Most pediatricians say that 12 months is the oldest a baby should be given a dummy.
Although dummies (pacifiers) are great in calming babies down there are some problems associated with their contuinued use.
Dentists say that there is evidence that dummies hold sugars in contact with teeth, leading to a greater chance of dental decay. However dummies can cause adults and other toddlers to look on a child who still has a dummy as underdeveloped. This may lead to unconcious actions which retard normal development. However the biggest issue is the most obvious. When a child has a dummy in their mouth, they are not able to practice speech, so speec development is delayed.
For these reasons, most health professionals suggest that a dummy should not be given to children past their first birthday.
Kids under the age of three don’t ‘get’ magic. They just accept it as something that can be done. Between the ages of 3 and 5 they start to realise the boundaries of reality and that is when magic tricks first appeal to them.
A simple magic trick to show to younger children.
Here is a basic trick that is easy for any adult to perform but leaves the little ones dumbfounded. It is the form of a rhyme. The only preparation you need is to learn the rhyme and stick two small pieces of tissue paper to the nails of your index fingers. These tissues can be stuck with a little spit and represent two birds. Now bounce your fingers up and down in rythmn on the edge of the table, saying the rhyme.
“Two little dickybirds sitting on a wall
One named Peter, One named Paul
Fly away peter, fly away paul
Come back peter, Come back Paul”
As you say the rhyme bounce your index fingers in the same spot. On the line ‘Fly away Peter’ swap your index for your second finger, but still come down on exactly the same spot. On the next line do the same thing with the other hand and on the subsequent lines swap back to the index fingers. The effect to the kids watching is that the birds dissapear and then magically reappear.
When should you tell your kids they are adopted?
My older sister told me Santa wasn’t real when we were both very young and so I have no memories of believing in Santa Claus. (I know, its sad).
The only good answer is to tell children the truth…but only when they ask. Don’t spoil innocence unnecessarily, but don’t tell lies either.
