having who are engaged in that relatively new pastime ? playing computer games with babies. JumpStart?s Knowledge Adventure calls it ?lapware?, Kiddies Games? logo is ?Hop on the lap and tap?, and Sesame Street?s ?Baby and Me? opens with an animation of a baby monster hopping onto the lap of a Daddy monster to play the computer. Game ing computer games with your baby is being promoted as a fun activity that a child and their caregiver can share together. And rightly so, because whatever the activity, physical, loving closeness is an important ingredient that infants need for healthy intellectual, emotional and physical development. Reading a bedtime story to a small eager child is a tradition in a lot of homes. As the Kids get older, this may be replaced by watching TV together. Our parents? families listened to the radio together. Game ing on the computer with a small child may become a new type of family tradition. Home computers and internet are making their way into more and more homes. Some parents use the computer in their work and are delighted to share the computer for a fun activity with their kids. Other parents want to make sure their Kids become computer literate. Well-designed, interactive, educational computer games engage small Kids as more as the television and are more educational than TV because they incite the child to interact and think, rather than passively watch and listen. These are the reasons for the increasing popularity of toddler computer software. Although a relatively small industry, software for infants has been cited as being a very fast growing industry. What type of computer software is available for babies, toddlers and preschoolers? There are free games on websites and there are download and CDROM software that you can buy. Most software for this age group is games, but computer story books also exist. Wonderful websites that offer free games of which a lot of are suitable for preschoolers (preschoolers are able to do directed clicking with the mouse) are: http://www.sesamestreet.org/sesamestreet http://www.noggin.com http://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc http://www.abc.net.au/Kids /games http://www.meddybemps.com Great free sites for babies (whose skills tend to be more limited to banging the keyboard) are: http://www.kiddiesgames.com http://www.toddletoons.com CDROM or download software that you buy is usually not bad than free internet games. The games are usually superior (more graphics, more music, more involved games for older kids) and the software takes over the entire screen, which is more appropriate for very young Kids who click anywhere and everywhere on the screen. Some of the well-known producers are: Reader Rabbit software from http://www.gain knowledge or skills ingcompany.com JumpStart software from http://www.knowledgeadventure.com Fisher-Price software from http://www.knowledgeadventure.com Sesame Street software from http://www.encoresoftware.com or http://www.amazon.com http://www.babywow.com Computer game softwares for this age group make conscientious efforts to be suitably educational. To judge their effectiveness for your child, try them out with your child. If your child finds that it?s fun, then it?s probably educational. For a baby, fun usually means that the game responds in some way to random keyboard presses and mouse clicks, and that the game continues in a positive way even when no input is forthcoming from the baby. A preschooler will need more of a challenge or more educational content, but the game should be designed to be always fun, reactive in a positive way and self-resolving when the child does not get the correct answer. At this age, it is more important that computer games contribute positively to self-esteem, rather than conscientiously correcting incorrect answers about educational concepts that the child will master when they?re older anyway. The KiddiesGames.com software is meticulous about adhering to these rules. What types of skills are gain knowledge or skills ed by playing toddler computer games? Obviously, computer software is not suitable for practicing gross motor or even fine motor skills. However, there are a lot of types of educational concepts that computer games can assist a child master, including shapes, sounds, cause and effect, identifying and naming things (such as objects and colors), increasing vocabulary, language concepts, the forms of letters and numbers, counting, pattern recognition, detail observation and word construction. At KiddiesGames, we strive to offer games for small Kids that are out of the ordinary, such as foreign language exposure and practicing the positions on the telephone for dialing emergency. The reactiveness and interactiveness of computer software is, of course, superior to that of books, and can be superior to that of go to places, especially in the area of language. Infant computer games are also being cited as excellent resources for Kids with special education needs, because such games are simple , happy, brightly-colored, patient, controlled by the child and allow the child to make things happen. An official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics at http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3B107/2/423 is to ?Discourage television viewing for Kids younger than 2 years, and encourage more interactive activities that will promote proper brain development, such as talking, playing, singing, and reading together.? This has been taken as advice to avoid exposing those young Kids to the computer. However, well-designed infant software actually encourages those great activities of ?talking, playing, singing, and reading together?. By carrying out the play activities proposed by the computer game, the caregiver is actually prompted with a framework or script for carrying out those ?talking, playing, singing, and reading? activities with the child. Experts are now saying that while computer games for infants should not replace go to places and blocks and books and should not be used as an electronic babysitter, that they are yet another valid go to place resource. For example, a summer 2004 newsletter from the Hawaii State Health Department at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/family-child-health/eis/summer2004 encourages playing with lapware. The emphasis is not on acquiring measurable skills or getting correct answers, but is on open-ended exploration on the part of the child ? which is another way of saying ?having fun?. Children are programmed to gain knowledge or skills and practice what they gain knowledge or skills ed by playing and having fun. Game
ing computer games with your small child is not yet a family tradition. However,
it is an enjoyable, sharing activity that is becoming more and more popular.
