LilSugar

What Do You Know About Baby Talk?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:08 -0800

No doubt about it, moms and dads can hardly wait to hear their babe's first words. While there are some great things you can do to encourage language development in babies, the main thing most tots need is a little time. Before stressing about your little one's speech (or lack thereof) take this quiz to see how well you know baby talk.

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10 Ways to Encourage Babies to Develop Language Skills

LilSugar — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:00:21 -0700

Was your lil one born with the gift to gab? It may seem that way in the early months when a child babbles away incessantly, even if no one can quite make out what they are saying. Soon after birth babies begin picking up on the words and sounds they hear, and from the early stage, their language development skills are growing. Parents and caregivers can encourage these skills by speaking directly to their children and using words and phrases that babies understand. Check out our 10 tips for aiding the development of language in tots.

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Tell Mommy: What Was Your Child's First Word?

LilSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:12 -0700

"Dada" often comes out of the mouths of babes before "Mama," but for every child whose first word is "mommy" or "daddy," it seems there's another tot that picks a random one like "truck" or "ravioli." Both my daughter and son's first words were "Hi," which leads me to believe that they will be incredibly friendly people, or just that my husband and I use the greeting all too often. As parents we eagerly await the thoughts that spill out our children's mouths. What was your child's first word?

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Do You Know Kid Lingo?

babysugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:00:40 -0700

When I had my first boyfriend, we used to say we were "going together." Sometimes my mom inquires about my friends and asks, "Are they still going together?" I blush at her choice of words. Take this test and see how well you know your current kiddie jargon.
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Sippy Cups Can Lead to Speech Issues

LilSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:00:51 -0800

Sippy cups save mothers from mopping up spills and allow tots a bit of freedom to roam with their beverages, but now the convenient cups have been linked to speech delays in children.

According to a recent WebMD article, sucking on the sipper's stiff spouts may lead to lisps and slurred speech. To see how to solve the problem, read more. Sandra Holtzman, a speech pathologist said:

If a child goes from the breast or the bottle to a sippy cup, they tend to drink it as if it were a bottle. They lie back or tip their neck in the usual manner, so it's almost like drinking a bottle. They have a hard object or spout with various shapes depending on the type of cup, and their bodies are tipped back. This hard object or spout misplaces the tongue and pushes the teeth out as the thumb can.

For parents looking for a solution, experts suggest switching out sippy cups with those with straws.

Parents Try to Stop Obama's Speech From Airing in Schools

LilSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:17:35 -0700

Do we send our children to school to learn or monitor what they learn? Parents throughout the country are objecting to many public schools' decisions to broadcast President Obama's speech next week. The Commander-in-Chief's address which will be made directly to students at a high school in Virginia, is scheduled to be streamed live on the White House website. Many schools across the nation also plan to air it in their classrooms.

According to the White House, the speech will emphasize "the importance of education and hard work in school, both to the individual and to the nation." But groups of parents, including some in Texas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina, and Utah, are accusing the government, and their school districts, of forcing the Democrats' agenda on their children by not reviewing the speech prior to presenting it. Do you think these parents are overreacting?

Would You Invest in an Autism Screening Assessment?

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:00:45 -0700

If you could buy one more piece of the puzzle, would you? Some parents rely on their pediatricians for recommended tests and screenings, while others are willing to take matters into their own hands. When it comes to autism, many mamas seek out doctors willing to use a modified vaccination schedule or conform to a controlled diet in order to reduce the chances of their lil one developing the disorder. While researchers work on the possibility of a prenatal screening, one company is touting its ability to screen 24- to 48-month-olds for the likelihood that they will develop the disorder.

The same company that developed a system for testing a child's language development through the mail has introduced the LENA Language and Autism Screen ($200). By placing a recording device in specially designed clothing and letting it record 12 to 16 hours of a child's speech, LENA claims they can process the data and provide parents with a probability of their youngster being diagnosed with autism.

Given the importance of early detection, would you invest in an autism screening assessment?

Lil Links: Sporting Belly Button Rings During Pregnancy

babysugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:01 -0700

Would you wear a prenatal belly button ring? - CafeMom
David Spade shows off his blue-eyed beauty - Celebrity Baby Blog
Infidelity reigned the newswires in June - Cookie
Olive and Isla are two pretty red heads - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Heart transplant brings two girls together - ParentDish
What to do when your child has delayed speech - AlphaMom
See the perfect latch for breastfeeding - Fit Pregnancy
All natural sailboats for itty-bitty ones - Inhabitots
Can a mom stop her yelling? - Momformation

Wee TV: LeapFrog Letter Factory

LilSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:00:55 -0700

Try as they might to keep their tots away from the boob tube, every mama needs a few minutes to herself to make a phone call, check Facebook or just chill out. Rather than put your preschooler in front of a dancing monster or singing tomato, try introducing him to some pre-reading concepts that will help prepare him for a major developmental milestone.

The LeapFrog Letter Factory DVD has been praised by parents, educators and speech therapists for its fun, yet educational approach to teaching phonics. Tots familiar with the LeapFrog toys will love seeing Tad, Leap and Lily walk through the alphabet singing cute little songs for each letter. The tunes teach preschoolers the proper pronunciation of each letter and encourage viewers to sing along. Educators like it for its ability to teach letter recognition and speech therapists have told me they like the pronunciations used by the characters.

Tell Mommy: How Do You Encourage Your Child's Creativity?

LilSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:00:15 -0800

Last night's Oscar acceptance speeches were filled with praise and adoration for encouraging and understanding parents. I was moved to tears when Heath Ledger won a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Dark Knight and his family accepted the award on behalf of darling daughter Matilda, but also touched by Original Score winner A. R. Rahman. The Slumdog Millionaire music man quoted a line from a Hindi film that says, "I have nothing, but I have a mother," which sent chills down my spine. Of course, it would be remiss to ignore first time winner and one of my favorite Oscar nominated parents, Kate Winslet, who solicited a loud whistle from her father and dedicated her award to her children.

It is ever clear that parents play a critical role in supporting and fostering a love of the arts in their children. How do you encourage yours to be creative and express their artistic and musical talents?