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Sp418-R-Healthy Children: 19-20 Months, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Isn’t it nice that your child is like no other in the whole world? With every issue of HEALTHY CHILDREN, we have included a reminder to parents that perfectly normal children differ in the sequence and speed of their development, because parents often worry that their children are not developing as they should.

Those who study young children agree that the one predictable thing about children’s development is its variability. Normally developing children may walk as early as 7 months, but many do not walk before they are 18 months old. Normal children may begin talking at 8 months or …

Sp418-S-Healthy Children: 21-22 Months, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

You know by now that the very best plaything your little one can have is a caring adult. In other words, she needs someone like you who will play with her and enjoy her explorations.

Your toddler will be watching other children playing and may even follow after them. At this age, though, your child is more interested in you, her own play and her own toys than in other children. Poking, touching and pushing are her ways of showing interest in other children. She may develop interest in a special friend her own age if that friend is with …

Sp418-B-Healthy Children_ New Born, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

There are many changes that take place and new things to learn when you become a parent. It doesn’t happen overnight. There will be good times, and there will be bad times, and you and your baby will survive them all!

Sp418-K-Healthy Children_9 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

YOU have plenty of reasons for feeling good about yourself. You have done a great job of raising this little 9-month-old baby. And of course, if you feel good about yourself, your baby will feel good about herself, too.

When you feel good about the kind of person you are, you can tackle almost anything. That’s why it’s important to cheer your baby on when she tries new things. Every time there is a “first” in her life — crawling, walking, talking, hitting a ball, etc. — encourage her and help her build the self-confidence she needs.

Sp418-I-Healthy Children: 7 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Have you noticed how your baby is fascinated by her hands? How she makes a fist? Claps her hands? How she just loves to poke your face with her fingers? At this age, your baby is interested in everything!

You can encourage her wonderful curiosity by playing simple games with her. Clap hands to music together. Play peek-a-boo or a naming game, where you point to different things and name them.

Sp418-N-Healthy Children: 1 Year Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

BOTH you and your baby have come a long way. You’ve helped your baby grow into someone who can sit, stand, climb and reach for things; who can think, feel, understand you and maybe even say a few words. You can look back with pride on the past year and give yourself a well deserved pat on the back. At times it was hard, but you managed well. From now on, your baby will be growing and learning at an amazing rate. You can look forward to the coming years, confident that you will help him develop into a responsible …

Sp418-C-Healthy Children_1 Month Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

During this first month, both you and your baby will spend a lot of time getting to know one another. Most of your baby’s time will be spent sleeping, crying or eating. Most of your time will be spent figuring out the best way to meet your baby’s needs. Sometimes, you may feel tired and nervous and may lose your temper. Most parents feel like this at one time or another. Don’t worry; these feelings will pass with time.

Sp418-E-Healthy Children_3 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Your baby doesn’t use words yet, but he will understand a universal language — body language. This is a language that doesn’t need words. You can tell your baby you love him by giving him a hug, singing a song or gently rocking him to music. You will find that he talks back to you in the same way. He will give you a smile, a giggle, a coo or a hearty chuckle.

Sp418-G-Healthy Children_5 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Your baby is probably no longer content to just sit quietly and look around. He wants to move all the time and in all directions!

Babies at this age usually spend a lot of time examining, exploring, tasting, feeling, touching and learning about EVERYTHING. As a result, your baby will demand more of your time and attention.

To help you live with this new energy spurt, try to keep your sense of humor and your patience. You will enjoy each other more if you can laugh together!

Sp418-J-Healthy Children: 8 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Imagine that you are 8 months old. You try to talk, but no one seems to understand your language. You try to walk, but you’re not quite sure how to do it yet. You reach out to touch things that are shiny, soft, hard, smooth or sticky but everyone tells you “NO-NO — DON’T TOUCH.” How would you feel? A little frustrated, you can bet! Well, that’s how your baby feels at this age. He is very curious and wants to find out about all the fascinating things that surround him.

Sp418-H-Healthy Children: 6 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Now that your baby has reached the half-year mark, he is probably spending most of his awake time sitting up, playing, babbling, looking and touching everything. He may be driving you a little crazy because he wants to grab everything he sees. Try to be patient — he is learning about the world.

Sp418-M-Healthy Children: 11 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Your baby learns about most things from you, especially about love. Babies, just like grown-up people, need love and attention.

Rewarding your baby with a smile, a hug or a kiss is better than rewarding with a new toy. Your baby will know that she is loved, and that is very important for her growth. With that kind of support, she will feel that she can tackle anything.

Sp418-O-Healthy Children: 13-14 Months, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Guiding and caring for your child this next year will be a challenging and exciting experience. She’ll need a lot of attention and encouragement from you. You’ll need a sense of humor, some time for yourself, and lots of common sense. Knowing that your child’s dramatic and changeable behavior is both normal and temporary can help you during this time.

Sp418-D-Healthy Children-2 Months Old, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Your baby is beginning to take interest in everything. While she is awake, she busies herself with looking, listening and learning. Even though she can’t really talk yet, she lets you know how she feels by crying, smiling or screaming.

If she is a quiet baby, she spends a lot of time just looking. If she is an active baby, she does a lot of smiling or screaming, depending on how she feels!

Your baby is beginning to learn about herself as a person. And you, as her parent, are learning all about her!

Sp487-F-Now That We're Divorced, Parenting Together, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Perhaps you and your marriage partner experienced problems too difficult to overcome, and you chose to divorce. Getting a divorce through the legal system does not mean you break all ties with one another. You probably have to deal with each other on a number of issues, including matters concerning your children.

Sp569-Parenting Apart: Effective Co-Parenting, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

Tennessee has one of the highest divorce rates in the U.S. Because divorce is so common, it may seem like adjustment to divorce has become easier for everyone involved. In reality, divorce is hard for all family members, especially children. Because of concerns about the negative impact of divorce on children, that Tennessee State Legislature passed a law that requires divorcing parents of minor children to attend a parent education program.

Sp716-Be Medwise About Your Child's Medicines, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Family

The use of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), is increasing among children. One out of eight children takes prescription medications on a regular basis. As a parent, you can protect your child’s health by asking good questions and reading the label on all medications selected for your child.