Playing With Food Words: Teaching Mindfulness to Preschoolers
The most powerful way to instill a love for language and an awareness of health in young children is to help them use specific words as cues for mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply paying attention, noticing new things, drawing distinctions, and shifting perspectives. It is the very essence of fun, and all children have a natural tendency to be mindful. That's how we learn from the time we are infants!
As children reach the age of three or so, they become fascinated by words and the sounds they can make. As a parent, you can significantly boost your child's linguistic intelligence by pointing out certain words whenever they pop up in conversation or even on TV or radio.
For example, you might choose the word "crunchy" as your secret word. Turn it into a game, much like "Slug Bug!"-that road trip challenge to be the first to notice any Volkswagen bugs. You want to help your child notice your secret word, and celebrate the fact that they noticed it.
Whenever they hear the word "crunchy" they simply say, "That's crunchy!" From there, let them notice what kind of crunchy it is. Like celery? Like chips? Like an apple? Is it juicy crunchy or salty crunchy of sweet crunchy? This helps your child build important connections and draws their attention to the subtle differences that can be found in crunchy foods. It's an engaging and entertaining way to have an ongoing discussion about nutrition!
You can adjust the words depending on the age, language skills and interest of your child. Other suggestions for secret words include: "fruity," "juicy," "chewy," "tender," "mouth-watering," or "bite-sized." Don't be afraid to introduce a word that might be above their level, especially if it's fun to say. Why not try "succulent" or "luscious"?
Playing the secret word game is a fun way to focus on food, and you'll find yourself becoming more aware of delicious words, too!
Yummy.
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse and mother of four in Portland, Oregon. She has taught thousands of preschoolers how to play with words. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation for all ages. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Lots of angles in making your house safe for tots Boston Herald, United States - By Yvonne Finnerty / Ask Nanny Yvonne How do I make my house safe for my newborn and what are the dangers as he becomes a toddler? Thanks. ... |
Where parents can go to for help–online Inquirer.net, Philippines - Parenting.com, the website of Parenting and Babytalk magazines in the United States, is divided into different channels—Fertility, Pregnancy, Baby, Toddler, ... |
Police investigating injured baby taken to McKeesport ER Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - Allegheny County police are investigating after a couple took an injured toddler to UPMC McKeesport yesterday. The parents said their son fell down the ... |
Kids' rooms that will grow with them Chicago Tribune, United States - By Judith Crown | AP Jennifer Cohen wishes she had had the sense to think about the cents she was lavishing on decorations for her baby daughter's bedroom. ... |
Wichita mom arrested for leaving baby in car Kansas City Star, MO - The mother of a toddler who went briefly missing when the family's car was stolen was arrested late Friday on charges of child endangerment and released ... |
Tom Germond I’ll keep running until it kills me Tampa Bay Newspapers, FL - By TOM GERMOND On a cool evening, as I was jogging on the sidewalk along Vonn Road, a woman and her two children were walking toward me. ... |
Injured baby in critical condition TVNZ, New Zealand - A 15-month-old toddler with serious injuries is in a critical condition in Starship Hospital in Auckland. Police are investigating the cause of the injuries ... |
Baby Jaheim was beaten, says autopsy Trinidad & Tobago Express, Trinidad and Tobago - A FRACTURED skull and blunt force trauma to his head, killed two-year-old Jaheim Roberts, an autopsy performed on the toddler revealed yesterday. ... |
Children's programs begin soon at library branches Niagara Falls Review, Canada - Register soon for affordable winter children's programs that begin Jan. 5 at all four branches of the Niagara Falls Public Library. ... |
The Parent Company Voluntarily Petitions for Reorganization ... Reuters - Through its baby business, the company is a leading online retailer of brand-name baby, toddler and maternity products sold through the BabyUniverse.com and ... The Parent Company Voluntarily Petitions for Reorganization ... |
|
RELATED SITES Apply Online for Credit Card. Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem.
Planning a wedding day soon? Everything you need for a beautiful and memorable wedding day
|
Types of Baby Showers
There are different types of baby showers to cover just about any ocassion. Baby Showers have been traditionally for Ladies only.
