Mindfulness training

- the 1st step in mindfulness is to recognise and embrace what is there whether it is positive or negative, pleasant or unpleasant
- we would know the nature of what is there and how to transform the energy and channel it in a good direction
- if we organise our life intelligently and direct all of our energy skillfully, we're capable of helping other people suffer less
- the teaching of love is crucial where loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity are the elements of true love which we can practise everyday
- with deep understanding and communication, happiness is possible

~Thich Nhat Hanh

How to Communicate With Infants Before They Can Speak

- a number of parents these days are learning to sign with their babies.
- infants in the past were taught to sign "bye bye", "flying kiss", "hug" and so on, which are forms of sign language.
- they can learn gestures to help them communicate with their caregivers long before they master their speaking skills.


Benefits of signing

- Eg. "hungry", "hot", "sleep" are common signs an infant can learn to communicate their needs.
- signing enhances the social - emotional development of babies and reduces the frustration of babies.
- this leads to less negative interactions between them and their caregivers.
- babies are able to share what they observe, think or feel.
- more trust is established as babies know their caregivers understand what he is trying to say.
- have greater self-esteem and self-confidence.


Preparation for speech

Signing
- makes learning to talk easier and motivates a baby to communicate.
- whets a child's appetite for better ways to communicate. Eg. a baby learning to crawl before walking which motivates him to want to walk to get around.
- helps to stimulate learning through the different senses.
- children begin speaking much earlier than non-signing peers.
- children at early age have higher IQ later in life.