聽診器

話說陳咚咚小時候看醫生都沒在怕的，就算打針也是在針頭拔除後就沒唉叫；自從九個多月第一次感冒在大直的成人診所看過病後，每次一進診間，看到醫生就大哭，哭到出診間才會停止。
我跟咚把拔一直在研究為什麼突然有這樣的變化，即使醫生沒穿白袍，咚咚還是會知道他就是醫生，非常抗拒又排斥！
直到有一次咚馬麻在大直同一間診所治療感冒後，我才能體會到咚咚恐懼的來源，在那間診所，不論成人小孩看完診，都會用吸鼻的機器吸鼻涕，再往鼻孔裡噴消炎藥，被吸鼻涕的感覺非常不舒服，噴藥後，整個鼻腔又嗆又難受，成人都受不了，小孩子當然會被嚇到！
後來咚咚感冒都固定在士林某家小兒科看診，醫生很nice；每次看醫生前，咚馬麻都會給咚咚作心理建設，但不論小傢伙心情有多麼高昂，一看到醫生必哭無疑，連護士小姐都認識了這個愛哭的小孩，咚馬麻有口難辯這小子其實平常並不愛哭.....
我們幾番抽絲剝繭後，猜測咚咚應該是透過辨識醫生脖子上的聽診器來確認這就是醫生，所以前些日子找了一組聽診器讓咚咚玩，讓他學著透過聽診器去聽自己的心跳，讓他自己試著把玩聽診器，希望可以透過對未知事物的認知與了解，進而減少他的恐懼。
這幾天咚咚有點兒流鼻涕，於是早上帶了小傢伙找醫生去，很神奇地，進了診間，咚咚沒哭，坐到醫生面前，咚咚看著醫生的聽診器說要拿拿，呵呵，咚咚不怕了！
出了診間去領藥時，護士還很讚賞地說小傢伙今天沒哭耶！
咚馬麻當然很高興解開了咚咚的心結，釋放了他對醫生的恐懼感，但也深刻認知到為人父母真是項複雜的大工程，要懂的知識與資訊千萬種，還要十八般武藝逐一俱全，真的不容易，陳咚咚才一歲三個月大，咚馬麻的心臟越來越強壯，也可想而知往後要兵來將擋、水來土淹的本事得更強大，加油啦，為人父母者一起加油吧！

小精靈咚的新餐桌椅

為了讓小精靈咚培養良好的用餐習慣，所以也要給他適當的用餐環境，​蒙特梭利的作法是給小朋友適高的小桌小椅，讓他可以自己坐上椅子​，吃完飯就自己離開，讓小朋友擁有一定的獨立自主性，而不是用highchair將他束縛在大人的餐桌旁邊；


把拔馬麻找了一些家具賣場後購入了一組小桌小椅，簡單的餐桌椅，組裝還是耗費了咚阿母一番力氣... 只能說作人阿母不容易啊 !


根據報導，有著越鮮豔色彩的家具油漆毒性越高，所以還是回歸純樸，用最簡單的白色囉。

 小桌子邊緣黑嘛嘛的手是桌角防護套。

椅背上的應該是一隻小松鼠(or小貓咪)跟一隻小狗狗吧​!

期待明早小精靈咚的第一頓餐點可以快樂地在這個新餐桌椅上渡過 !

Potty training tips

If you're afraid your child will still be in diapers by the time he or she gets married, you'll take comfort in these suggestions from BabyCenter parents. They've found creative and original ways to make potty training easier — and more fun.

Try a tune
We used the Once Upon a Potty video for our daughter. We sang the tune from the video all the time, especially when she went to the potty. She loved it. — Dianne

Sing their praises
We made up a little song that we sang every time our daughter sat on the potty. She loved it. When she finished, we would sing a different song identifying what she had done and telling her how proud we were of her. We also included several rounds of applause. It wasn't too long before she used the potty every time! — Christie

Read together
Lucy and I went to the bookstore and she picked out five books she really liked. We called these the potty books, and she could read them only when she sat on the potty. — Amy

Use a special potty
My second child caught on in two weeks. Her potty had a square in the bowl, which turned into a star every time fluid hit it. That was her big challenge, to make a star, and it became a game for her. — Angela

We found a wonderful training aid called Tinkletoonz. It plays happy music when hit with number one or number two. We had a lot of difficulty for several months, but this method worked like a dream. It is available at www.tinkletoonz.com. — Marion

Try a timer
My biggest help was to be consistent. We used a timer to help us both remember to go potty. We started with every 20 minutes, and as I could see he was needing to go less, gradually increased the time. Eventually, he would tell me he needed to go before the timer went off, or say he didn't need to when it did. Then we'd set the timer for five or 10 more minutes and try again. — Amy

Set up target practice
We put a flushable item, such as Cheerios or Fruit Loops, in the toilet. (You can also use shaving cream or colored ice cubes.) The game for our son was to aim and shoot. Rewards were based on accuracy and number of downed Cheerios (Fruit Loops added the extra challenge of shooting a particular color). It was fun and challenging, and did wonders for his accuracy! With BMs, we told him the game was to send in the backup troops (no pun intended) to finish the job with torpedoes. I doubt this would work with girls, but Alex took less than a week to be fully day-trained. — Roxann

The colored water trick
We dyed the toilet water with red or blue food coloring; it changes to orange or green and they love knowing that they did this. — Amy

Make them feel proud
With my daughter, I tried to focus on verbal praise: "What a big girl thing to do!" "You must be so proud of yourself." "Do you want to call Grandma to tell her?" "Give me a high five!" — Kirsten

With our son, the best and most motivational reward was calling in the dog to look at what he'd done in the potty! — Sharon

