Well honestly dear readers it’s been awhile and I’m afraid a lot has happened. At the moment you find me in dire straits, not a good position to be in but whoever said life is like a box of chocolates didn’t really have parents like mine. I seem a little bitter for possibly a wee toddler of 24 months but yes I am bitter down to my very tweensy weensy toes. My beloved parents have really been living it up these few days. First it was Just Dad and something called a “Roy-Tho” match..what the dickens is that I think as he dresses himself in a funny gold and blue outfit. Hey is it a fancy dress party, I want to wear my new Spidey costume. Mother dearest, your husband is going like a clown though in all that blue and gold.

Mother and I roll our eyes as he heads off doing his silly Papare dance. Each to their own I think. But all is not lost I now have Mummy darling all to myself and we can watch Dora the Explorer, my guilty pleasure for copious number of hours whilst Mother the greatest naps on the sofa, oblivious of time and child. But wait out comes the Gucci bag, the sky high stilettos and she’s off to some called Colombo Fashion Week. The parents have left me and the sibling as usual and gone off to have lives of their own. I am lost, I am hurt, I just going to cry into my blanket and pretend I don’t care when she comes to kiss me goodnight. I would have looked great in that catwalk, why couldn’t she have taken me, I mean I invented that glide and slide and look like you don’t care walk.

Anyways here we sit Big Sister, me and nanny who is as much fun as a pack of cards..oh wait my bad, what am I saying cards ARE fun, totally wrong analogy. I don’t even feel like even trying to be bitter, my heart is not into anymore, abandoned child of the weekend and all. Whatever. Big Sisters seems lost in some book, she’s learning to read now, the whole book just says “LOOK” on every page but she’s enthralled. Nanny already looks like she wants me to eat soon and go to bed so she can watch the tail end of the teledrama. Sheesh it sucks being a baby, maybe if I cry loud enough she’d be forced to call Mum who might take me to the after party, one can only live in hope…when you’re only 2 and ¾ years old.

What is Attachment Parenting?

All infants naturally attach to their primary caregivers, even to adults who are less nurturing. But it's the nature of the attachment – whether it's secure or insecure – that makes the lifelong difference. When psychologists say "attachment" they are talking about the child's relationship to you. "Bonding" refers to your feelings about the child. Babies with a healthy, secure attachment understand that the parent or caregiver is a source of comfort and a solid base from which to explore and play. These babies miss their caregivers when they leave and feel relieved when they return. With a strong emotional foundation of trust, they grow into confident, competent, caring adults. According to a growing body of scientific evidence, children with responsive caregivers during the first year of life develop a stronger ability to manage stress, form healthier relationships, perform better in school, and enjoy higher self-worth. Overall, they have a greater shot at a well-balanced and fulfilling life.

How much mental stimulation does a two year old need?

Your child’s brain grows at an explosive rate during the first three years of his life.  During these critical brain-growth periods, long, thin nerve pathways grow inside the brain.  These are wirings that connect and carry electrical impulses from brain cell to brain cell. The resulting network, which grows daily in the young brain, forms the neurological foundation of skills that your child will use for the rest of his life.  Experiences after birth, in conjunction with your child’s gene, determine the eventual wiring of the human brain.  Existing connections eagerly await new experiences that shape the neural networks for language, reasoning, problem solving, and moral values.  New experiences build upon established patterns and create new patterns and networks for more learning.  Connections that are used repeatedly will become permanent.   Those that are not used get discarded. You can help your toddler jump-start his brain development by engaging in games and fun activities with him.  Everything you do with your toddler - playing, talking, eating, walking, reading, cuddling, and singing help jump-start his brain.   When you use your imagination with him, for example, you help his brain to make “imagination pathways” of its own. Children remember experiences that have an emotional component.  Gentle, loving fun combined with responsive language from you creates an atmosphere in which learning thrives.  That's why it is important for you to bond with your child in these activities. Things you do together enhance his learning (among many other benefits). This is something that play-alone high-tech toys like tablets, video games, tv and others will not be able to offer.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe