Notes on Engelmann's,
Give Your Child A Superior Mind paraphrased and emphasized by me. Hey, they are my notes! If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, you should consider reading it yourself. A friend who recommended this to me also shared a
link to part of this that is online. Yea for friends who share knowledge!
Naming objects
Note to self: remember to TALK to the baby and talk the baby through doing everyday things like getting dressed or eating. It is so easy to talk to the older children and get distracted by the things they are doing that I think the baby is missing out on language for what is going on in HIS world.Names for parts of the body
Names of animals
the names for letters in the alphabet
Note to self: Do not use the "A is for apple" way of teaching the alphabet. Field trip after child has learned his letters, a reward: drive and read the letters on signs, "See, there are letters everywhere and YOU can read them!"
color
light-dark
hot-cold
action words
action words of the senses
geometric shapes
position relations
comparative words
Tip from book: identify object first and then quality, i.e. room. Room is light. Room is dark. Pan. Pan is hot (not too hot). Pan is cold. Mommy. Mommy jumps. Daddy. Daddy jumps.
Counting
- Recitation counting "one, two, three . . . " Don't expect your child to connect that 3 could mean 3 objects or that it is more than 2 or less then 5.
- Tip from book: make this part of your bedtime ritual. "Now I'm going to turn off the light on the count of five. One . . . two . . . three . . . ". Then have the child say it after you, then all by himself. "Now it's your turn to say it all by yourself . . . "
- Start with the first five, then after he has mastered those add the next five. Always begin with one.
Right and Left
- Tip from book: When dressing (or I add, washing in the tub) ask for a left foot or a right foot. Always squeeze the child's right hand lightly when asking for the right side but never squeeze for the left. Ask for it. Point to it. Squeeze (right)/do not squeeze (left) hand.
- Never use the word "right" when you mean correct. Always use "good", "fine", "correct", "that's it" etc. This may be a hard habit for me to break!
- Note to self: Show child that we always start reading on the LEFT side of the page.
Stories
Music
- Note to self: Set lots of time aside for stories, listening to music, singing songs and lullabies, and dancing, marching, clapping/tapping beats.
How Things Work
- vacuum cleaner, kitchen range, washer and dryer, computer, piano, light bulbs, beaters, toasters, can openers.
- Most of these things could hurt a baby. Make sure to have strict rules regarding these objects and enforce them!