Use treats and surprises
Our daughter wasn't very consistent with toilet training until we introduced the surprise bag. We got a bunch of inexpensive toys and stickers and put them in a colorful gift bag. Every time she used the toilet, we would clap and tell her what a great job she did and let her pick one surprise out of the bag. We kept it up for about a week and a half, and when the surprises ran out she just kept on using the potty. We continued to praise her and she quickly forgot the surprise bag. I can honestly say that toilet training was painless and quick with this method, and I plan to use it again with my next child. — Jamie

I collected a bunch of inexpensive little toys in a dark pillowcase (so it wouldn't be see-through). When it came time to toilet train my 3-year-old son (an idea he was extremely resistant to), I would let him take one item from the pillowcase every time he went poop on the potty. This worked so quickly that within three weeks he was completely trained. Unfortunately, this method is not working with my daughter, who just turned 3. Why not? I don't get it. — Merita

We kept a container of our daughter Morgan's favorite little candy treat on her dresser. If she successfully used the potty, she would receive three of them (we'd let her pick the colors as well). Within a month she was using the potty regularly, with few accidents, and not long after that she was trained. — Lisa

My 28-month-old really loved my nail polish. I found some at the grocery store that would come right off when she washed her hands, so I let my toddler paint her fingernails every time she peed in the potty. I told her that when she pooed she could have some of Mommy's polish, which wouldn't wash off, on one finger. Ten days later, she was completely potty trained. — Lisa

What worked for my daughter, in just one week, was the treasure box/chest idea. I bought inexpensive toys such as puzzles, plastic animals, squirt guns, chalk, and a bug-catching container. When I got home we decorated the plastic container and I explained to her that when she went on the potty she'd get to pick a prize. She was so excited, and after just a week we had 100 percent success. — jamienicole87

Celebrate with stickers
To encourage our son Alexander to use the potty, we put a drawing of a racetrack on the wall (an approach suggested by his preschool). Every time he used the potty he got to place a sticker on the racetrack. When the racetrack was filled with stickers, he got to pick a toy at the store as a reward. — Cheryl

Put your child in charge
When my 18-month-old started going into the bathroom and closing the door, I knew she was about ready to toilet train. I would let her go in and use her potty, dump it into the big toilet, and put it up in the sink for me to rinse out. — Katherine

Make flushing fun
I began potty training my first child at about 20 months and am now in the process of training our second. One easy and excellent incentive is letting them flush the potty if they go. You need to establish a rule that this is the only time they get to flush. This is a simple and easy reward, and develops a needed habit. — Deanna

Sitting solution
We put our son Nick on the big potty backwards. The potty-chair was too hard for him to use (without the little guard, he would pee on the floor, and with it, he had trouble sitting down because his legs were so chubby). My mother came up with the idea of putting him backwards. That way he automatically aimed in the right place, and he had the back of the toilet to hold on to. If he had to go poopy he just scooted his bottom up a little more toward the tank. He thought it was so funny he wanted to do it all the time. It took about a month, and he never had an accident after that. — Melissa

Throw out the diapers
As a preschool teacher and mom, one of the best toilet training tips I can offer is to resist the temptation of using disposable "underwear," such as Pull-Ups, all the time. The children don't get uncomfortable when they are wet, and I've noticed that it severely prolongs potty training. Of course every child is different, but this is definitely a trend I've noticed while working with a gaggle of 20 2 1/2-year-olds! — Jenny

I put painter's plastic down on the carpets, then took off my 16-month-old's diaper. There were a number of accidents, but the cleanups were quick and easy because of the plastic. She soon caught on and was happy not to be in uncomfortable diapers! — Carmen

I had my son pick out underwear with his favorite character, Thomas the Tank Engine, on them. Then I told him not to get Thomas wet. It worked immediately! — Mania

My son was fully toilet trained at 3, except he wouldn't go poo in the toilet. I tried everything, and asked everyone. Finally one day we were shopping and he asked for boxers. I told him that if we got these he would have to use the toilet or it would get all over the place. That seemed to be the magic thing because ever since then he has had no more accidents. — Maile

I let my daughter wear undies every day until naptime, but I put plastic pants over them to prevent messes. In the beginning she wet several times a day and didn't like the feeling. I also gave her a nickel for her piggy every time she sat on the potty. She was trained by 20 months. — Rose

My daughter tortured me for months, using the potty successfully one day, then demanding diapers the next. Finally I told her that the pack of diapers we had just bought was the last, and I wasn't buying any more. We then picked out training pants. When we got down to the last few diapers, I again emphasized that they were the last and when they were gone there wouldn't be any more. We then went to training pants and to Drypers "sleeping undies" at night. She had a few accidents the first week and has been trained ever since! — Margaret

Dress her in dresses
A little trick with girls: I put my girl in dresses for about three weeks while we were training. It was easier for her to get ready for the potty and allowed for quick decisions when she was in the middle of playing. — Lisa

Give up to get results
Our daughter was 2 1/2 when we finally got her trained. We tried everything in the book. She wanted to wear underwear but not go to the potty. Finally we said, "Go ahead and do what you want." Two days later, she started using the potty on her own, with no encouragement from us! — Tasha

Potty training: What doesn't work

Reviewed by Sarah Pearson, M.D., August 2006

To make potty training as smooth a process as possible for you and your toddler, take a moment to learn about not only what works, but what doesn't:

Starting too soon

Starting potty training before your toddler is ready will only make it more difficult and prolong the process. There's no magic time when it's right to begin. Most toddlers have the necessary physical and mental skills between 18 and 24 months, while some aren't ready until they're closer to age 3 or even 4. Keep an eye out for physical, cognitive, and behavioral signs that your toddler is set to give it a try.

It may take up to three months to potty-train your child, and it's important to be patient and supportive throughout. If you've been trying for three months without success, your toddler may not be ready — wait a few weeks and try again.

