Turning everyday moments into special 'mom-and-me' time

Whether trekking to the grocery store, tackling laundry or racing to a meeting, today's parents are busier than ever. As the frenzied pace of daily life becomes the acceptable norm, parents feel it is increasingly difficult to spend quality time with their children, especially infants.

However, according to child development expert Dr. Karen Hill Scott, by rethinking their daily routines, parents can transform their "to do" list into quality time with their baby.

"Many parents don't realize that mundane tasks, like changing diapers, cleaning, or running errands, can be turned into meaningful time together," said Scott. "Parent-child interaction is a key building block for the development of a healthy, happy baby. If we rethink how we approach everyday tasks, parents will likely discover that 'must do' items can become a chance to interact with baby in a very enjoyable way."

To help parents identify easy ways to turn everyday moments into moments of discovery, Scott shares the following tips:

•Mealtime with babies is often an exercise in patience. It's hard to imagine that it takes a half hour to drink a bottle or to nurse, but enjoy this time by playing soft music, singing or talking while holding baby. Make mealtime fun for older infants eating solids by talking about the food and commenting on the color and shape; or enlist the support of a puppet and play a game where the food on the spoon is an airplane coming in for a landing in baby's mouth.

•View grocery shopping the same way a baby does, as an exciting adventure full of new sights, smells and sounds. Ask the infant questions about his favorite foods. Let her touch the fuzzy kiwis and bumpy pineapple. Talk about the difference between the cold frozen-food section and the warm steaming soups. Remember, around every grocery store aisle is a magical new discovery.

•While it can be challenging to accomplish household chores when little ones are awake, try engaging children during tasks, such as laundry or housekeeping. Tell the baby what is happening and let him feel the dampness of clothes from the washer and the warmth of clothes from the dryer. For toddlers, let them help sort clothes into piles and ask them to find mommy's shirt. When cleaning, give a child a diaper wipe or damp paper towel to "clean" surfaces. While housework may be dull and tiresome to parents, little ones find these tasks fascinating.

•Most babies love a nice warm bath and their very special one-on-one time. Talk, make faces and explain what is going on while bathing baby. Help her identify body parts by putting soap bubbles on her ears, tummy or chin and saying the body part name. Give baby a shower mirror so she can giggle at her reflection. When baby can sit up comfortably, extend her enjoyment of the water by playing together with lots of water toys and water paints.

•Children thrive on routines, and carving out quiet time is an important part of each day. Consider playing a favorite soft music CD while sitting with baby and talk about the new discoveries made that day. Pick a special book that little one loves and read it every night to signal that it's time to transition into "calm down" time. Baby will enjoy this special time even more than the parent does.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.