Ages+Stages vesns_| HOw TO Make the Most of Music bytorikase mutter ‘and KAREN CICERO > Choosetunes that promote language development. ‘Music can help your baby or toddler pickup on speech patterns. Focus on songs that have simple but repetitive lyrics. After awhile, you might sing afemiliar tune like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and eave off thelast note inaline encouraging your baby to chime in with acoo or your toddler to say the next word, While it's okay to play classical musie—especially fyou're afan,too—ithasno extra benefit ‘compared with other musieal styles. > Turnto music to ease transitions Songs can help establish routines. Find musio for waking up, feeding time, playtime,and bedtime, It's okay'to look beyond songs made for kids. For example, ‘you could start the day with Pinkfone’s “Good Morning” but wouldn'titbe more funto do it with The Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine”? Sing along with the recording, because babies and toddlers love their parents’ voices most of all. illustration by ROBIN ROSENTHAL > Boptothebeat. ‘Tap the soles of yourbaby’s feet tothe ‘music's rhythm or clap theirhands to help them realize the connection between ‘what they hear and what they feel. ‘When yourbaby can hold objects, offera shaker. Let toddlers explore thesounds ‘they can make with pots and pans. > Usemusictoteach. ‘Songs are agreat learning tool. Most 2.year-olds can't memorize the alphabet byreadingit, butifthey hear “The ABC ‘Song" repeatedly, they'llJeam the letters. ‘Toddlers can spell ('B-I-N-G-0"),name ody parts (“Head, shoulders, knees, and toes"), and speak new languages (‘Frére Jacques") through music. ‘Sourcenseiatiery musistorpist athaionwide hiren's Hoeptlin Columbus, Oho: Jahn mn, Pr, professor emeritus af mule fon tthe art Senool af the UnWorsy toner ia Connection. veans How TO Teach Your Child to Call 911 by ADRIENNE FARR > Definean emergency. ‘Your child probably knows about firefighters, police officers, and maybe evenEMTs, But there's one community helper they're likely not yet familiar with: ‘the 911 dispatcher. Kidsasyoungas3 hhavecalled 911, saving aparent oranother caregiver. Tellyour child that 9t1isa special phone number to call when there's an emergency, Give examples of when they'd need to oall 911,such asifthere'sa fireorifa family memberis sickand needs help rightaway. > Explain how to usethe phone. ‘Keep a phone in aconsistent placein your ‘home so your preschooler will know exactly wheretofindit.[Fyour cell phone needs tobe unlocked, make sure your codeis simple, Figure out the easiest way tocall 911 on yourphone (many brands havean emergency button) and teach your child how to do it. Hang visual step- by-step guide at eye level near the phone to remind your child what to do. > Help them recall importantinfo. Ideally, your child should know their home phone number and address and each family member's irst and last names, Singing the information will help it stiokin their head, Families can create an emergency profile at smart911.com, which allows emergency dispatchers {in more than 500 locations to see your GetMore Age-Speeifie Tips Simply hover your phone's camera over fhesmartcode a ubrenibe tou" day vansuze 109 ozcrsesen 2020AGES + STAGES exact address, the layoutofyourhome, and existing medical conditions, ifyou choose to include that information, ‘You can pretendto need help and askyour child to call 811using.atoy phone, The Center for Childhood Safety offers a free app, called Kids' Practice 911 Dialer, which allows kids to practice making “the call” and explaining what the emergency is without accessing alive dispatcher. Go over what to say onthe call, Practicing and pretending willbetter prepare your child to handle areal emorgeney. Books like Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1, by Mary Koski, can also familiarize your child with the process. ‘Sources Abrems. Ph, adevelpeantal paychololst for Cognean Pal Alto, Cllrs {onainePeters operons dest of Our ee Pace inet New Yor, sevens | How TO. Make Losing Easier by Tara tus: > Explain the game in advance. Losinghelps teach kids life skills ike empathy, frustration, tolerance, ‘cooperation, and rule following. But defeat ishard toaccept, especially at thisage. Bring up the topic before your child steps foot on. field or sits down to playa board gime. Go over therules, encourage themto talk abouthow they might feelifthey win or lose, and discuss how you or someone so might feel too. 1fyourkidhas an idea of what to expect, the bigpost-game emotions won't catch them off guard, > Validate their feelings. Even ifyour child's reaction toaloss ‘seems out of proportion (@ meltdown when asib beatsthem at Chutes and Ladders), acknowledge thatit takes practice to maintain a positiveattitude ‘when you lose. You can say, “Tunderstand you're disappointed you didn't win,” or “Tunderstand why you're upset.” Suggest they take adeep breath or count toten to cope with feelings that come with defeat. > Show kids that you'reagood sport. Likewrise, when you or your favorite team, loses a game, model good sportsmanship. For instance, say, “Wow, what a great game! Im sad that Ilost, but Thad somuch fun playing!” When your child gracefully accepts loss, praise theirreaction, > Givethem more experience. Incorporate cooperative board games or activities. Whether your whole crew ‘works together tofind the buried treasure or beatthe clock, you'll build your kid's confidence and help them understand that games are meantto be fun. Source: Emi Ely, Ph.D. founder of The Art ant ‘Selene o Mom Amber Utord Ph. Petr rears ‘Sector st Cognitive andeshavio.l Gonastant LL, ‘sie Paine, Now York 7+ YEARS ) HOW TO Introduce Typing by TAMEKIA REECE > Practice onareal keyboard. Ifyou've ever watched your kid typein the chatbox during a Zoom school lesson, you don'tneed to be convinced that better keyboard skills would ease some of their digital-learning frustrations. While typing isn't usually taught until fourth grade (because that's when kids have the necessary hhand-eye motor coordination and finger span), there are steps you can take earlier to set up your child for success. Apphysical keyboard offers the tactile inputkids need tolearn. They can feel the shape of keys, the space between them, and the force needed to push each down, all of which help new typists understand hand placement. > Focus on postu Look athow your child sits at the computer. Their feet should be flaton the floor (or on a footrest ifthey're too short) with thefr shoulders relaxed, arms hanging normally at the side, and elbows close to their body and bent between 90and 120 degrees. The top of the computer screen should be across from their eyes. When your kid's coreis supported, tallows their limbs to move ‘with more control and precision, > Broakthe hunt-and-peckhabit. Keyboard hand placementisn't intuitive, Rather than focusingon speed, nail down their hand placement. Explain that their fingers should hover over the home-row keys at all times—A, S, D, Fontheleftand.X, L,; (semicolon) on the right, When they type, their finger should lightly tap the key, bounce off, and return to the home-row key. Practice afew minutes aday. Off-screen, have them work on memory tasks like fillingina blank keyboard worksheet with the correct etter placement, > Gotinreal practice. Ask yourkid to type out the grocery list orwritean emailfor you. Itwill take longer than ifyou do ityourself, but be patient and don'trush them. When they're done, praise them and thank them for helping you. Youcan also encourage your kid to type storiesto print out and illustrate themselves, Source: Astin Butler foundar and president ot Teaching com and Tyinacom: sara Selznick, an ‘ecupaionl trap ane owner of Seneory Explorers 6, in arisonour, Vin Send Us Your Kid Quotes! BEST OF GIGGLES PROMOTION, PAGE 112. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE. Send your funny story to kidquotes@ parents.com. Inclide your full mailing address, phone number, and your eligible child's name and date of birth. Subject to Terms and Conditions at parents.com/sigglespromotion. Open to legal residents ofthe 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 21 years ‘or older. One submission per person per ‘email address per day. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation, 225 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281, eantuse LIO pecesaes 2020