LilSugar

One Language or More?

babysugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:39 -0800

In many bilingual families, parents make a conscience effort to teach their babes both languages. If one parent is proficient in one language and the other in another, it is normal for each one to talk to their tot solely in that tongue.

I try to chat in Spanish with my babe, but I'm not as diligent as I'd like to be. Luckily, her nanny is teaching it to her every day. And, at this age, she is soaking words up like a sponge.

Just the other day we were on a walk and she looked up at me and said, "Mano!" A little puzzled, I thought to myself, "Mano?" Then it hit me, "Hand! That means hand in Spanish!" So I reached down and her tiny palm met mine and off we went.

Will your child be bilingual?

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Good Idea or Bad Idea: Introducing Children to Wine at a Young Age?

partysugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:18:33 -0700

I have always been fascinated by how differently European children develop attitudes toward alcohol. Growing up in America, I heard tales of young French girls sipping champagne at special functions, and Italian gals tasting vino at big family dinners.

The Food & Wine blog recently highlighted this topic with Gabriella Opaz's article about taking her kindergarten class to a winery in Northern Spain.

The article discusses the positive effect exposure to alcohol can have on kids. Here's a short excerpt:

Winemaking here is the equivalent to corn harvesting in the Midwest. It is so integrated into the culture that if you yourself do not have a direct connection to winemaking, I guarantee that someone in your family does.

Therefore, taking a group of children on an excursion to see how wine is made is not dangerous, frightening or a form of mind-corruption as it might be seen in the States. It is merely a part of the everyday life here in Catalonia.

Rather than teach children the evils of wine, they are taught to respect and understand all aspects of wine and the winemaking process. While I don't condone underaged drinking, I do think visiting a winery is a fascinating lesson for any age. What do you think?

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Raising Bilingual Babies Like Honor and Sam

babysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:05 -0700

Expectant mamas hoping to give their children the best springboard into life often use in-utero techniques like the Ritmo Prenatal or BabyPlus and continue to teach them the ABCs and 123s once out of the womb. Their wee brains are like sponges, soaking up bits and pieces that could make a college student green with envy. Parents skilled in multiple languages are smart to teach their youngsters the different tongues early on, giving them a strong language base from which they can grow.

Elin and Tiger Woods are making sure their babes know Swedish and English while Jessica Alba is tossing Spanish words like gato and pato out to her daughter Honor. The doting mother said:

I am a mother who shoves information down her throat, poor thing. . . . I sing her songs about colors in Spanish and English when I'm cooking. . . . So now she kind of points to blue and says "azul" and I say "Yes, azul, muy bien!" It's slow-going but she's sort of picking it up.

Do you have a bilingual babe?

Sisterly Secrets Between the Obama Girls

babysugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

"Sasha, I'm telling you... it's just water!" If there's one confidant a girl can depend on, it's usually her sister. Malia (left) and Sasha Obama attended the "Fiesta Latina" on the South Lawn of the White House where Salsa and Spanish music were the tunes of choice. While we weren't actually privy to the darlings' conversation, we can only imagine what the two were whispering about in the dark. Known for her astute observations, Malia may have decided to announce that she too, wanted an adult wine glass full of sparkling water.

Tell us what you think these two cute gals are talking about in the photo.

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Honor Warren Takes the Skinny Jean Route to Class

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:15:49 -0700

Little Honor Warren is turning into more of a chip off the old block than we expected! Still sporting the comfy headband that her trendy mom Jessica Alba also wears, the budding fashionista was seen taking some wobbly steps in a pair of of-the-moment skinny jeans.

The adorable toddler was en route to a music class in Beverly Hills with her nanny when photographers caught her channeling her inner hipster in the jeans, a hoodie and a pair of comfortable sneakers. The 15-month-old must have heard that skinny jeans are not just on most mama's Fall shopping lists, but on their kids' lists too.

Honor's mom recently told People magazine that she is trying to raises the youngster to be bilingual, singing and reading to her in both English and Spanish, while practicing the Spanish words for different colors.

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For a look at some of our favorite skinny jeans for tots, read more.

Leopard belted skinny jeans - $29.50	Lipstik Girls CS Slim Leg Jean - $74.00
77 Sunflower Skinny - $39.50	Skinny Jeans - $16.50
Stretch Matchstick Zipper Jean - $55.00	Joe's Jeans Girls Pencil Jean, Ingrid (Size 4T - $75.00

Postpartum Depression Indicators May Save Mama From Getting Blue

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:20 -0700

Thanks to stars like Brooke Shields, Gwyneth Paltrow and Amanda Peet, postpartum depression (PPD) is no longer a dirty little secret. All three of the ladies have been open and honest when disclosing their battles with the disorder following the birth of their children. More than simply the "baby blues," PPD is believed to affect between 15 and 20 percent of all mothers. With that many women experiencing PPD, wouldn't it be nice if we knew what caused it so we could try to prevent it? Some Spanish researchers think they can.

