NUACHTÁN KINDER | February 2022
Benefits of poetry in the development of our children
By Ana Paola Gerdingh | Coordination of Student Activities
Who said that poetry is not for children? They listen to it since they are babies in nursery rhymes and the harmony of the rhymes quickly captures their attention. Many word games are based on poetic resources, and when they grow up, many children dare to create their own compositions.
Reading, reciting and memorizing poems have countless benefits for children, and Almudena Palacios, teacher, Educator in Positive Discipline, tells us about them:
It stimulates emotional and cognitive development
Poetry is a literary genre that makes us feel and get excited, because it is not enough to read poems in a linear way, but the help of gestures, mime, intonation, the cadence of the voice… is needed to give it a greater sense.
It stimulates language development
The language used in the literary genre of poetry is usually more complex and elaborated than in stories, so by reading or listening to poetry, children will enhance their language and acquire new communication skills.
In this sense, the child who reads poetry will develop a greater phonological awareness, that is, he will begin to realize the units in which speech is divided, as well as its pronunciation, trying to improve those words that he does not pronounce well yet.
But there is no need to wait for our children to learn how to read or understand perfectly what we read, because reading to our baby, even if she cannot understand us, also has important benefits related, among others, to language acquisition.
It increases vocabulary
And in line with the above, reading poetry -although in general, it also applies to any other literary genre- will help children to expand their vocabulary, both expressive and comprehensive, in a simple and playful way.
In addition, through rhymes, children learn how sounds are combined to make up words and phrases, they will begin to understand the rhythm of the language and will gradually enter the world of literacy.
It improves diction
Reciting poetry helps children improve their verbal expression and diction, since pronunciation plays a fundamental role in not losing the grace and essence of rhyme.
On the other hand, to read or recite poetry correctly, you also have to be aware of the importance of pauses, breathing, and the cadence of each sentence.
It helps body expression
Physical expressiveness is part of the social and communication skills of children from birth, although it develops with age. There are many games that we can play with children to stimulate the development of their body language, and encouraging them to recite poetry is one of them.
Reciting poems helps children to connect with their own body, helping to improve their coordination and motor skills. And it is that the music and rhythm of the verses favor body expression and freedom of movement when reading or reciting.
It encourages the acquisition of new knowledge and work with values
Through poetry, the child will also get to know the world around him, since in general, poems are usually focused on specific aspects or activities of daily life.
It promotes memorization
Memory accompanies us from birth and develops throughout our lives, becoming a fundamental tool in our day to day. Hence the importance of exercising it daily and stimulate it in children in an appropriate way so that they achieve an agility that helps them, not only throughout their academic stage, but also throughout their lives. In this sense, reading or listening to a poem several times will make children end up memorizing it almost without realizing it, since the musicality and rhyme of the verses, as well as their short and simple phrases allow them to exercise their memory with great ease.
It stimulates the imagination
Educational psychologists, educators and pediatricians agree that reading helps children develop their minds and stimulate their imagination and creativity. As the child grows, we can choose poems appropriate to their level of understanding and command of the language, and through reading or listening we will get their imagination to fly, daydream and recreate the verses in their minds.
It awakens the ability to appreciate music
Rhythmic structures awaken in the child different sensations in front of words, since different nuances appear than those that we usually find in stories, such as rhythm, sonority, the coincidence of phenomena, musicality… And poetry and music go hand by hand! That is why children like it so much since they are little, because the repetition of sounds gives them security while helping to create patterns of attention.
It empowers the artistic learning
With this in mind, it should be noted that poetry involves rhythm, music, dramatization, interpretation, memorization… that is, endless artistic connotations that bring great benefits to children, both in their academic and social development.
It invites to relaxation
Almudena explains that the musicality of the verses, when we read poetry to children, invites relaxation, so she advises enjoying reading a poem before our children go to bed, although in general any time of day is good for it.
It promotes a love for reading
In general, poems tend to be short and easy to read, so reading them to our children from a young age can be a good way to start instilling in them the habit and love for books.
Other aspects of rhyme such as musicality, word games and rhythm make of poetry, one of the best resources to encourage the reading taste of the little ones.
It strengthens the parent/child bond
Shared reading favors and generates a strong emotional bond between parents and children, based on the pleasure of accompanying them while they make their own discoveries and, above all, spending time together enjoying a common activity. We must remember that reading is one more way of playing with our children, of giving them time and creating indelible memories of their childhood. Therefore, let’s read poetry, interpret, act and enjoy along with them!
https://www.bebesymas.com/beneficiosdelapoesía
Stages of speech and language development
By Iliana Romero | Spanish Academic Coordination
The first 3 years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intense period in the acquisition of speech and language skills. These skills are best developed when the child is consistently exposed to a world full of images, sounds, and the speech and language of others.
There are key periods in the speech and language development of infants and toddlers. Within these periods, the brain is better able to absorb language. If these periods are allowed to pass and the child is not exposed to language, it will be more difficult for him to learn it. The baby shows the first signs of communication when he learns that by crying, he can obtain food, comfort and company.
Newborns also begin to recognize important sounds around them, for example, the voice of the mother or the caregiver. As they grow older, babies begin to distinguish the speech sounds that make up the words of their language. By 6 months of age, most babies recognize the basic sounds of their native language.
Not all children develop speech and language skills in the same way. However, all children follow a natural progression or series of stages to master language skills.
What is the difference between speech disorders and language disorders?
Language disorders include trouble understanding what others are saying (receptive language) or difficulty sharing ideas (expressive language). Specific language impairment, SLI (Specific Language Impairment, SLI) is a limitation that delays mastery of language skills. Some children with a specific language disorder may take up to be three or four years old to start speaking.
Children who have difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, or who hesitate or stutter when speaking, may have a speech disorder. Apraxia of speech is a disorder that makes it difficult to put sounds and syllables together in the correct order to form words.
Finally…. What are voice, speech and language?
Voice, speech and language are the tools we use to communicate with others.
Voice is the sound we make when air from the lungs passes through the vocal folds in the larynx causing them to vibrate.
Speech is the act of speaking, that is, one of the ways in which we express our language. It incorporates the precise coordination of muscular actions of the tongue, lips, jaw, and vocal tract to produce the recognizable sounds that constitute language.
Language is a set of shared rules that allow people to express their ideas logically. Language can be expressed orally (verbally) or in writing, or through signs or other gestures, for example, blinking or moving the mouth.
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/es/espanol/etapas-del-desarrollo-del-habla-y-el-lenguaje
Childhood neurodevelopment – developmental milestones
By Paulina Cisneros | Dept. of Psychopedagogy
Humans are not born with all our brain capacities ready to be used. They are there, in the program that contains our human DNA, and they progressively “manifest” themselves as our nervous system grows. Neurodevelopment is a slow process that begins at conception and does not end until death. Reaching brain maturity requires our entire childhood and adolescence, lasting approximately 20 years.
The 7-month and 1-year developmental milestones are shared below.
Developmental milestones at 7 months
Movement milestones
- Flips both ways (from face down to face up the other way around)
- Sits leaning on his hands, and then without leaning.
- Supports all the weight of his body on his legs.
- Grabs things with one hand.
- Transfers an object from one hand to the other.
- Uses palm grip (not pincer grip).
Visual milestones
- Develops full color vision.
- The distance vision matures.
- Improves the ability to follow moving objects.
Language milestones
- Responds to his own name.
- Begins to respond when told “no”.
- Distinguishes emotions according to the tone of voice.
- Responds to sounds by making sounds himself.
- Uses his voice to express joy and displeasure.
- Babbles consonants.
Cognitive milestones
- Finds partially hidden objects.
- Explores with hands and mouth.
- Has difficulty picking up objects that are out of reach.
Social and emotional milestones
- Enjoy social games.
- Is interested in mirror images.
- Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion and is often happy.
