Sucking helps protect sleep, too. Noises and other things that would wake a child up just make her suck harder. Try to understand and respect your child s need to comfort herself by sucking, or by keeping a favorite toy or blanket nearby. Your patience will help her to give up these habits on her own, when she is ready. Research shows that much of this learning takes place in the home.
Parents are very important teachers.
In the first two years, your child s play helps him pick up basic concepts like texture, size, sound, taste, shape, color, smell and temperature. With these ideas, he can sort out his world into things that are similar and different. Children learn best with the approval of a caring adult who shows interest in what they do and talks to them about it. It helps to have new and different things for your baby to play with. Sets of measuring spoons, mixing bowls, pots and pans.