The author of this article, Emma Rath, produces free online and purchasable download baby and preschooler software, available at http://www.kiddiesgames.com. Pets and Children ? A Magical Combination - By Sue LondonPets and Children ? A Magical Combination Over the years, I have watched and personally witnessed the magical power of pets and Kids . Having a pet in a child?s life can assist in the early cognitive development, encouraging them to crawl and then walk, and later assist boost a child?s IQ and reading skills. My daughter, Sarah, gain knowledge or skills ed how to walk by having the determination to get our dog Rocky?s furry tail. Countless schools have programs with Kids reading to dogs. By the scent of a dog?s treat on the pages within the book, the child believes the dog is trying to read along with them, when really it is sniffing for the treat. The dog?s focus on the pages encourages the child to want to read longer. Studies have shown, that having a pet can lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce anxiety. Depression is a common mental illness. One teenage girl was hospitalized for severe depression and suicidal tendencies. Nothing seemed to assist her. Dogs were brought in for visits. Gradually the girl began to feel good . She went home and began volunteering at the local shelter, where she walked dogs. She even adopted a couple of kittens, and gradually recovered from the illness. Pet therapy is the healing power of animals. They have the power to comfort through unconditional love, the power to ease our pain, and the power to give us the strength and courage to keep going when life hands us a not easy situation to deal with. Animals used in pet therapy include dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, chickens, donkeys, llamas, and even pot- bellied pigs. My own dog, Rocky, assist ed me through a debilitating disease, and gave me the strength and courage to keep hanging on to life. Through his unconditional love, I was able to survive! I feel everything in our life happens for a reason. I now speak about pet therapy to others and use my dogs to assist many Kids cope. Rocky passed away in 2001 but will forever live in my heart. I have written a Kids ?s book series titled, ?Rocky?s Journey?, in his memory. My first book in the series, ?Rocky?s Trip To The Hospital,? is based on my own story of triumphing over sickness, through the power of pet therapy. I take this book along with my certified pet therapy dogs, Molly and Willy, into Children?s Hospitals. I share with the Kids my story, read them Rocky?s book, and then the dogs do their magic. Many of the Kids I visit have been hospitalized for weeks. They are depressed, missing their normal life at home, missing their friends, and if they have one, missing their pet. When the Kids see the dogs, with their wagging tails, they brighten right up. You can see the life literally coming back into these Kids . Laughter fills their eyes, huge smiles appear on their tiny faces, and positive energy fills the room. Hospital life can be very scary for Kids . I watch the dogs cuddling their furry bodies into the Kids , licking them and comforting them. Some of the Kids will even share their fears with the dogs. They talk out loud to the dogs, saying things they don?t tell others. Every child says the dogs visit has assist ed them feel good . I know that it also assist s the parents cope. Willy has a very special gift. He has a comical snore. He will curl up beside a child, and while they are petting him, he becomes relaxed. The more relaxed he is, the louder and deeper the snore becomes. Even the sickest child will laugh at this. This comical snore assist s the Kids take their focus off their pain. When a nurse, or parent, is having a not easy time convincing a child to take their medicine, Molly comes to the rescue. With her big brown eyes, she stares at the child. Molly will reach out her paw to them and wag her tail. If they take the medicine, Molly will do a trick for them, and they are allowed to give her a treat. For every sip of medicine they have to take, Molly reaches out her paw and will do a different trick. This encourages the Kids to quickly finish the medicine, so that they can give Molly more treats, and see all her tricks. Molly has been successful with every child. I paid a visit to one very sick child, in her hospital room. She had gone through three surgeries in one week. She was weak and very pale, and had been focusing on how terrible her pain was. I read her my book, ?Rocky?s Trip To The Hospital?. Because the dog was in the lounge area, and could not come to her room, I gave her an autographed photo of us. As she was gazing at the photo, I observed a sparkle appear in her eyes, and the colour came back to her cheeks. She inquire about ed me if I would assist her into a