Stem Cells Taken From A Babys Cord
Stem Cells..
Planning the Perfect Baby Shower
One of the most exciting events an expecting mother looks forward to is celebrating her baby shower.Deciding to Throw a Baby ShowerBaby showers are often thrown by a friend or family member.
How to Choose a Baby Gate
Once your baby is out of their crib and playpen, you're going to need some way of ensuring their safety. That's why learning how to choose a baby gate can be one of the most important things you'll do while baby-proofing the house.
Should I Call The Doctor If My Baby Has A Fever
Sooner or later, your new baby will develop a fever. It would be a rare child who does not come down with some kind of illness that elevates their temperature.
Protecting Your Baby and Toddler from the Sun
Babies and young children have thinner and more delicate skin than adults. Afterall, our skin has had a lot more years of conditioning to the outside world.
Wooden High Chairs Offer Simplicity, Beauty, and Practicality for Todays Busy Families
Wooden high chairs with their looks and functionality make a great addition to any kitchen or dining room, no more plastic, teddy bears or bright colors, so no more hiding your high chair.Wooden High Chairs are simple and elegant and a welcome addition to your home, with designs ranging from contemporary to country and finishes like cherry, oak, natural wood and maple, you are bound to find the wooden high chair that will complement your home as well as your budget.
Baby Names - Choosing Trendy or Traditional
Lists of baby names are always fun to look at, whether you're seeking a name for your soon-to-be-born baby boy or baby girl, wondering about the popularity of your own first name, or just curious about what baby names are currently hot.What I find particularly interesting is tracking the popularity of baby names over the decades.
7 Stages of Potty Training
There are seven stages of potty training. They begin with showing signs of potty training readiness and conclude with being able to use the toilet away from home.
Information on Purchasing Babys Dresser
Babys dresser or baby chest of drawers make up the best part of the baby's nursery furniture collection. They are simple and make the baby's nursery look really cute.
How to Buy Infants' Best Educational Toys?
Buying educational toys for infants can be difficult, because infants seem to do so little that educating them right after birth might strike you as a bit rushed. However, the fact is that your baby is learning at a great speed, taking in everything that is around, and picking up habits, information and words.
Top 100 Baby Names and Helpful Tips To Consider When Naming Your Baby
Are you an expectant parent anxiously waiting for that little package of joy? Yet, you and your spouse are still looking for that perfect name? Well..
Triumphing Over Tantrums
Before you had kids you probably witnessed an out of control child having a temper tantrum at the store. More than likely you thought or said, "If that was my child, I would ______".
Beyond Flash Card : How To Do The Infant Visual Stimulation In Fun And Creative Ways
Babies learn about the environment surrounding them through five senses: vision, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. Of those five senses, vision is the least developed sense a baby has at birth.
When Your Wee One Goes Wee Wee Well
After reading several books about potty training (my son was a little tyke pre-Internet) and having little success, I found some helpful information tucked way in the back of a woman's magazine's classified section."Anatomically correct dolls - order yours today" it said.
Tips and Tricks for Introducing Solids to Your Baby
Helping your child move from breast breast milk or formula to solids is a milestone for both you and your baby. However, it can be challenging for some parents.
Tale of the Missing Nub
The extent of the memory loss that accompanies new parenthood really surprised me the first few times I experienced it. My task is especially difficult when I must not only to retrace my own footsteps, but figure out what my toddler might have seen fit to do with that half-gnawed cookie, the crayons she was supposed to pick up and put away, and the box of peppermints I just bought.
Baby Shower Themes For Your Special Baby Shower
Do you want to provide a baby shower that is great fun for guests, inviting and welcoming and also really relaxing for the mom-to-be? Read on about selecting and delivering a baby shower theme with confidence.The big question is should your baby shower have a theme at all? And this is really up to you as the host and to the mom-to-be.
How to Choose a Changing Table
As a prospective parent, you may wonder how hard it could possibly be when it comes to learning how to choose a changing table. But you'd be surprised at the little details that can make your life easier when you have them, and a nightmare when you don't.
Baby Cribs - Safety Is Key
You have just learned that you are expecting a baby. Even if you have other children, you must take a look at cribs.