小馨滿十五個月Your 15-month-old: Week 1

最近的生活都在吃藥!
從德國回來後就為了鼻竇炎及中耳炎所苦，雖然醫生說中耳炎狀況已經好多了，但鼻腔內仍有鼻水，背後也可摸到修修的聲音，一直吃藥，真的很可憐。
不過也愈來愈懂事，會用指頭比五官在哪裡，愈來愈能理解大人說的話，不過很好動，在家裡趴趴走，一刻都停不下來。
現在在家中還是維持早上、下午睡覺的習慣，我們也只能趁這段時間做自己的事。

Doing errands around town is harder than ever with a pint-size explorer in tow. Being strapped down in a car seat or stroller is the last place your toddler wants to be: Expect an earful — usually accompanied by an arched back and flailing arms and legs — when it's time to buckle up. This is partly because about 90 percent of all toddlers are walking by now (late walkers will catch up in the next month or two), which means they'd much rather be practicing their footwork than sitting still.

How your toddler's growing:

Your baby is growing up fast these days, walking, talking a little, and probably even using a spoon or fork when she eats. Every game she plays, whether it's pointing to different body parts when you ask her to or putting objects into containers and taking them out again, teaches her about the world around her. One of the things she's learning is that she's an autonomous entity, not just an extension of you. How can you tell if your child has grasped this concept? Watch her in front of a mirror; if she recognizes herself and isn't trying to reach out and touch the "other" baby, she gets it.

Your toddler now

Getting into books
Your child may love books … pulling them off the shelf, gnawing on them, stacking them, or flipping through them. Or he may actually sit calmly and happily with you and look at the pictures. While some kids can sit still at this age, others can't, so don't give up hope if your toddler is too wiggly to settle in for a reading session.

Be persistent. Keep introducing your child to books and eventually he'll love sitting and listening to stories. In the long run, reading is likely to be one of the most rewarding activities the two of you share. Reading aloud to kids expands their vocabulary and lets them experience the joy of telling and hearing stories. It teaches them how the world around them works and helps them develop a love of learning.

Board books are perfect because the pages are sturdy and easy for small hands to turn. Choose picture books with big, bright, clear images, and ask questions as you read: Can you find the dog? What does the dog say? Where is the mommy?

If your child seems to be losing interest in one book, pick up a different book, perhaps one with a catchy rhyme, such as something by Dr. Seuss or Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Let him help you turn the pages.

If your child doesn't want to look at books right now, try again another time. Bedtime or before a nap, when he's already wound down and ready to cuddle, is ideal. It's no coincidence that so many great kids' books – like Goodnight Moon – end with the main character fast asleep.

Toddlers often want to hear the same story again and again. Repetition helps them learn the words, and familiarity with the story – "Aha! I knew that would happen!" ­– is reassuring.