The upcoming yamim tovi
m are the perfect time for families to strengthen bonds between each other. Between preparations, zmirot (songs), lavish meals, and family customs and rituals, there are countless opportunities to connect to loved ones around you.
Perhaps one of the most critical relationships to be strengthened is that between a parent and child. Child development research, conducted by industry professionals as well as educators, indicates that the most critical period of a child’s development is between birth and his or her third birthday. The physical, social emotional, cognitive, and communication achievements that a child makes in this period are known as childhood milestones.
This holiday season is the perfect opportunity to use new and fun ways of enabling your child to reach his or her milestones.
L’ – Love your child. The best gift you can give your child is you!
S – Sing Yom Tov zmirot at the dinner table. Be sure to engage your infant. Your baby is most likely not going to be hitting the high notes but you can be sure that those babbling and cooing noises are your baby’s attempt at being a part of the fun.
H – Honey is not medically approved to be consumed by infants less than one year of age. Try dabbing some of it on an apple and try to teaching your one and a half to two year old the song “Dip the Apple in the Honey.”
A – Awareness. Be sure to prepare your two or two and a half year old for all of the Yom Tov rituals. That will make it much easier for him or her to participate.
N – No child is the same as any other. Keep in mind what your child’s abilities have been until now and gauge his or her achievements based on that.
A – Alertness. Use sparkling and shiny succah decorations to visually engage your infant and gauge his or her alertness. Perhaps a succah decoration arts and crafts session would entertain your two to three year old.
T – Table Talk. Around the table is an opportune moment to have your one to two year old learn new and fun words like etrog.
O – Optimal vs. Opportunity. Yom Tov may be the optimal time to share these moments with your child, but make sure to take any opportunity in day to day interactions to reinforce these milestones as well as achieve greater ones.
V – Visuals are key. Prepare your infant or toddler for the holidays with visual learning. Learning different Rosh Hashanah apple colors would is a great start to the new year!
A – Activities. Cultivate your child’s spatial and physical abilities with activities such as making succah decorations, apple picking, and etrog jelly making.
H – Help is available. If you need any more information about child developmental milestones we are happy to help! Please give us a call at (718) 264-7250 or visit our website at metrochildren.com.
Metrochildren is an early intervention home care agency that has been servicing the needs of New York City’s infants and toddlers for over 10 years. We are committed to empowering families and caregivers to maximize their child’s growth potential. For the special attention your child deserves and the professional support you need visit our website: metrochildren.com, call us at (718) 264-7250 or check us out on facebook at facebook.metrochildren.com. L’Shana Tovah!
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Judah Blumenthal is community initiatives coordinator for Metrochildren Early Intervention Specialists
