well, i am by far not an expert in any of this, but i believe that what they are referring to as cognitive is their ability to apply concepts.....the concept of math and subtraction itself is a concept...being able to apply it in a particular situation is the cognitive part.....to just simply say 3-2=1 is memorized.....my 2 yr old uses concepts alot....she will tell me stuff like look i have 2 markers...she will put one behind her back and look at me and say now, how many do i have....she also has other ones too, that is just an example....

well, i am sooooo glad i dont live anywhere like that.....i live in louisiana, and we dont have any kind of test like that to get into kindergarten, or prek..............please...........prek?.......how sad is it that this kind of pressure is being put on these children at such a young age........they will have enough pressure as they get older........cant they just enjoy being a child for just a little while......i am raising my granbabies, 5 4 2..........yes, i do things with them.......the 5 yr old is finishing kindergarten, and was an ace student...............teacher came from a catholic school for 30 yrs, and has raved all year about how smart she is...........4 yr just graduated from montisourri prek....the 2 yr old is still at home......all she wants to do is read....she cant get enough, as do the other 2.....we have done work books, writing lessons, etc.....they are all 3 really smart, but i have never pressured them, and dont believe in putting them in preschool untill 4 if i am able to stay home, which i am...thankfully.......everything is done at their own pace, and their own time.....nothing is pressured......i was the same way with my own kids, and they are all three very smart.....

well, i dont have any special programs, but i do know a few things that helped out here....i have my granbabies, 5 4 2....no, i was not able to teach them to read at 2 or 3, but they did and still do have a lot of knowledge.....with the 2 yr old, especially, i found having the tv on in the background, and while she sleeps, really seems to have made a big difference....she made 2 in dec, and in feb was teaching me how to count in spanish.....she speaks with perfect diction, and even corrected me a few days ago....on my grammar...me the one who was an english minor in college...since she was a few weeks old, when she came to stay with me, i would put on the baby first tv channel on my tv in my bedroom...i would lay her in front of it....she loved it....it is designed for babies......at just a few months old, she was getting all excited over certain shows, and was even trying to sing the songs and say the words.....we have always read to all of them....but i can say she is the only one who has watched that much tv, and she is in some ways more advanced than the 4 yr old.....she of course now watched dora, and kai lan....she was starting to count in chineese 2 days ago....she does the little reader...but was  bored with it at 18 mths, and had basicly memorized the order of the words and knew what was comming before it came up.....it is hard for me, as i dont have the time to sit with her the way i would like to...maybe next school year when the other 2 are both in school, i can spand more time...    jane

sorry, i only know how to click it off at the top.  the art puzzle is my 2yr olds favorite..then she loves the the puzzle where you choose the shapes....it is so funny what i think is not so grand babies love....i guess it just goes to show the site is not for us.....

you know, you are right.  your child will mimic you.  arent you proud to know you are doing such an awsome job that he wants to love his brother as much and you love him...i do understand though,  it is hard.  i just went through all that....5 4 2 yr olds....i would simply try to explain that they had to gentle with the baby, and hold their hand and show them how to love the baby softly.  usually on their foot as to deter germs when they are small....(i can be a bit anal about newborns and infants.)  but if you continue to show him, and then remind him when he does go to the baby, he will learn how to love in a softer way.also, you could get a stuffed animal, show him how to hold and love a baby in a loving and tender manner..he will copy you then of course too.....how wonderful to have such a loving 3 yr old.....congrats good luck.  im sure he will be fine with the new way of loving....

this is not necessarily a craft site, but babyfirsttv.com will have a spot for diy, and games.  go to the playground, and it has games that your 2 yr old will totally love....the channel is wonderful for babies and toddlers.  that is what it is made for...
granmommy

well, i dont have a book to read, or any thing like that.  just the book of life.  it starts from a new born.  as long as you respond in a timely manner, not more than a few minutes to their distress calls,  and provide them with what they need, you wont have too many problems with disipline.  this includes holding, cuddling, etc.  what ever their need.  i tell people,  we as adults dont like to be alone, why would a baby.  i dont believe a child under the age of 6 or 7 needs to spanked, and ususally not even severely punished..(unless they are like my youngest was when he was 3-4)  then and now, i believe he had a mild form of autism.  just it was not as recognized then as it is now.. for him, when he had trouble controlling his emotions,  i would bring him to his room, or another designated spot,  and talk to him calmly and tell him he needed to stay here until he was able to get himself under control.  then he could come back by the rest of the family... in this way, he learned to calm himself, instead of depending on me to do it for him....  he is now 20 years old, and in the air force.  he is stationed in germany, and works on their secure computer networks... i just always let my 3 boys know when they reached the age of wanting to talk back or raise their voices to me. i let them know very firmly, this was an unaceptable behavoir.  and the that they would be in trouble to treat me this way.  in return, i always treated them with the utmost respect, and loving attention.  good l
not that life was perfect, it never is, but to this day, 23 22 20,  3 boys, have never raised their voice, or talked to me in a desrespectful way. but i never did that to them either.  love your babies, they are grown too fast....
granmommy

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