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In week 3 of our Stage 1 classes, our babies meet a new friend - the one and only Jessie Cat. She quickly becomes a favourite class visitor for the babies (and toddlers) and she offers many learning opportunities in the class environment, as well as much fun and excitement. I have been overwhelmed, this term (Sept 2012) with the number of babies who have fallen for her instantly; sometimes it can take a few weeks for the Jessie Cat phenomenon to sink in - but I have had trembling, squeaking, laughing babies from the outset this term. What a privilege :) So how does a black and white cat encourage your child' curiosity and game playing? Playing the Peek A Boo game with Jessie, when she hides in the box and then pops up, predictably and safely, creates a sense of anticipation amongst the babies. Some of them can barely contain themselves when she makes her appearance and by the end of the term, it is very common for a teacher to feel like the Pied Piper when Jessie comes out to play - babies at our feet and knees, holding on to the table for the best view, sitting up the table to be as close to her as possible.... it's absolutely magical to be part of these moments. It is Jessie Cat's Peek A Boo game that teaches the essence of the very sweet "Where?" sign. For me, it is possibly the most expressive sign that our babies learn and use; often it is quite approximate - sometimes one hand only, sometimes frantic waving of both hands - but the intention is always clear. Usually, their hands only do part of the communication here - it is their facial expressions, their body language, their vocal utterances and their interaction with the Cat in The Box - that bring it together. This wholehearted engagement and concentration on Jessie is quite something to watch from the teacher's perspective. The weekly routine of Jessie Cat and her Peek a Boo game builds familiarity and helps babies to hone their sense of object permanence. Jessie and indeed any cuddly toy, or object (probably your house keys!), your face, your baby's dinner - all provide great sources of entertainment with hiding and revealing. Babies pick up the "rules" of this interaction quite quickly - and it is not uncommon for teachers to receive delighted reports from parents that their baby has INSTIGATED a hiding/revealing game - often at tea time, dropping the spoon onto the floor and then, with a cheeky expression, signing "Where?". Then mummy or daddy picks it up again, only to have a repeat performance on their hands :) As well as the sheer fun of sharing giggles with peek a boo games with your baby, there is a lot of cognitive accomplishment going on in your child's brain at the same time. Object permanence - the point at which a child recognises that a partially or fully hidden object still exists, even though it is out of sight - is a key developmental achievement and - I believe - an important step in the child's development of a sense of identity. Often, the blossoming of object permanence, the fun side being the peek a boo games, is accompanied by a marked increase in separation anxiety. Perhaps it is also one of life's hardest lessons? To start realising a mere few months after your birth that you are indeed separate from your caregivers and they can disappear, even temporarily, seems to trigger a very basic level of need for security. If you've just started playing Peek a book games with your baby, then you might find it interesting to observe whether this does coincide with an increase in or the start of separation anxiety! The main thing to remember when playing such games with your baby, though, is to have fun! Whilst watching our children gaining new skills and exploring the world and the relationships around them can be intellecualised and formalised until the cows come home, the main point of these games is to use them to interact in the present with your child, not to tick achievements off on a chart - if you spend too much time maintaining the achievements list, you may miss out on a whole lot of fun with your baby :)
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AuthorTrish Cummings - waxing lyrical about babysigning, babies, toddlers, parenting, and sharing her many opinions :) lover of South East London, ex pat of Cornwall. Archives
November 2015
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I love The Imagination Tree http://www.theimaginationtree.com/
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