Starting at the wrong time

It's not a good idea to begin training a week before the new baby is due, when you're changing caregivers, or during any other disruptive time in your child's life. Toddlers are creatures of routine, and any changes to the usual program are likely to cause setbacks.. So wait until things have settled down before you start.

Putting on the pressure

If your toddler has started to show an interest in potty training, that's great. But don't push her to get through it faster than she can handle. If she gets nervous, she could start holding in her stool, which can lead to constipation and other problems.

Let her take her time and get used to this new, multipart process step by step. She'll move from one stage to the next at her own speed. It's fine to try to motivate with gentle reminders and encouragement, but if she balks, don't push it.

Following your mother-in-law's timetable

It will get harder with each week, but no matter how many times you hear your parents, your in-laws, or someone else from an earlier generation tell you that you should hurry up and start training, let it roll off your back.

Potty training methods have changed a lot in the last 40 years, and what was standard practice when you were a child is no longer the norm. These days it's typical to wait for signals your child is ready rather than impose a schedule of your own. And research suggests children can't voluntarily control the muscles for their bladder and rectum until they're at least 18 months old.

So if you hear any more stories about Cousin Jim's son who was trained by his first birthday, smile, nod, and say, "We have a plan. We're not worried about it." For support and advice from other parents, visit our potty training community forum.

Punishing your child

It won't accomplish a thing to get angry or penalize your toddler if she's not interested in training, won't sit on the potty, has an accident, or has any of the other common problemskids have while potty training. Setbacks are natural, and scolding will only make her less interested in training — she'll be afraid any mistakes will upset you. If you can, respond to messes and other challenges calmly — and if you can't, bite your tongue and count to ten, then try again.

Potty training in three days or less

It sounds like a dream or a gimmick, doesn't it? The idea that your child could get comfortable using the potty in a few days – or even one afternoon – may seem unbelievable to parents expecting potty training to be a lengthy and difficult process.

But "quick-training" works for many parents – and it isn't a recent trend. Psychologists Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx published the book that started it all, Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, in 1974.

Since then, numerous experts have spun off their own accelerated potty training methods. Here we'll explain one technique -- the "potty training in three days" strategy outlined in Julie Fellom's Diaper Free Toddlers program – and give step-by-step instructions on how to make it work for you.

One thing to keep in mind: Using this or other quick-training methods doesn't mean that your child will be perfectly potty trained in days. Instead, "success" is more likely to mean that your child is using the potty rather than diapers, but he may still have accidents and you'll need to help him with parts of the process.

Helping your child become fully comfortable using the potty independently – and teaching steps such as how to pull his pants down and back up, empty the potty, and wash his hands – probably will take months of follow-up effort. (And some skills, such as pulling pants up and down without help, won't be possible for younger toddlers.)

It's best to think of the three days as the kick-off to an ongoing process. The most important thing to remember is that there's no "correct" way to potty train your child – except for the one that works for you and your family.

About the Diaper Free Toddlers program

Fellom, a San Francisco preschool teacher, started Diaper Free Toddlers in 2006 after potty training more than 100 children. Her primary motivation is to keep disposable diapers out of landfills by helping parents potty train their children earlier. Her method can work for kids as young as 15 months old, and is most effective for those younger than 28 months, Fellom says.

To participate in her program, parents (or a single parent and another supportive adult, such as a grandparent or caregiver) attend a two-hour class in the evening. Then each family has its own three-day potty training weekend at home. Within a week or two after the long weekend, Fellom says, children will be able to reliably go to the potty to pee or poop and have few, if any, accidents.

If you can't take Fellom's San Francisco-based class, you can still put her method to work for you. See the "How to potty train in three days" section below.

First: Are you ready for potty training?

Fellom's technique requires commitment, focus, and dedication. It's a "bare-bottomed" method, meaning that for three months after you initiate potty training, your child will need to go naked below the waist when he's at home and wear just loose-fitting pants with nothing underneath when he's out and about or at daycare.

Diapers and training pants are okay for nap time and bedtime, but if you rely on them more often you'll undo your potty training progress, Fellom says.

"If you really want this to work, it only works naked," Fellom says. "There are absolutely no pants in the house for the first three months."

That said, some parents aren't comfortable with this requirement and find ways to work around it. Check out the comments section at the bottom of this article for their tips.

What you'll need for your potty training weekend

You'll need standalone potty chairs to use at home (ideally one for every main area where you spend time, plus any bathrooms), plenty of water or diluted juice to drink, and snacks that encourage peeing (either salty ones that make you thirsty, such as crackers, chips, and cheese puffs, or foods with high water content such as watermelon and Popsicles).

You'll also want to have supplies for cleaning up accidents (such as rags, cleaning solution, and a plastic bucket) and several pairs of loose-fitting pants for your child to wear when you go out of the house.

Optional: It's helpful to have a compact, portable travel potty to take out and about, though you could use a small standalone potty chair instead. 

You may want to put a small towel or absorbent pad over your car seat to protect against accidents. Some parents use products such as the Piddle Pad, but Fellom recommends a small sheepskin like the ones sold at Ikea. Cut the sheepskin in half, then cut it to fit around the car seat straps and buckle, and you'll have a very absorbent, washable, reusable pad.

Finally, if it's cold where you live, you may want to have space heaters on hand, as well as kneesocks or leg warmers – such as BabyLegs – for your child to wear so he'll stay warm while he's bare-bottomed at home.

How to potty train in three days

A month or so before you start:

Check that your child is demonstrating signs that he's ready for potty training. For Fellom, this includes staying dry for two or more hours at a time, asking to use the potty, refusing to be diapered, and pooping at a regular time each day. Fellom prefers to use her method with children younger than 28 months, saying that after this age they may be more resistant to potty training, but she also works with older kids.

