You have planned to have a family for a long time. You meticulously picked out the bedroom décor, the toys, and the books to read on development and labor. Now your baby is here and growing up fast! But you never knew it would be this difficult. Your baby doesn’t eat like “all the books” say they will. Your baby doesn’t act like what the books say. How do you know what to do?
Relax
No book is ever going to describe your child to a “T.” Even if your child doesn’t eat like what a book says, they can be healthy. Even if they don’t hit a milestone exactly when they are “supposed to,” they can be smart. Raising smart and healthy children is something you have to do in accordance with each child’s personality.
Health Matters
Not every child will like vegetables. Not every child will like fruits. Do the best that you can. Offer them vitamins or enriched drink products so they do get all of their vitamin and nutrients needed to be healthy. Sneak vegetables in where they don’t even know it. Add shredded carrots to muffins. Grind up zucchini to put in bread. Every little bit of vegetable or fruit added helps. Offer your child fruits and vegetables at every meal, even if they won’t eat them. Seeing them on their plate will get your child accustomed to the idea of eating them.
Book Learning
Every child will reach developmental milestones differently. Some will be way ahead of the curve, some will fit on it exactly and others won’t even be close. No matter where they fall, they may be a smart child. One of the basics to start with to jump-start their education is by reading to them. Read every night before bedtime. Read several books. It doesn’t matter if they are board books, chapter books or picture books. Kids pick up on language skills by hearing your voice and looking at the pages. Their listening skills will help them learn to read earlier and have better comprehension skills.
Love Them, No Matter What
Keeping your child healthy and smart starts with love. No matter what their personality is, no matter what they eat or how they learn, shower them with love and praise. Helping them to stay healthy and smart begins with good self-esteem. Loving them no matter what gives them self-esteem they need through their daily lives, no matter how old they are.