I'm posting from the Kidmin Conference in Chicago through Monday. This morning I am in a workshop led by Jennifer Hooks and Barbara Price. They are sharing some great insight about nursery ministry. Here are 10 interesting things they shared to start the session.
- 92% of children from birth to age 2 have parents with an online presence.
- A handbag is a toddler's favorite place to hide a medicine bottle.
- Babies develop their right or left hand dominance as early as 10 weeks gestation.
- Babies begin learning on their first day of life.
- When a mother is depressed it can harm their child. Children of depressed mothers rank poorly on language skills and understanding.
- The first 3 years of a child's life are the most intensive period of language and speech development. This is when the language center in the brain is developing rapidly and the more a child is stimulated with speech and language, the better his or her development.
- A baby's first form of communication is crying, which is typically rewarded by food or attention, and actually begins in utero.
- Songs prepare babies to learn the rules and practices of their culture. Mothers singing and interacting with their babies is the most effective method to stimulate learning, memory, and comprehension.
- Dads are faster at changing diapers than moms.
- Babies are born able to swim and hold their breath under water. But it rapidly decreases after birth.
Posted by Dale Hudson