"It's pretty much guaranteed to work for children who try it before 28 months," Fellom says. "The closer you get to age 3, the less likely it is to work."

Clear your schedule and plan to spend an entire long weekend – all three days – focused on potty training. Cancel regular weekend activities, and make sure your potty training partner can be around all the time for at least the first two days to help out.

Make up a "potty dance" with your potty training partner. The goal is to celebrate your child's successes and give him an incentive to continue, so the dance can be anything from a modified end-zone chicken dance to a full-on rumba with accompanying song – whatever feels right to you.

Two to five weeks before your potty training weekend, start educating your child about using the potty. When you, your partner, or another family member needs to use the bathroom, take your child along so he can observe how you pull down your pants and underwear, sit on the potty, pee or poop into it, wipe yourself, pull up your pants and underwear, flush the toilet, and wash your hands. You can even have your partner accompany you and your child into the bathroom and do the potty dance for you after you go.

"If the parents do the potty dance for each other, the child understands that it's fun and sort of a 'family event' when a family member uses the potty," Fellom says.

You can also use family pets to demonstrate the concept of going to the potty to your child. Point out when your pet is going to the potty in an appropriate place, such as a litter box or a spot outside.

Buy several potty chairs or arrange to borrow some from friends and relatives. Put a potty in every main room and bathroom in your home.

The week before you start:

Show your child a stack of diapers and explain that starting Saturday (or whenever you schedule your three days to begin), there will be no more need for diapers and that he can be naked and diaper-free. Present this as a fun and exciting development, Fellom advises, as in, "When these are all gone, you don't have to wear diapers anymore! You can be naked!"

"One of the reasons this method works so well -- and why it's called Diaper Free Toddlers -- is that children this age love to be naked. They don't give a hoot about potty training. Their goal is to be naked and diaper-free," Fellom says.

On day one of potty training:

Get up with your child as soon as he wakes up. For the rest of the day, have him go naked below the waist. You and your partner spend the day taking turns watching your child for signs that he needs to pee or poop. When he starts to go, whisk him to the nearest potty.

Throughout the day, have everyone eat salty snacks or foods with high water content and drink a lot of liquids so they have to pee often.

Any time you or your partner needs to use the bathroom, take your child in with you. Demonstrate how you pull down your pants and underwear, sit on the potty, pee or poop into it, wipe yourself, pull up your pants and underwear, flush the toilet, and wash your hands.

Celebrate your child's success any time he gets a "hit" on the potty – meaning that some amount of pee or poop, even a few drops, goes into the potty rather than on the floor. When this happens, do your potty dance. You can also give praise, high-fives, and so on. After ten to 12 hits, Fellom says, kids usually get it and start to use the potty independently.

If your child has an accident, don't say, "It's okay." Instead, say in a mildly disappointed voice, "Poop/pee goes in the potty," and help your child clean it up by placing your hand over his. But don't yell at him or shame him for having accidents: They will happen.

Before nap time and bedtime, tell your child it's time to go potty (never ask your child, because he'll usually say no). Put a diaper on your child before he goes to sleep, unless you feel confident that he'll remain dry.

On day two of potty training:

Follow the instructions for day one. The only difference is that on day two you can all go outside together for one hour in the afternoon. Wait until your child pees in the potty, then head out immediately.

"You want to link using the potty with getting to leave the house," Fellom says. This way you can "train your child to pee on command" before you go out.

When you go out, have your child wear loose pants with nothing underneath – no diapers, training pants, or underwear. Your goal is to make it out and home accident-free, without having to use the potty while you're out, but bring spare clothes in case you're not so lucky.

Fellom advises sticking close to home and not going in the car. Take a walk in your neighborhood (even just around the block) or head to a nearby park. Bring a portable travel potty with you, in case your child says he needs to go while you're out, but that's fairly unlikely at this early stage.

On day three of potty training:

Follow the instructions for day one, but on day three your family can go out for an hour in the morning and another hour in the afternoon. Each time, have your child use the potty just before leaving the house.

Again, when you're out have your child wear loose pants with nothing underneath. Bring your travel potty and a change of clothes.

After your potty training weekend

After the long weekend, expect that your child will usually take himself to the potty when he has to go, or tell you or your partner that he needs to do so. But to seal the deal, some follow-up needs to happen.

For the next three months, have your child go naked below the waist when you're at home. (You can use diapers for naptime and nighttime as needed.) When out – including at daycare – have your child wear loose pants with nothing underneath.

Fellom believes that training pants and underpants feel like diapers to a child, and that using them before three months have passed encourages your child to start peeing in them again. After three months with no accidents, your child can start wearing underpants and no longer needs to go bare-bottomed at home.

When you're out and about, keep your portable travel potty in the car and be aware of public bathrooms nearby. You can use a potty training seat on public toilets if you like (the kind that fits over the toilet seat and helps kids feel more secure on adult-size toilets), but it's not necessary. Instead, just help steady your child on the toilet and wash your hands and your child's afterward.

What if your potty training weekend doesn't do the trick?

If your child doesn't have the hang of using the potty after your potty training weekend, Fellom recommends waiting six to eight weeks and trying again.

Says Fellom: "If your child is having less than a 75 percent success rate or worse, or doesn't seem to notice the pee running down her leg, stop and try again later."

Pros and cons of potty training in three days

The upside

Fellom's potty training weekend can be a helpful and easy-to-follow way to jump-start your potty training process. If you’ve dreaded potty training, worried about how to start, or wondered how to teach your child to actually use the potty rather than just sit on it, Fellom's approach may be a godsend.

