Okay, so maybe not a genius when I tell you what she did, but it is one of those baby anecdotes that I keep telling because it was so cute when it happened.
I've been playing a new DVD for NG, Rhythm Adventures from Juno Baby, and she has really been getting into it. The music is quite catchy (okay, I can't get it out of my head, but so far it isn't driving me insane), and I find myself singing the songs to NG while she is watching it and even when she's not. She giggles and babbles and bounces to the music in her version of dancing while sitting.
The other day, I decided to pop the companion music CD into our CD player to see if NG would bounce or just enjoy the music. The minute the music began to play - one of the songs from the DVD - NG immediately crawled across the living room floor until she was in front of the television where she usually watches her videos, sits down and then looks directly up at the (blank) TV waiting for the Juno Baby video to appear. She sat patiently, bouncing a little, until I finally went to the TV, popped in the DVD and started it without the sound while the music CD played.
Okay, maybe it wasn't the cutest or most brilliant thing in the world, but I thought it was great and so did G. when I recounted what she did. Yeah, yeah, I know, some of you may be thinking "how horrible that NG is conditioned to crawl to the TV like a Pavlovian dog." I'm just pleased as punch that she has a new video that is engaging her and that she knows what she likes.
The video also has a French and Spanish version so you better believe I'm going to get her started on languages ASAP. The afternoon babysitters at our fitness club speak Spanish, and I asked them to speak to NG in Spanish while she is there. I may also start speaking to her in Spanish so she hears it at home.
And speaking of languages, she is just starting to sign, I'm sure of it. She has been doing the sign for milk the last 2 days, and each time has actually wanted her bottle so I think she is putting it all together. Other signs that I'm trying to teach her are food/eat; dirty; diaper; and play.
All in all, total signs of a genius in the making, I'm sure.
I'm not sure whether I should post here or you'd prefer under "Mommy Know-It-Alls" :)
I introduced French and Spanish to my little one via two dvd series "Your Baby Can Learn to Speak...." when she was about 11 months old along with the language series of the Baby Einstein incorporated w/their flash cards and hardcover books. I didn't really see any results since a second language is not spoken in our home until age 3 1/2 and I purchased her the book "Let's Speak Spanish! A First Book of Words" by Viking. (Lovely picture book w/complete pronunciation guides). Much to my surprise she knew quite a few of them.
A french series that I started over Christmas is called "Play and Learn French" which is a book & cd. Full of activities and music encompassing everything from lunchtime to bathtime. They also have a sister program for spanish. According to the package it's recommended for 4-8 but I don't see why it couldn't be lovely introdued earlier in bite sized pieces tailored to your needs. Besides it might give some fun activity ideas.
Posted by: Kat | March 12, 2007 at 05:09 AM