Introduction
What a tremendous opportunity you have ahead of you!
What shapes a child - Nature or Nurture? According to the latest research, the answer is both, and each is equally important. What great news this is for parents! This means that we directly impact our child's behavior, outlook, and attitude. In the long run, it means we can help our children to achieve our most important goals for them, to be happy and successful, in whatever definition success has to them.
Parenting has gone through an evolution. Years ago the majority of parents focused on shaping their baby's behavior to make it fit into their routines, without taking into consideration the impact their actions would have on their baby's brain development and sense of security, esteem, and happiness. We now know that our job is not only to raise our child's physical body, but also to nurture his soul, and to cultivate happiness and high self-esteem, while at the same time instilling important values. We realize out children are our most valuable asset, and that the greatest gift we can give society is a happy, well-adjusted child, who will grow up to be a successful and contributing adult.
Thanks to people like Dr. Sears (author of numerous books on child care including The Baby Book and The Successful Child: What Parents Can Do to Help Kids Turn Out Well), we now have permission to be nice to our children! Thanks to people like Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn (authors of Baby Signs and Baby Minds), we are learning that we can be innovative in communicating with our children and stimulating different parts of their brain. We know that because the most crucial brain development occurs during the first three years, it is vitally important that we create a loving and caring environment for baby that is filled with stimulation. Leaving baby in the crib or playpen most of the day cannot possibly spark baby's curiosity as much as a trip to the zoo, or even the grocery store. Being yelled at cannot instill the sense of security that hugs can. Nothing can teach a baby better manners than hearing 'please' and 'thank-you' from his caregivers. We have choices to make every day, and the cumulative effect of our decisions can, and will, effect our children.
The Year of the Baby
This book is based on the premise that what you focus on flourishes. Is is a very simple and very powerful concept. Have you ever thought about buying a specific model of a car? Doesn't it seem that as soon as you have decided on the model, you start noticing them all over the place? Once you decide to focus on something, your brain gets to work! So if you are focusing on problems, they will get bigger. If you are focusing on solutions to problems, you will start making progress towards finding them. If you focus on shaping your baby's childhood to make it rewarding, educational, and special, you will immediately begin to make those things happen. That is why this book directs you to actively think about ways to shape your child's future every day.
Is this book creating extra work?
Just like anything else ... the extra effort you put into this program will pay off exponentially. Sure it's a hassle to change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. But it's more of a hassle to have to replace your engine! While an engine is expensive, it is replaceable. You don't have that that option with your child! you have one opportunity to raise your child the best that you possibly can. Plus, in the long run, you will actually find that this book is saving you both time and energy.
This book will save you time & energy:
- You will save mental energy. All of your ideas will be on paper, in one location, where they will be seen again and not forgotten. If that wasn't the case, random ideas would float around in your head, leaving you stressed about remembering them, Plus, you will know that you have thoroughly thought through your priorities with your baby. When you are doing other things you don't have to worry or feel guilty. You will have a deep sense of comfort knowing that you are doing your best, and creating a wonderful childhood for your baby.
- You will maximize your time and reduce frustration on a daily basis. Since you have planned a major activity that you want to work on for that particular day, you just do it, and do it at the best time, rather than spending a couple of hours trying to decide between different options. You know when the best time to do the activity is because you have been tracking information about your baby. You have already determined when she is most likely to enjoy an outing, and when a quiet rocking with a book is most suitable.
- You will program yourself to focus on solutions rather than problems. Your monthly evaluations encourage you to identify any challenges that you have, big or small, and brainstorm for solutions. Shifting focus from the problem to the solution saves both a tremendous amount of time and energy ... two things that will really appreciate being able to spend more of with your baby!