Even with follow-up and setbacks, the method works quickly compared with other approaches. This has many benefits: You'll save yourself time and frustration, your child will be proud of his accomplishment and independence, and you'll save money and help the planet by eliminating diapers earlier.

Fellom's approach doesn't use treats or other rewards (other than an enthusiastic potty dance), so it can help you avoid having to bribe your child into using the potty.

This method accentuates the positive and provides opportunities for celebration right from the start – you dance exuberantly even when just a little poop or pee makes it into the potty. This helps make potty training fun and exciting for your child, and may win over a child who has resisted using the potty or never shown interest.

The downside

Being mostly housebound for three days while you watch your child's every move and whisk him to the potty is draining. (It gets easier, however, once your child learns to take himself to the potty, which can happen after the first day or so of training).

It may be hard for two working parents to both get the day off to devote to potty training and, if it doesn't work the first time around, to take another day off six to eight weeks later.

Depending on your childcare situation, it may be hard to complete the follow-up process. You may have to negotiate with your childcare provider to keep your child out of diapers, underwear, and training pants while he's in their care. 

The requirement that you keep your child bare-bottomed while at home may be inconvenient or downright difficult – particularly if you live in a cold climate and are trying Fellom's method in the wintertime. To avoid skyrocketing heating bills or a chilly child, you may want to wait for warm weather before having your potty training weekend.

Tips for potty training success

To make Fellom's method work for you, parents who've used it advise:

"Have a no-returns attitude. You have to say this is totally it and be fully committed that weekend." – Antje

"Don't spend so much time dreading it. It went so much easier than we ever thought it would. If I'd known how easy it was I'd have investigated it sooner. [Using Fellom's approach] totally took away our fear about potty training." – Teresa

"Pick a part of your house that has wood, tile, or linoleum floors that are easy to clean. Set up a bunch of your child's toys and activities and get comfortable. We spent almost the whole weekend in our kitchen and it worked really well – we could clean up accidents easily and keep the room warm with a space heater. We also made cookies!" – Marcella

"Make it a party atmosphere ... something exciting [for your children]." – Antje

"Think, 'I'd rather suffer through three exhausting days than suffer for months.'" – Jeanine

Other potty training approaches

If you're interested in quick-training, here are some alterations to Fellom's method that might make the process work better for you:

• Instead of a potty dance, use other rewards, such as stickers, treats, or the promise of big-kid underwear.
• Instead of taking your child into the bathroom with you, use a wet-on-command doll to demonstrate the process of peeing on the potty. Toilet Training in Less Than a Dayexplains how to do it.
• To get help, check out websites and books from experts like Narmin Parpia and Teri Crane. If you're in the Chicago area, you can consider Wendy Sweeney's Booty Campprogram.

If you decide against the quick-training approach, there are plenty of other options for potty training. If you'd like to start earlier, when your child is still a baby, there's infant potty training and pediatrician Jill M. Lekovic's Diaper-Free Before 3 program, based on the 2006 book of the same name.

There are also plenty of ways to train toddlers and older kids more gradually. Check out our information on potty training your toddler and potty training your preschooler for signs of readiness, do's and don'ts, ways to start, handling accidents, potty training boys and girls, and more.

達克羅士音樂節奏教學法簡介

達克羅士音樂節奏教學法簡介

   「達克羅士音樂節奏教學法」（Dalcroze Eurhythmics）為世界三大音樂教學法之一（另二種為奧福及高大宜），且為其中歷史最悠久者。其特色為教授者以鋼琴即興(在鋼琴上即席創作)方式教學，而學生則以身體律動來體驗之。

Eurhythmics 為希臘文，原文 eu 為 good 美好之意，全文直譯是為「美好的節奏」。歐洲稱之為「La rythmique」，北美稱「Eurhythmics」，亞洲則稱為「Dalcroze Eurhythmics」。

本節奏教學法（Dalcroze Eurhythmics）是瑞士集音樂家、教育家、作曲家、指揮家、聲樂家及詩人於一身的艾彌爾．傑克－達克 羅士 博士（Dr. Emile Jaques-Dalcroze,  1865-1950）早在1905年間所創。達氏在母親傑克．茱麗葉（Julie Jaques）的潛移默化下，精研培斯塔洛奇（J. H. Pestalozzi）所提出以「觀察、體驗、思考」為步驟的學習過程（培氏是第一個重視兒童成長經驗的教育家），而主張兒童的發展應是身心與道德並重，頭、手、心須同時被訓練。所以，達氏本著「以身體經驗形成音樂意識」一實驗基礎，對人類天賦的自然樂器－歌喉（聲音）與身體給予音樂基礎訓練，訓練學生的歌喉或身體成為一個充滿表達力的樂器，並讓知性（理論）與身體實際結合體驗後，做為日後更進一步的創作（即興）能力的準備，以及提昇將來在音樂、舞蹈與戲劇的表演能力。本教學法在瑞士日內瓦市的日內瓦音樂院實驗成功而正式公諸於世。  

本教學法雖以節奏為名(Eurhythmics 為希臘語，意為『新的美好的節奏』)，實際上卻包括『音感訓練』、『聽力－節奏－動作』和『鋼琴即興』等三種課程。本教學法與其他音樂教學法不同之處，除了在於它用生動、立體的方法（非僅紙上作業）來作基本音樂要素的訓練，使得學生們具有完整的音樂理念及身體經驗，此透過身體經驗的學習方式，不僅可以幫助了解自己，且經由建立信心而達到開創自我的境地外；更在平常的課程中，涵蓋了多元化的肌肉覺、視覺、感覺等，知覺與識覺的整體統合，訓練學生如何使用高度的專注力、判斷力、記憶力及瞬間反應、肢體統合能力。由於不論任何樂器的演奏，都需透過肢體將心裡所想的呈現出來，因此肢體與意識想法的統合更是重要。達克 羅士 博士認為動作體驗是發覺音樂素材、感應音樂的媒介；當動作成為聲音的外在表現時，抽象的概念自然也就具體化了；學生在掌握了自己的動作與節奏之後，都更能夠清晰而有力地表達自己的想法；而藉眾人合作所完成的『聞樂起舞』（由動作來呈現音樂內容及美感），更是一種社會觀的培養。所以學習達克羅士的學生們不僅在音樂上具有清晰的思考能力和鮮活的想像力，可無限拓展其創造力，更能培養自信、主動、機智、堅強與合群的領袖氣質之人格。

