Mon Sep 26, 2005
Common Mommy Questions, Part II
Q. I want to start teaching my son new vocabulary but he will not sit down long enough. Do you have some suggestions for teaching my two and a half year old new words or to encourage him to speak more?
A. I have found that two to three year olds learn better by actively participating in the learning. It might be easier for you to take them to a place (zoo, botanical gardens, grocery store) and pick out several items that you would like him to learn about. For example, if you take him to a farmer's market, you can teach him about a few different vegetables. Have him
hold the vegetable and describe the color and shape it is. Praising him for his interaction will boost his self-confidence and further his interest to learn more. Bring a couple of those items back home so that he can explain that item to other family members.
Cook with your son. Talk about the ingredients you are using; where they came from and what other foods they are used in. Have him mix the items, and explain to him the effect of mixing certain items or how thecolor/texture changes. He will most likely enjoy getting a bit messy but it will also be exciting for him to see the end result of his work.
Another excellent way to encourage your son to talk more is to spend time talking with him. Talk about your day, who you talked to on the phone or perhaps about what you were like as a child. Ask him questions about his day; "What did you eat for lunch?" "What color shoes did you wear today?" "Did you see animals today?" Even if you were with him the entire day, it will give him a chance to expound on his experiences.
Q. My 6 year old is terrified of going to the doctor. Sometimes it takes 45 minutes to leave our house because she screams and cries or hides. Do you have any suggestions on handling the situation?
A. This is actually a very common problem with children of various ages, something that my husband (a Psychiatrist and General Practice Physician) encounters and treats quite a bit. My first suggestion is to get to the root of the anxiety. What specifically upsets your daughter? Is it the doctor? Is she worried about getting a shot? Does she correlate a traumatic event with a hospital or doctor's office?
You may want to consider buying a few positive books about a doctor visit that you can read with your daughter. Many popular children's characters have a book on this subject, so you may want to search Amazon.com. It's a great idea to say, "Even Dora the
Explorer goes to the Doctor!" Here are a few Children's Books on visiting the Doctor:
"What to Expect When You Go to the Doctor"
by Heidi Murkoff, $8.99 at Amazon.com.
"Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor" by Stan and Jan Berestain, $8.21 at Amazon.com.
"Going to the Doctor", by Anne Civardi, $4.95 at Amazon.com.
I would also suggest getting a doctor or nurse doll, especially one that has a stethoscope or other equipment that your child can examine and familiarize herself with.
Plush Doctor Doll by Russ, $23.00 at FutureFashionista.com.
Nurse Regina Doll by Russ, $23.00 at FutureFashionista.com.
My husband also suggests that you listen to music or engage in conversation on the way to the doctor visit, to relax your child. Be very honest about what will happen at the visit because most children are most upset about the unexpected procedures that they didn't
know would happen.
Article by Elana of FutureFashionista.com. Elana is a Jewelry Designer and creator of FutureFashionista.com. She is also the mother of a 3 year old and 5 year old. Her husband referred to in the above article is Ron Rubin M.D. Dr. Rubin is the father of their two young daughters. Dr. Rubin has practiced medicine and psychiatry for over 20 years and is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
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