wheelchair, so she could go down to the lounge and pet the dog. With the nurse?s approval we headed out. The nurse agreed with me, that a visit to the dog would be great medicine for this child. Just seeing the wagging tail waiting to greet her, gave her strength and a more positive attitude. Only half an hour earlier, she had been in her bed, too weak to move, and now she was inquire about ing to take the dog for a walk down the hall herself. She said she felt strong enough to use her arms to wheel the chair, while hangin g on to the leash. She was glowing as she accomplished this tinquire about . We all watched with joy in our hearts and tears in our eyes. Pet therapy can occur anywhere. Recently at a school, where I was giving a presentation about pet therapy, a little boy slowly walked up to the front of the room with his head hanging. He had such sadness written all over his young face. When he finally got up beside me, he began to cry, and he shared his story with me. He said that he wished my dog had been with his grandfather the night before. His grandfather had died alone, and this terribly upset the little boy. Before I could say anything, Willy who was lying quietly on the floor beside us, sat up and reached out to the little boy. It was clear that Willy sensed his pain. The boy held Willy tightly in his arms. With Willy licking the tears away, we all watched as a smile appeared on the boy?s tiny face. One hundred and twenty Kids , at that presentation, witnessed the power of pet therapy. Willy showed unconditional love for a child in pain. Pets are magical. They sense our needs and comfort us. They truly give unconditional love. I would encourage you to make a difference for your child, by bringing an animal into their life! It can be a wonderful gain knowledge or skills ing experience, and also be very healing! Sue London Author/ Motivational Speaker/ Expert on pet therapy To gain knowledge or skills more about Sue London visit www.rockysjourney.com
Sue London Author / Motivational Speaker Most people will experience some kind of not easy or traumatic situation in their lives. Sadly, many will face it alone with little or no support. Through her writing and personal appearances, Sue London offers caring support and optimism to people who are suffering. On May 1st, 1989 Sue London stared blankly at the ceiling of her doctor?s office, thinking ?Why me?? Sue had just been told she had Crohn?s disease. Crohn?s is a chronic intestinal disorder, which causes severe abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Surgery soon followed to remove fistulas. She was told that a colostomy was a likely next step. Sue fought back, seeking out alternative therapy to assist her cope with the disease. When she became pregnant with her second child, Sue was told it was unlikely she could deliver the baby she was carrying. The disease had flared up and her health was in grave danger. In March of 1993, Sue delivered a healthy baby girl and the disease went into remission. In 1996 Sue?s illness flared up again and her intestine burst. She was rushed to the hospital and doctors predicted that she was just 30 minutes from death. Fortunately, a talented surgeon was able to act quickly and save her life. Following this dramatic event, Sue began to take pro-active steps to health and happiness. Faced with a giant STOP SIGN, Sue made the left turn of a lifetime, adopted a positive outlook and never looked back! Throughout this amazing journey, Sue?s dog, Rocky (a Shih-Tzu) remained a devoted companion. Rocky assist ed Sue to realize the positives in her life, providing constant unconditional love. Sue began writing stories about a magical dog named Rocky, and his many encounters with people in need, as a way of assist ing her deal with her own health problems. Sue finds writing and speaking about the many stories that have touched her both therapeutic and rewarding. She inspires audiences, both young and old, to do the things that they?ve postponed for too long. She encourages people to adopt a positive attitude and stay true to their dreams ? as she has done so successfully. Sue?s illness is in remission. She feels great and is enjoying life in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, where she writes Kids ?s books and speaks professionally. In Sue?s spare time she can be found in many Kids ?s hospitals and nursing homes volunteering with her dogs, Willy and Molly, doing pet therapy and touching countless of peoples lives. Sue has recently been nominated for Halton?s Woman of the Year 2004 for all her dedication to assist ing others. You may contact Sue London through Kristar Publishing ? 1-888-812-1181, 905 335-9168, or sue@rockysjourney.com. Be sure and visit the web site www.rockysjourney.com Children articles catalog
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