1905 年，達氏首度對外公開在當時堪稱大膽先進的教學法（所有學員一律光腳、著無袖韻律裝）之後，即自 1906 年起便在瑞士日內瓦開始培訓師資。 1910 年，達氏獲得兩位對推行教育工作不遺餘力的德國商賈贊助，在德國的海勒洛成立達克羅士音樂院，造就了無數日後在廿世紀藝術界大放異采之菁英；在舞蹈界，如現代舞宗師瑪莎葛萊姆及保羅泰勒之前輩瓦斯拉夫尼金斯基、瑪莉蘭伯特；在音樂界，如拉赫曼尼諾夫、潘德拉夫斯基、梅湘、布雷茲；在音樂教育界，如瑪麗蒙特梭利、卡爾奧福以及數位演劇界大師，如史蒂芬史匹柏；在文藝界，如保羅克拉德、喬治伯納蕭（蕭伯納）。其影響力，甚至觸及醫學上的音樂治療法。

在幼兒（零歲）或國小兒童（七歲～十二歲）教學上可將三者融為一體，同時訓練音感和身體節奏並導入旋律和節奏動作的即興；高年級的小朋友如經過有系統的達氏教學法訓練亦可帶入鋼琴即興或其他樂器即興的課程。國中、高中、高職的音樂課可將達氏教學理論融入樂理、樂曲教唱及音樂欣賞等課程，採用競賽的活動方式，提昇學習情緒及效果。大專音樂系可將達氏教學理論運用在視唱聽寫、音感訓練、音樂基礎訓練、音樂概論、和聲學、對位法、鍵盤和聲、伴奏、合奏及音樂欣賞等專業課程上，使學生能將理論與實際做深入的領悟及體會，達到學習的目的。

對幼小孩童，達氏認為最好由遊戲來增進其注意力、集中力、手腳統合能力及團體互動和意識清晰的表達能力，並且能夠同時注意到生動、清楚地表達聲音、動作及感覺等的色彩些微差異及改變。

達克羅士的音樂節奏教學法利用遊戲方式的設計，幫助各種年齡層的學生發展迅捷敏銳且精準的：耳（聆聽）、頭腦（分析）及身體四肢（根據其音樂體驗來傳達其要素）及其銜接能力。因此在達克羅士所有的練習中，音樂本身是主導者，而教師只是扮演教練的角色。

將達氏音樂節奏遊戲運用在大班教學的音樂課上，有下列的好處：

1.節奏遊戲可發展客觀的評估能力：

參與者在節奏遊戲中可觀察他們自己的行為舉止並決定是否需要做正確的抉擇。經由玩的過程，他們能夠逐漸學會評估自己的技巧進而增進個人能力。此時，指導者需適度地減低其下命令的程度，多鼓勵孩子們自己做。

2.節奏遊戲幫助孩子發展其小肌肉及大肌肉的活動，由於強迫分別使用身體兩側部位，也能達到訓練其平衡感及肢體統合能力。

3.節奏遊戲能引導增強對於不同指示反應的靈活度，同時培養團體意識，共同達成目標。

4.經由節奏遊戲，參與者會注意到每個人的技巧程度，並產生尊重別人的意識，塑造良好公民素涵。

5.節奏遊戲強調要成為能者大師，過程是成長強壯必經的路，因為第一次參與的人，立刻便知道要有熟練的技巧才能贏，而且常經由別人的經驗做腦力激盪，增強自己的能力。

6.節奏遊戲每次的玩法都不相同且無法強記，所以不容易產生厭倦。

7.以即興動作及樂器創作來導向學習的最終目標。

符合達克羅士的音樂遊戲有許多種，以下 3 項為其中必要的項目：

(1) 立即反應：要求參與者仔細聆聽在活動中快速改變的音樂訊號並立即反應之。這項遊戲同時會提昇參與者之專注力及音樂記憶能力。

(2) 聞樂起舞：要求參與者將音樂中的速度、力度、重音及其脈動等無數的色澤變化用動作來表現。這項遊戲會發展其多變性及具創造性的回應能力。

(3) 卡　　農：參與者要熟記並重覆先前的一組動作，同時繼續注意聆聽記憶新的一組動作。它要求表達及一心兩用（同時做現在與未來的事）的自主能力。

1905 年，達氏首度對外公開在當時堪稱大膽先進（所有學員一律光腳且著無袖韻律裝）的教學法之後，於 1906 年便在瑞士日內瓦開始培訓師資。 1910 年，達氏獲得兩位對推行教育工作不遺餘力的德國商賈贊助，在德國的海勒洛成立達克羅士音樂院，造就了無數日後在廿世紀藝術界大放異采之菁英：在舞蹈界，如現代舞宗師瑪莎葛萊姆及保羅泰勒之前輩瓦斯拉夫尼金斯基、瑪莉蘭伯特；音樂界如拉赫曼尼諾夫、潘德拉夫斯基、梅湘、布雷茲；音樂教育界如瑪麗蒙特梭利、卡爾奧福及數位演劇界大師，如史蒂芬、史匹柏；文藝界如保羅克拉德、喬治伯納蕭（蕭伯納）；其影響力甚至觸及醫學上的音樂治療法上。

