New born babies learn even in their sleep

New born babies are such fast developers because they keep learning even in their sleep, researchers have found.

Even though infants may stay awake for just a few hours a day, their brains keep working around the clock, scientists said.

They believe that the brain is constantly adjusting and adapting to the physical world despite appearances that they are dozing.

The discovery was made by experts at the University of Florida after simple experiments with 26 sleeping newborns.

Researchers played a tune to them, and then followed it with a gentle puff of air to the babies' eyelids. After about 20 minutes, 24 of them had learned to anticipate the puff by squeezing their eyes shut.

The babies' brain waves also changed.

Dana Byrd, a psychologist, said, "We found a basic form of learning in sleeping newborns, a type of learning that may not be seen in sleeping adults.

"They are better learners, better 'data sponges' than we knew. While past studies find this type of learning can occur in infants who are awake, this is the first study to document it in their most frequent state, while they are asleep.

"Newborn infants' sleep patterns are quite different to those of older children or adults in that they show more active sleep where heart and breathing rates are very changeable.

"It may be this sleep state is more amenable to experiencing the world in a way that facilitates learning."

The results, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could be used to identify babies that are not developing properly such as those at risk of dyslexia or autism, she added.

The Importance of Reading to your Baby

Once a parent bring home their newborn baby, they should waste no time in helping them learn. A baby will begin learning things right away and parents must make sure that they have the necessary tools to assist their child. One way parents can develop a baby’s learning capabilities at a very early age, is by reading to them.
Reading to your child is a great way for them to hear how words are pronounced. When you begin reading to your child, you may not get much of a reaction from them at the beginning, because they are just hearing the words for the first time. As the child begins to grow and parents continually read to them, they will become engaged in the stories and will begin to respond to the words.

Books that contain pictures are an entertaining way to read to your child, as they will be able to get a visual representation of what is happening in the storyline. Many picture books either depict important life lessons or can focus on academic concepts, like mathematics. These books are a great way for parents to not only spend time with their child, but to also ensure that their child is beginning to form good learning skills. Stories that teach your child how to count or learn their ABC’s are great beginner books.

As you are reading to your child, you will notice an increased interest in their desire to be read to. Eventually your child will begin to read by themselves and will use the skills that you have taught them. If you child has a great interest in reading, consider purchasing interactive workbooks that are designed to increase their learning. These books also provide a parent with the opportunity to spend quality time with their baby.

It is important to read to your child and nurture their desire to read, as it is the foundational block for their future success in school. By reading to your child at an early age, you will notice that they are able to develop the necessary learning skills they need, at a much faster rate

Ms Tan shares how she start to read to her child from young!

Developing a Reading Habit

Here are a few tried-and-tested techniques to help get you started:

Before reading a book to your child, read it through once yourself to identify areas you might want to concentrate on.

Point at each word with your finger as you read, and encourage your child to follow along. Even before your child can read, they can be highly stimulated by the pictures they see in books.

A child's attention span tends to be rather short, so choose simple books with plenty of colourful pictures.

If you are concerned about little hands tearing and smudging books, buy sturdy toddler board books that can withstand some 'abuse'.

Parents who show that that they enjoy and benefit from reading will set good examples to their children.

Children are constantly imitating adults, so if you make reading out to be a fun and enjoyable activity, it is likely that your child will as well.

Make reading a treat instead of a chore! Don't just read to your child at bedtime - read to him throughout the day or whenever time allows.

Show enthusiasm and excitement, and vary your reading tone to give characters different voices. Make your own puppets out of household items to use when reading.

Involve your child in the reading process. Let him turn the pages of the book, and give him adequate time to look at the pictures and ask questions.

If your child has developed an adequate level of reading comprehension, ask him simple questions about the story after each reading session.

Most children will have 'favourites'. Read your child's favourite books often, and make them available to your child at all times by placing them on a shelf within easy reach. This allows your child to look at his favourites whenever he desires.

All children have an innate desire to communicate. Write simple notes and letters to your child, and encourage him to do the same to you.

For children who have yet to master reading and writing, simply let them 'read' you their mental notes, and then read your notes to them.

Visit to your local library regularly, and engage the help of the children's librarian to assist your child in choosing books that are appropriate for his age group.

When he is old enough, obtain a library card for your child. This will help him acquire a sense of responsibility alongside an interest of reading.

By making reading fun, and keeping your child's reading experiences positive, you can nurture a child to grow into an avid reader, and one who views reading as an enjoyable pastime.