Monitor healthy development
Since each baby develops in his own way, it’s impossible to say exactly when or how he’ll perfect a given skill. The developmental milestones listed here can give you a general idea of the changes to expect, but don’t be alarmed if your baby’s development takes a slightly different course. However, the pediatrician should be informed if the baby shows any of the following developmental signs for this age range.
- Appears very rigid, with tense muscles.
- It seems too flexible, like a rag doll.
- The head keeps going back when in the sitting position.
- Reaches for things with only one hand.
- Refuses to be hugged or cuddled.
- Does not show affection towards the person who takes care of him.
- He does not seem to enjoy being close to people.
- One or both eyes move in or out constantly.
- Persistent tearing, eye discharge, or sensitivity to light.
- Does not respond to sounds around him.
- Has difficulty bringing objects to his mouth.
- Does not turn his head to identify sounds at four months.
- At 5 months he still does not turn in any direction (from face down to face up or from face up to face down).
- He seems to be inconsolable at night after five months.
- He does not smile spontaneously at five months.
- Cannot sit up with help at six months.
- He does not laugh or squeak at six months.
- He does not actively try to grasp objects between six and seven months.
- At seven months, he does not follow objects with both eyes when they are close (30 cm) or when they are far (180 cm).
- Does not support some weight on his legs at seven months.
- Does not try to attract attention through any action at seven months.
- Does not babble at seven months.
- At eight months, he shows no interest in games like peek-a-boo.
Developmental milestones in the first year
Movement milestones
- Gets to sitting position without any help.
- Crawls forward leaning on the belly and pulling with the arms and pushing with the legs.
- He gets into the four-point position, supporting himself on his hands and knees.
- He advances leaning on his hands and knees.
- Goes from sitting to crawling or turning on his stomach.
- He gets up on his own until he stands.
- Walks holding on to furniture.
- Stands momentarily without support.
- Can take two or three steps without support.
Milestones in hand and finger skills
- Uses the pincer grip.
- Bangs two cubes together.
- Places objects in a container.
- Takes objects out of the container.
- Leaves objects voluntarily.
- Pushes things with his index finger.
- Tries to imitate doodles.
Language milestones
- Pays more and more attention to speech.
- Responds to simple verbal requests.
- Responds when they say “no”.
- Uses simple gestures, such as nodding to say “no”.
- Babbles with inflections.
- Says “Dad” and “Mom.”
- Uses exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
- Tries to imitate words.
Cognitive milestones
- He explores objects in many different ways (shaking, hitting, throwing, dropping).
- Finds hidden objects easily.
- Looks to the correct photograph when the image is named.
- Imitates gestures.
- He begins to use objects correctly (drinking from the glass, combing his hair, dialing the phone, listening on the earpiece).
Social and emotional milestones
- Is shy or anxious around strangers.
- Cries when his mother or father leaves.
- Enjoys imitating people in games.
- Shows specific preferences towards certain people and toys.
- Tests the parents’ reactions to your actions during the meal (What do you do when he refuses a meal?).
- Test parent’s reactions to his behavior (What do you do if he cries when you leave a room?).
- He may feel afraid in some situations.
- Prefers the mother or primary caregiver above all others.
- Repeats sounds or gestures to get attention.
- He feeds with his fingers.
- Extends arm or leg to assist when being dressed.
Monitor healthy development
Each baby develops in his own unique way, so it’s impossible to say exactly when or how she’ll perfect a given skill. While the developmental milestones listed here can give you a general idea of the changes to expect as she gets older, don’t be alarmed if your baby’s development takes a slightly different course. The pediatrician should be informed if the baby shows any of the following signs of a possible developmental delay, in the range of eight to twelve months.
- Does not crawl.
- Drag one side of her body while she crawls (for more than a month).
- He does not stand with support.
- Does not look for objects that someone hides in front of her sight.
- He does not say single words (“mom” or “dad”).
- He does not learn to use gestures, such as waving bye-bye or nodding to say no.
- He does not point towards objects or images.
NOTE: In future newsletters we will share developmental milestones from ages 2-5.
