Walk the Walk - Infants to Pre-School
A core value of The Dad Hat is “Walking the Walk”. What's that mean? It means that you can request, demand, or beg a child to do many things….without success. A great strategy, is to show them how it’s done. This was a life defining moment for me as a father and as a person. So this post is all about walking the walk, concerning babies and toddlers.
Physical Movement
Movement is an essential part of a baby's development! Research conducted at Temple University and the University of Washington, which was published in PLOS One revealed that babies observe their parents' bodily movements to learn how to imitate them. Brain scans used during this research showed activity in a baby's sensorimotor cortex when they watched an adult use her hand or foot - essentially teaching themselves imitating these behaviors. By taking advantage of your child’s own natural imitation process, you can help guide your little one through milestones such as reaching for toys on their own; crawling on all fours; even walking, running and throwing balls!
Affection
Parenting is one of the most important jobs in life, and it goes beyond providing basic essentials for survival. Showing love and affection are equally vital to a child's development - even more so than food or shelter. Children need emotional nourishment just as much as physical sustenance to thrive; displaying care through hugs, cuddles, kisses show how you deeply value them and make sure they receive sufficient amounts of warmth during their formative years. What's more - nurturing your little ones not only leads them down an emotionally healthy path but also has been proven by research from The Journal Of Epidemiology And Community Health that regular displays of tenderness have lasting positive effects on children into adulthood!
Watch Your Words
Your child is learning more than ever during the preschool years, and language development comes with a lot of responsibility. What parents say has an impact on how their children learn to communicate effectively; imitation plays an important role in this process. While your little one will eventually understand correct grammar and pronunciation, right now they are observing the tone you use when speaking as well as certain words or phrases that express ideas proficiently - shaping them into masterful communicators!
Eat Right
Eating habits start with the adults in our lives. We have a responsibility to be good role models and show children how they should nourish their bodies, not just through what we say but by showing them too! Eating right is an important lesson for us all - especially those that are molding young minds. Teaching kids about healthy eating will ensure healthier generations ahead of us.
Pre-School Parents Checklist
By reading often, you can set an example that encourages your child to appreciate books as part of their everyday life.
Showing them how to use polite language and communicate positively with others is key in helping them learn the basics of being respectful.
Additionally, demonstrating through tasks like cleaning up after a meal or putting shoes away will teach responsibility.
Mistakes are inevitable; explaining the results helps children understand why certain behaviors aren't appropriate in certain situations.