The holidays are upon us! I can guarantee you we aren't the only parents bracing ourselves to be buried in plastic, battery-sucking toys with flashing lights and other items that our 19-month-old daughter will play with a few times and then abandon.
By Amanda Fontaine, for GalTime.com Don’t deny it: Christmas is coming. And so is Hanukkah. And secret classroom elves. And all the other holiday bustle and chaos. When decorations appear in shopping malls and department stores, we brush it off for a month or two, but that time has passed.I hate to say it, but it’s finally time to start scoping out toys and making a list. If you have kids to buy for - either children of your own, or nieces, nephews, friends' children, or godchildren - how do you survive
As a Mum, I am often concerned about my child's development and even though I have little influence of what is happening day to day at school, there are some things that I do have a say in and that is the home environment. One of my dearest friend's who has 3 grown children said to me recently that the only thing that she thought she was able to teach her children was manners. Yes, she is English as well, and any of you who know us Brits know that manners are really important to us. Unless of course you are watching a soccer match or rioting!
You probably spent weeks making sure that you had the right car seat, the best stroller, the appropriate clothes and nursery for your child. It takes time and effort to make informed decisions about parenting and about our child’s environment. Today, I would like to ask you to consider an aspect of your child’s environment that you may not have thought about. What is your child’s “sonic environment?” What sounds are they surrounded by? How safe are their toys?
