Early childhood development provides the building block for your child’s health, educational achievements, responsible citizenship, economic productivity, strong communities, and successful parenting of the future generation.
A safe, responsive, and nurturing environment for your child is essential for healthy early childhood development. Such an environment promotes a child’s independence and ability to make decisions.
But how do you create a healthy environment for early childhood development? Let’s talk about some tips that can help you create a healthy environment for early childhood development and where you can go for comprehensive pediatric care in Tampa, FL.
Tip#1 Provide Enough Stimulation
To your newborn child (0-3 months), provide enough stimulation that engages them mentally and develops their senses. This includes talking to them, making eye contact, playing with them, reading their books with pictures, and showing them toys that are of different colors and make different noises.
Tip#2 Respond to Their Communication Efforts
Responding to the early communication efforts of your child aids their social and emotional development and stops them from becoming too distressed. If your child makes noise, respond to them with noise or words of your own.
Stay close to the baby when talking so they can see your mouth moving. Also, notice how your singing and playing different tones and volumes affect a child’s response.
Tip#3 Give Them Opportunities for Physical Development
When your child is over 3 months and below 12 months, give them enough time out of their bouncer to move around and explore. This will help them develop muscles. You can help them sit and learn to walk while holding your hands. Also, place an object away from your child and encourage them to reach for the object.
When they start walking, allow them to free play and spend a large block of time outdoors, whether in a park or garden.
Tip#4 Create Functional Spaces for Different Activities
To give your child greater exposure to learning experiences, create separate functional spaces for them in their bedroom, living room, playroom, or outdoors. You can set up:
- A table designated for art activities
- A quiet corner for reading
- An area outside for painting with brushes on a big piece of paper
- Outdoor area for water and sand play
- An area to construct and play with blocks and construction toys
Tip#5 Connect with Them and Provide Them Emotional Support
Your child may dislike some things and feel upset. As a reaction, they might cry. While sometimes a child’s cry seems unnecessary, they need to feel secure, safe and reassured. So, when they cry or have other emotions, don’t shame them or ask them to be brave. Instead, support them.
Also, be completely engaged and present with your child to make them feel loved and heard.
Tip #6 Instill Independence at Home
When your child reaches the age of 1-3 years, let them do some of their tasks independently. A general rule of thumb is that don’t do for your child what they can do for themselves. So set your home up so that your child does things for themselves.
Also, don’t direct them when they are playing; instead, encourage them to do their own tasks.
Tip #7 Help Them Become Social
At home, help your child understand social rules and encourage them to make friends. When they do make friends, ask questions about their friends and show how pleased you are. Also, encourage them to join their friends in small group games.
Tip #8 Help Them Understand Wider World
To enhance the cognitive development of your child, take them out for walks, to a library, fire station, park, or some other place. This helps them teach more about the life going on around them.
Early Childhood Development in Tampa, FL
During early childhood, your child needs regular pediatric care from an expert pediatrician to grow and develop healthily. At Children’s Medical Center, our pediatricians provide the highest quality, comprehensive early childhood care, including well-care visits, sick visits, vaccination and immunization, and nutrition.
To know more or schedule an appointment with one of our pediatricians, call us today at (727) 787-6335 or fill in our convenient online request form.
