Baby Babble
Baby is five months old.  He kicks toys with his feet for entertainment.  He is learning to crawl on his tummy.  First, he looks like a wiggle worm – pushing with his legs outstretched, rocking from his toes and gripping at the floor with his hands.  Mat time is valuable at this stage.  Rolling baby on a ball, with baby on his tummy helps strengthen his neck and gives him practice balancing.  It can be entertaining to let baby kick a balloon with his feet, while he lies on his back.
 
Baby enjoys hugs, kisses and cuddles.  Massaging his back and legs and arms, then tickling his arms and legs with a feather or dry washcloth alerts baby’s brain to where his body is in space and makes his mat time more effective.   
 
While playing bouncing games and swinging games with baby in your arms, for visual stimulation, it is an ideal time to make animal noises and say nursery rhymes.  Baby’s auditory system is usually alert, but it is most active while baby is in motion.  It is time to begin telling baby two word descriptions when pointing to objects around the room and naming them “I see a red ball”, “big TV”, “baby’s swing”, “dog’s toys”, “baby’s books”, etc. 
You are doing great remaining calm in the face of changing schedules, feedings, and baby’s new emotional needs.  Your smile helps baby regulate his emotions and he learns that change is okay.  Your interactions with baby help develop his speech and his knowledge of the world around him.

Developmental Discovery
            Tip:  expect your student to remember facts and details inconsistently.  This sets you up to celebrate the little victories – when your student does remember.  It takes pressure off you – you don’t need to measure your success as a teacher by the student’s ability to remember the information.  Often, they are retaining more than we realize – or will ever know.  Many students begin to use the facts they learned once they establish eye and ear dominance.  Suddenly the material they were drilled in is there and ready for use daily.  We just don’t know when that organization process will take effect, so persevere and rejoice in the little signs of progress today!
            If you are working on strengthening long term memory and short term memory, then listen to your student about the best time for them to work on their toughest subject (or neuro-strengthening activities), choose the time that is the best for your student.  This sets him/her up for success.  Keep the work time very short – stop before they are at their frustration/shut-down point.  This has helped both mother and student have a positive outlook on tackling the hard-stuff again the next day.  Creating a positive, encouraging and accepting workspace and outlook will cut tension from your school day.  A day will come when your student will have the endurance and motivation to complete an entire lesson in one sitting!


Sensory Overload, Unloaded
Nutrition and the body’s proper absorption of the vital nutrients from the food (metabolism) play a significant part in a child’s sensory perception of their environment and also in their energy levels.  Frequently, children that are hyper, or tend to dart out of the room on impulse, and who have a drive to keep bouncing (or jumping off furniture), have that drive from a metabolic misfiring.  Something is wrong in the gut or immune system.  Addressing this can be a bit of a puzzle and maze, but once the key issue is found, the child can change dispositions in a matter of weeks.
            Identifying the culprit food (allergies or sensitivities or nutritional element (more calcium or magnesium, proper electrolytes and protein, or less manganese), can be less of a puzzle with the proper support resources.  For the child with spectrum disorders or who have trouble chelating, we often recommend “No Harm Foundation” with Dr. Shauna Young, who studied naturopathic medicine and specializes in seeing children with autism.  She found a common element in children with the drive to dart away – manganese.  She recommends taking out foods and supplements that contain this trace mineral, and then including probiotics and fish oils.  
            Another great resource for balancing the pH is “Nourishing Traditions” cookbook/textbook by Sally Fallon.  She encourages chicken broth for maintaining key minerals in the diet, made from chicken bones and carrots, onions and celery.  She also supports the use of fermented vegetables for bringing the body to alkaline which supports the immune system, promotes the growth of probiotics and provides enzymes for easy digestion/absorption of nutrients.
            Providing whole foods can be tricky with picky eaters, but keep offering variety and expect good manners at the table.  Encourage each child to participate in the conversation and meal at the dinner table.  Keep exploring, learning and having fun with food!



Resources for Baby Babble : “Active baby, healthy brain” by Margaret Sasse
“How smart is your baby?” Glenn and Janet Doman