Happy Days » Stimulation ideas

Almost any mom will admit that she wants her baby to be one of the clever ones - a smart little chap. We know life is easier for bright and clever people. For this reason as parents we invest time and energy in ensuring that our baby develops optimally and is well stimulated. Research is constantly looking at the key influences on intelligence. Timothy Taylor, PhD, in his book The Artificial Ape, published in July 2010, looks at the inventions that changed the course of human development. As we know, human babies are born less mature than almost any other mammal on earth and their survival depends on...

Summer in the UK can mean rainy, wet weather while cold wintery conditions in SA mean we are spending less time outdoors than we usually do.  Wherever you are in the world when the weather is not too great it can be a battle to think of things to do with your tots indoors.  Baby Sense to the rescue!  Here are 20 fun and easy activities to try on a rainy day. 1.  Bring out door inside Bring toys you usually have in the garden inside.  You may find that they are used in different ways.  A paddle pool filled with beanbags or soft toys is different to a paddle pool of water.   A skipping rope...

Having a family is wonderful, but it is expensive.  I find myself always accepting free samples and actually using them.  Every penny helps in my family and I am sure for most others.  Entertaining my kids is hard work and  finding fun things for them to do is often expensive and requires a lot of planning.  I thought of 10 budget friendly days out which require minimal planning and cost. PICNIC Pack a blanket and a few ball games and head out into a nature area.  Keep picnic food simple and easy to eat.  Think finger foods and you will be on the right track.  Try not to take along foods like...

Antoinette Scandling, mother of two and Remedial Learning specialist gives you ideas and tips on how to keep your baby or toddler entertained during the hot summer, making the most of the excellent weather.Summer is nearly upon us and I have been thinking of all the activities I am looking forward to with my children.  Luckily in South Africa we can take advantage of our good weather and be out and about with our tots.  I am a believer in Nature as our best teacher.  It stimulates all our senses.When doing or planning activities with your babes always ensure that you stimulate all your...

I am often asked “why would you massage a baby?” The answer for me would be “why not” Massage is an amazing concept, it heals everything and for me it is the answer to most problems that we have in this world. We at the International Association of Infant Massage teach parents to ask their babies for permission before starting the massage. This firstly shows respect as we allow the baby to say “yes” or “no”.The baby shows this in various ways, by smiling,babbling,positive body language,eye contact and gurgling that all means “yes”. If a baby...