A group of scientists believe they have pinpointed a number of factors that will help identify the potential for a new mama to develop the illness with an 80 percent success rate. According to them, the mother's age and her working status throughout her pregnancy can influence the onset of the disease. Older women and expectant gals who worked were found to have lower instances of depression. The study also found that a family history of psychiatric problems and the existence of specific genes in the brain could predict the onset of PPD.

Would knowing these predictors have been helpful to you or a friend who suffered from postpartum depression?

Breastfeeding Doll: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:20 -0700

Teaching children about the birds and the bees is no longer a formal chat that happens during the tween or teen years. Many mamas choose to introduce the concept when a sibling makes her debut. Fourteen percent of lilsugar readers say they'd purchase a birthing and nursing doll ($90) to educate their kiddos about the miracle of life, while 43 percent of our mamas would invest in a Boobie Buddy ($55) or nursing doll. Now, a Spanish manufacturer has created an even more hands-on toy called Bebé Glotón ($62), a doll that comes with a halter top that allows children to "nurse" the baby. What's your opinion of the product - is it any different than buying your tot a bottle-fed babe?

NinetoNine Inspires Creativity in Nursery Design

LilSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:00:46 -0700

Madrid-based ninetonine furniture makers cater to modern kid. Its fun, versatile designs are created from sustainable sources, using certified nontoxic lacquers. The latest addition to its line - the Deskhouse - is a drool-worthy centerpiece that can serve as a double-sided drafting table, complete with a chimney for crayon and marker storage or a playhouse. The company's unique pieces like the zebra-inspired crib, a shelf that looks like plates and spoons and a caterpillar-like stool add whimsy to wee ones' rooms. Fun comes with a price as these Spanish designs start at $355 and max at $1,500.

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Nursery University: Parents Lose Their Minds Over Preschool

LilSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:59 -0700

The preschool application process in many major metropolitan cities is comparable to getting into college. Sometimes dubbed the brat race, it doesn’t get more competitive than what goes on in New York City, where some believe that getting into the right nursery school will put their tots on the Ivy League path.

In his new documentary, Nursery University, which hit screens last week, Marc Simon and Matt Makar take an in-depth, satirical and oftentimes sympathetic look at a process that lead to the downfall of one Wall Street’s biggest titans and has parents competing to spend more than $15,000 a year on their two-year-old’s education. The film follows five families as they take the journey – from identifying the right schools, obtaining applications, the child’s interviews and finally their receipt of acceptance letters. Along the way, we meet two preschool directors who scoff at the myths about the process, as well as a “preschool consultant” who charges $4,000 to help families navigate the system.

To see why the film had me both laughing and feeling sorry for the families, and see a trailer, read more.

While some of the profiled families perfectly mirror the caricatures they are modeled after – the family that spends time practicing greetings with their daughter, the clan that claims even a celebrity like Kate Winslet can’t get their daughter into a school and a couple that debates whether saying Spanish is their first language will give their child an advantage – others go through the process in an attempt to truly give their lil ones a better start than they had.

A friend who went through the Manhattan preschool process said the film accurately portrays the frantic pace at which NYC families approach wee education. If you want an inside look at the craziness some parents go through for their offspring, seek out this film, and then go home and thank your lucky stars that you don't have to participate.

babysugar Diaries: Working Mama

babysugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:40 -0700

I always thought I'd stay at home with my children once I became a mother. I was a stay-at-home mom for my daughter's first year of life, but then eagerly jumped back into the workforce. When I became pregnant with number two, I thought it may not even be an option to come back to work. After much consideration and calculation, I decided it was best for my mental health and children's well-being for me to be a working mommy. Having just finished my first week back, I know I made the right decision.

To see why, read more.

Some moms are wired to entertain their wee ones all day long on the home front; I am not cut from that same cloth. I turn into a lazy sloth when I am at home all day long and find it way too easy to lounge on the couch and stay in pajamas. My nanny is much better about rallying the troops for jaunts to the park, music classes at the library, and teaching them Spanish. I am more productive and energetic when I have less time to accomplish numerous tasks so work actually fires up my engine. Odd as it may sound, my lil loves benefit when I head to the office. When I get home, we are all excited to see each other. Dinner time is social hour and baths are full of bubbles and laughter. Before heading back to work, I looked forward to the 5 o'clock hour because it meant the wind down was near and my alone time was imminent. Now, I race home from work because I can't wait to spend that precious time with my darlings before they hit the hay.
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