這些受了達氏節奏教學法啟迪薰陶的大師們，有的是從小就進此音樂院，有的是已成名又慕名而來求教，他們均受到該教學法深遠的影響，而將其中的精神運用在各專業上而留名歷史。許多學生同時也協助達氏在英國、俄國及歐洲各國成立學校，由於第一次世界大戰爆發，許多學校不幸在戰爭中遭受摧毀，而達氏本人也因政治因素被遺返瑞士，而於 1915 年在日內瓦成立目前國際達克羅士教學法的總部－傑克－－達克羅士音樂院（Institute Jaques - Dalcroze Geneve）。

達氏節奏教學法其最終目的是在訓練學生使用上天賦與人類最自然的樂器－－歌喉及身體來做即興，也就是旋律的即興及身體動作（舞蹈）的即興，有了以上兩者的經驗再導入鋼琴或其他樂器的即興，因此該教學法可說是為了訓練學生的即興能力而設計的一套基礎教學法。接受此教學法訓練的學生，不論成人或兒童均需依次循序完成音感訓練、聽力－節奏－動作和即興等課程，它們是三位一體不可劃分的。即先由音感訓練再導入節奏動作，最後集結前二者的學習經驗，導向音樂即興的最高表現－－在鋼琴上即時作曲。

音感訓練

達氏使用結合絕對音感及相對音感之優點所創的「達克羅士音階」來演練音樂上的各種基本課題，如音階、音程、全音、半音、和絃、和聲外音、大小調、調式、調性、轉調和聲、對位及即興。此音階從 C' - C'' 使用羅馬數字，研究每一個音在音階上的位置及技巧，再配上實用和聲，讓學生產生強烈且正確的調性感，作為較深入技巧（如轉調）的準備。在每一節課中，演練了該節的主題之後，再綜合各項學習要點進行即興。

聽力－節奏－動作

該課程共有 34 項課題，涵蓋範圍包括每一課題均需用到的立即反應、時間－空間－精力、速度、速度變化之等級、力度、力度變化之等級等具變數的技巧性課題，以及基本的脈動、重音、基本拍與拍分、音值、增值與減值、二分法及二分法拍子，各種節奏型、 2←→3、 3←→2、規則與不規則之拍分、Crusis 、Anacrusis、Metacrusis、小節、複數拍子、樂句、複節奏（交錯拍子）、不規則拍子（變態拍子）、不規則小節（混合拍子）、不規則樂句、休止符、切分音、補充節奏、 12/8 拍，轉移拍號、自由速度、AB曲式、ABA曲式、輪旋曲、舞曲、卡農及賦格等曲式。各項主題彼此之間相互關聯，每項主題均有深淺程度可供循序漸進學習，見附表「達克羅士節奏教學法三項課程之內容、目標與關係」。達氏使用其獨特的方法，運用耳朵和身體來感受體驗，發展學生的節奏能力和成長其音樂內質，以促成其伸展身體與節奏的即興能力，學生們在老師即興音樂一面聆聽一面以動作來體驗是最理想的學習情境。

使用唸或打節奏的方式學習節奏，容易忽略動作在發展節奏感所扮演的重要角色。除非在連續和具變化的動作經驗中去發展時間感，否則要求計時上的準確，不僅是對兒童，其至對大部分的成人都是很困難的，機械式的打拍子無法涵蓋音樂進行的意義，更無法拿捏精力與感性及把握音樂性的內在節奏。當動作成為聲音的外在表現時，抽象的概念自然也就具體化了，達氏有鑑於此，在讀譜和記譜上有其獨特生動的教法，例如用行走來代表，♫用跑步來代表， 則用跑跳步代表，再由此用交替動作來構成節奏的變化。不論兒童或成人，要能夠真正欣賞這些音樂要素（如力度），在音樂及其他形式的藝術上所扮演的角色，就必需發展整合而全面性的生理反應。兒童若在早期的節奏教育中享受過節奏的自由，將來要進一步了解和掌握現代音樂作品中不規則的拍型組合就不會感到困難，也才有能力欣賞現代音樂中節奏的運用和美感。

即興

有知覺才有學習。因此創造力也依賴所有感官的記憶而激發。雖然早先的動作經驗已成過去，但是對節奏經驗的記憶仍能長久保存在肌肉組織中。兒童從記憶貯藏中重新創造的能力，大部分依賴他們的想像動作、聽覺和視覺的經驗累積；因此重新組合既得的經驗便是動作的一部分。

即興也就是創作，乃集大成的課程。學生在課堂中採用各種形式，即興做出他們耳中所接收到的任何訊息，利用動作、說唱、拍擊、打擊樂器、鋼琴等媒介來體認他們先前自音感及節奏動作課程所學到的音樂概念，並創造出他自己的作品，如是團體用動作來表現的作品，則可視為肢體的交響曲，如是個人抒發自己的意念者，則如現代舞中之獨舞、或是鋼琴即興。

目前採用達克羅士教學法的音樂學府或教學中心，分佈於美國、加拿大、英國、澳洲、日本及歐洲等國家。除了瑞士的達克羅士音樂院本部外，只有紐約的達克羅士音樂院是由創始人－－達克 羅士 教授所親授，專門為培育達克羅士教學法師資所設立的音樂院（見附頁一），具有權威性的地位。其他各機構並未有長達四年的完整訓練課程（註一）僅只利用暑假中一星期或三星期安排進修課程。紐約達克羅士音樂院於 1915 年由傑克－達克 羅士 博士親授成立，甫於1997年聖誕節前夕逝世的前任院長休斯特博士自 1940 年執掌該院長達 55 年，1995－1997年該院由羅伯特．艾布倫森、安．法波、露絲．艾帕森三位教授共同執掌，1998年始則由羅伯特．艾布倫森教授獨任院長。目前北美三大設有達克羅士教學法計畫的學校－匹茲堡卡內基美農大學、紐約茱麗亞音樂院、波士頓隆基音樂院，以及日本東京國立大學的領導者均為休斯特博士的得意門生。 謝鴻鳴 老師（Mindy Shieh）亦是親授於休斯特博士，並且是第一位從紐約達克羅士音樂院取得其國際成人及兒童教師資格之華裔人士（License 1993 年），且具有在國際各 國 教授成人或兒童達克羅士教學法之資格。

