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Baltimore County Public Library
Focus on the First Years >
Birth to Five > Early
Literacy Resources
Early Literacy Resources
Books and Booklists
African American Books for Infants and Toddlers
Books to Grow On
Kid's Catalog Web
Books for Babies
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Reading Aloud to Young Children
Important benefits
of reading to young children:
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Creates a bond between the child and the
adult.
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Enables parents and caregivers to communicate
their interests and concerns in an enjoyable way.
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Educates children about the world and people
around them.
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Creates a love of books early, which will
help children succeed later in school.
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Developmental Tips
Guidelines for growth and interaction.
Research shows that infants and toddlers grow and develop in
predictable patterns. The exact rate, however, may vary from
child to child. The milestone table below lists developmental
norms for children, based on their age. Parents and caregivers
should play games and do exercises that will support the child's
current level of development. If you have concerns about a
child's development, call
Baltimore County Infants and Toddlers
at 410-887-3419 (birth to 3 years) or Child Find (3 years and
up) at 410-887-3017. Don't forget, BCPL's librarians will help
you find materials to answer any questions you might have.
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Promote Brain Development
The following information was compiled using information
gathered from the
Brain Wonders website. Brain Wonders is a collaborative project of Zero to Three, Erikson
Institute, and Boston University School of Medicine.
Newborn to 2 months:
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What You Can Do:
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Brain Growth |
Feed your baby breast milk or formula to get the brain
development off to a good start. |
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Safety First |
Avoid jiggling her or throwing her in the air. |
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Early Learning |
An active life encourages his brain to develop. |
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Senses |
Read her signals; too much stimulation is not helpful. |
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Babies Develop At Own Rates |
If you need help determining what is expected, consult your
pediatrician. |
2 to 6 months:
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What You Can Do:
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Relationships and Emotions |
Help him calm down in periods of distress. |
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Patterns and Routines |
Give her chances to repeat pleasing activities. |
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Senses |
Show him what he looks like in a mirror. |
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Motor Coordination |
Play with her on the floor for exercise. |
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Language Development |
Read simple books aloud. |
6-9 Months:
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What You Can Do
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Relationships and Emotions |
Be warm, affectionate, and considerate. |
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Patterns and Routines |
Adjust his schedule as he changes. |
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Senses |
Give her toys of different textures. |
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Gross Motor Coordination |
Supervise climbing and crawling. |
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Fine Motor Coordination |
Play with easy to operate pop up toys. |
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Language Development |
Read aloud to your child
every day. |
9-12 months:
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What You Can Do:
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Relationships and Emotions |
Individualize your responses to meet his needs. |
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Patterns and Routines |
Encourage her to imitate you and imitate her back. |
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Senses |
Play different kinds of music. |
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Motor Coordination |
Childproof your baby’s environment. |
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Language Development |
Read a picture book together as you point to and name things. |
12-18 months:
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What You Can Do
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Motor Coordination |
Provide plenty of low, safe places for climbing. |
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Language Development |
Try to figure out what he is saying. |
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Behavior |
State clear consequences in relation to your toddler’s
behavior. |
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Separation Anxiety |
Allow your toddler to bring something with him from home. |
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Patterns and Routines |
Offer small bites of new foods. |
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Senses |
Label and describe objects with words. |
18-24 months
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What You Can Do
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Motor Coordination |
Allow him to turn pages as you read with him. |
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Language Development |
Talk with your toddler – be an active language partner. |
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Relationships and Emotions |
Help her put her feelings into words. |
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Patterns and Routines |
Provide props such as dress-up clothes, telephones, and plastic
food that encourage fantasy play. |
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Online Resources
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Baltimore County Public Library, Towson Maryland USA
Last Revised: 03 April 2008
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