Sept. 22 class theme is face-to-face contact
There are no desks in this class. Only mats on the floor.
And the students always put the books in their mouths.
But that鈥檚 to be expected. They鈥檙e babies.
精东影业 ISD鈥檚 Infant Time at Kooken Educational Center is all about babies this month, but the real students in the class are their parents.
The weekly September meetings give parents tools, information, and advice to help their babies thrive.
And, of course, they鈥檙e fun for babies and their parents, too.
鈥淒uring all of our Infant Time classes, we provide hands-on manipulatives, sing songs, read a book, and have time for tummy time and play,鈥 said Vanessa Valadez, an 精东影业 ISD family engagement specialist who leads Infant Time classes in both English and Spanish. 鈥淚t is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn, connect, and enjoy time together while supporting their baby鈥檚 development.鈥
Last week, the theme was container baby syndrome, which can occur when a baby spends a significant amount of time in devices such as car seats, high chairs, bouncers or strollers that limit their freedom to move and explore their environment independently.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important that their muscles are moving and they鈥檙e wiggling,鈥 Valadez said.
Even though infants aren鈥檛 walking yet, their bodies still need to move to support their development and coordination. They need opportunities to get out, explore and engage their natural curiosity.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good for them to experience the world,鈥 Valadez said. 鈥淭hey learn through their senses.鈥
All parents and babies are welcome at Infant Time, and the next class is tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 8:30 a.m.
Upcoming classes include:
- Sept. 22 鈥 The Importance of Face-to-Face Contact: Learn about the importance of face-to-face interactions and how these early connections support a baby鈥檚 development and relationships.
- Sept. 29 鈥 Baby Safe Sleep: A representative from Cook Children鈥檚 will speak with families about safe sleep practices and ways to help keep babies safe while sleeping.
So, if you have a baby 鈥 or a grandbaby – bring them to class!