Taking time out to read and to engage in dialogue with your child is one of the most important aspects in their development. I know my two little guys are almost always running to the bookshelves in their playroom, and saying “READ!” It is amazing how much they have learned from just sharing that small amount of time here and there throughout the day.

Books are just not for teaching our babies and children language, but it helps them to gather information about their world. Books foster social, intellectual, and physical development as well as language skills. These are all so very important. Not only that, you are saying to your child that you “have the time” to devote to them and to teach them.

I was just recently introduced to some very unique books for infant and toddlers developed by children’s author and publisher Harriet Ziefert. Begin Smart Books, are books designed to be age appropriate for your child’s specific developmental stage. Most if not all of the modern bookstores carry books for young children, but always lump them together in such a wide age-range. As a parent, I go into a bookstore and spend a good deal of time in the 0-3 year section, looking for books that I think the boys may like and for the most part you have no clue and are blindly picking up books. These particular books I like. I like them because they give you a clear direction in what to choose (color coded by age) The colors are bright and the activities are fun. My two loved the “Look at Me!” book and took turns holding up to their face and “roaring like a lion” or “oinking like a pig”. The activities are simple and versatile which encourage imagination and variety of learning opportunities. I look forward to seeing more from this company in the future..excellent choice in books! Look for them in your local bookstore…definitely worth picking them up for your little one! Happy Reading!

P.S. Keep checking back on your chance to get some of these wonderful books for your special little one!

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This is the current book that I am reading.  It talks about how partners or we as people express and receive love.  Chapman describes these five languages as 1) Quality Time  2) Words of affirmation  3)  Gifts  4)  Acts of Service  and 5) Physical Touch.

As a couple it is important that you discover what each other’s love language is…that’s what keeps the fire burning for you and your spouse!  For example for some people words of encouragement are high on their list and a wife that gives her husband continuous praise is speaking his love language fluently.  He will respond with love and feel like he is loved (his love tank is full).  For you it may be “Acts of Service” that keeps your love tank full.

But, say for instance, you are doing and doing all this stuff and your partner doesnt respond to it..perhaps it is the wrong love language!  You have to try what works!

For me I felt like I was in between two of the languages.  Acts of Service is a big one!  and Words of Encouragement.

I recommend you pick up the book…it is well worth the read!  Thank you Brian for giving me this book!

The Five Love Languages

by: Gary Chapman