Be Realistic About Your Baby

As new parents, you all want your baby to become smart and smarter every day. There are certain elements that may play a pivotal role.

Time

Time will fly as your baby grows. Time is of essence because it shapes the future of your baby. There is a Chinese saying: “Age three defines what is up to eighty years old.” The first three years of your baby are most important; they design his destiny and shape his future. Remember, you can never turn back the clock.

Of the first three years, the first year is the most important in the life of a baby: it defines his temperament and personality; it develops his brain cells; it forms the bonding with his parents. The first year is the only time to develop his multi-language skills and verbal talents. If you want your baby to speak more than one language or even multiple languages, give him the exposure within the first year, and don’t procrastinate.

Time is of essence in that the more time you are willing to spend with your baby, the smarter he will become. It all depends on you, the parent.

The Changes and Challenges

Your baby’s arrival changes everything in your life: your relationships, your career, and, above all, your attitudes—how you look at everything and everyone around you. Challenges come with changes. To deal with these new life challenges, you need adaptability and compromise. For one thing, parenting priorities are always uniquely different in a couple. Make sure that both of you agree to disagree. The bottom line: a happy marriage always holds the key to raising a happy and smart baby. The birth of a baby should enhance and complement the marital relationship of a couple, and not putting any distance between them. No matter what, a single parent is always in a disadvantageous environment in raising a child. Welcome all challenges because they are also life-changing. Life is forever changing; a static life is not worth living, and this applies to your baby, as well as to you, the parent.

The Real and the Unreal

Your baby is living in a real world, and learning has to be real. Boosting your baby’s language skills with language DVD is unreal; instead, your presence with your constant eye contact is real. Likewise, educational TV is no substitute for real human interactions. A plain cardboard box and crayons are real learning tools; they are far superior to expensive toys or high-tech learning devices and gadgets.

Telling your baby that he is smart is unreal in your baby’s mind if he doesn’t believe that he is really smart; worse, he may become unwilling to work on challenging problems. On the other hand, praising his effort is real for him.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau