Cognitive Development For First-Born to Age 3

Johnny Jones

I never used flashcards with our babies, or took them to baby-robics. Instead, I tried to do things with them that I thought would make them happy. I always wondered whether babies might be bored.

I didn't want ours to be. They enjoyed variety, and I relished watching their reaction to differences. I knew that sight was not well developed right away, so I thought our babies might like the feel of different textures. At the fabric store in Tucson I bought samples of smooth satin, nubby wool, rough terrycloth, and bumpy corduroy. Years later I read suggestion for activities appropriate for babies from birth to three months from Growing Up Gifted by Barbara C. Clark. To my surprise I learned that what I had done to make our babies happy had also contributed to their intellectual development.

Ms. Clark said, "...rub baby's skin with nubby towel when drying...give baby "feely" objects, put them in hand, e.g. velvet, silk, sponge...because this stimulates sensory development; baby learns about feeling." Yep. That's what I had done.

Some of what I did was born out of curiosity, or the result of what I read, or what seemed most natural. For example, my good friend Susana told me not to rock my baby, because that would spoil him. That didn't make sense to me. I thought rocking a sleepy baby a pleasure for both of us, and something that came naturally.

Barbara Clark put it this way: "Rock infant while held next to chest for ten minute periods; pick up infant and place on the shoulder; rocking chairs are most useful at this age...because infants handled in this manner show more visual stimulation than other infants."

I wanted to paint clouds on the ceiling of Bryan's room in Tucson. We had grass green carpet on the floor, giant stickers of flowers and animals on the walls, and a blue ceiling. I thought clouds would add to the outdoor theme, and break the monotony of looking at a solid color. But we lacked the skills to approximate clouds, so we settled for mobiles.

Also, some friends gave Bryan a crib aquarium. This couldn't have been a flagrantly successful item; I don't remember having seen one since. I think I know why. We kept Wal-Mart in the goldfish business for awhile, with our many purchases. But Bryan loved watching the fish swim back and forth in that plastic bag fastened on his bed. I heard later that fish are the world's best babysitters, pre-dating television and not nearly as harmful.

Ms. Clark didn't mention the fish. But she advised, "Place mobiles over crib, patterned with a variety of shapes, colors (make your own); use patterned sheets; clear bumpers; change position and surrounding of infant...because this develops visual complexity skills, nourishes growth of intelligence through heightened interaction with the environment, stimulates curiosity."

When my children were younger I used to think, "Why do I do everything the hard way?" But I can see it was worth it. Chip always told me, "Spending time with them while they're little is like putting money in the bank. When they get older, we'll have a relationship to draw on."

Although I've heard people say, "I wish I'd spent more time with the kids while they were little. Childhood goes so fast," I've never heard anyone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much time with our kids." Investing good time in your children's development enables you to look back on earlier times with joy instead of regrets. Not a bad dividend.
 

Note 2017:  I'm still glad I did things the "hard" way; just wish it had lasted longer!