謝老師臨回國前，已屆 90 高齡的恩師諄諄訓誨，「不論何時，每日除了教學，自己一定要研修，要讓達克羅士的薪火繼續流傳下去，並在台灣生根茁壯」，雖然恩師已於1997年聖誕節前夕逝世，然謹此永銘在心，並朝此方向努力邁進。

註一：瑞士的達克羅士音樂院及紐約達克羅士音樂院均設有四年的訓練課程，此課程乃專授要成為該教學法之合格教師所需之彈奏（即興）技巧、音感訓練及聽力－節奏－動作之能力。有些具深厚音樂基礎及教學經驗之音樂工作者亦有可能縮短訓練時間取得教學資格。

資料來源：http://blog.roodo.com/dalcroze

台灣國際達克羅士音樂節奏研究學會網誌

Why does my child get angry when she doesn't get her way?

Susanne Ayers Denham

developmental psychologist

Try not to take it personally. Your toddler is undergoing some amazing changes right now and needs to be able to express her emotions. In the beginning, she wasn't aware of herself as a separate entity, a person with preferences and dislikes. Starting early in her second year, though, as her language skills and intellect developed, she began to discover her individuality, realizing that she was a "me" and an "I." That "me" wants her way, but hasn't yet learned self-control.

Imagine someone thwarting you when you tried to get something you really wanted — a raise at work, a much-needed vacation, or even your place in line at the bank. You'd probably get mad, just like your toddler does. But as an adult, you're able — at least ideally — to put your disappointment into perspective. Your child can't. Right now, every goal is important to her, and she doesn't understand that she may get what she wants later — but not right now, when she wants it. The promise of a future payoff ("We can't get you a treat now, but after we finish grocery shopping we can go to the toy store") doesn't soothe an impatient toddler since she has only a vague concept of time and exists primarily in the present.

Your child's reactions are a sign that her emotions are maturing as they should be. The intensity and frequency of her anger may also be a function of her temperament. Has she always been quick to take offense, fussy for long periods of time, or difficult to console? Some children, often described as spirited have more intense dispositions that make them more easily upset and more difficult to calm down. Consequently, they may at times seem truly inconsolable.

One thing you can do as a parent is to pick your battles and let her have her way when it makes sense, so that she gets what she wants some of the time. For example, if she demands to bring her stuffed bear and wear mismatched clothes to school, and there's a rule at school saying toys aren't allowed, you can let her choose what she wants to wear and say no to the bear. At least she can feel empowered because she got to make her own decision about what to wear that day.

Or you can try distracting her so she doesn't dwell on her feelings and becomes occupied with another task instead. If she is upset that you won't let her eat chocolate for breakfast, for example, make her laugh by taking a swig of milk and showing off your milk mustache. You'll be surprised at how easily distracted toddlers are. Finally, talk to your toddler about what she feels, and why she can't have what she wants. Explain the reasoning behind your refusal. For example, instead of simply saying "no" to her request for a second helping of pie, tell her, "We don't eat two desserts because that might give us a tummy ache."

What's most important is that you are able to set limits for your child without ruling with an iron fist. When your child is conscious of having reasonable boundaries (and knows that manipulation won't help her get away with anything) but also feels free to express her desires, she'll be able to learn one of life's basic lessons: You don't always get what you want.

How to raise an emotionally intelligent child

Toddlers bring new meaning to the word "mercurial." One moment your child is king of the world, running around full of glee; the next he's a raging bull, crying in utter frustration and hurling his toys across the room. Like many parents, you may find it hard to know just how to respond during these trying times.

Experts believe that these childhood meltdowns are the best opportunities to teach your child at an early age — when he's making leaps and bounds in his emotional growth — how to manage strong feelings and calm himself down. And the secure circle of the family is the first and best place to teach these life lessons.

In his book Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child, psychologist John Gottman says that when you help your child understand and handle overwhelming feelings such as anger, frustration, or confusion, you develop his emotional intelligence quotient, or emotional IQ.

And, says Gottman, a child with a high emotional IQ is better able to cope with his feelings, can bring himself down from emotional high-wire acts, understands and relates well with others, and can form strong friendships more easily than a child with a lower emotional IQ.

Other experts have joined the chorus, touting the role of emotional IQ in helping children become confident, responsible, and successful adults who navigate skillfully through interpersonal relationships.

How can you help raise your child's emotional IQ? Gottman teaches a tactic he calls "emotion coaching," a series of steps you can use to teach your child to analyze feelings and handle conflict. Here's how it works:

Listen with empathy.
Pay close attention to your child when he says how he feels, then mirror what he's shared back to him. If you suspect that your child feels abandoned because you've been spending lots of time with the new baby, for example, ask him if that's what's going on. If he agrees, you can say, "You're right. Mommy's been really busy with the baby."

Then, use examples from your own life to show him you understand what he's said. Tell him about how you felt when your own sibling got to go to the amusement park with your father and you didn't, and how your own mom or dad made you feel better. This tells your child that everyone has these feelings, and that they will pass.

Help your child name his feelings.
With limited vocabulary and rudimentary understanding of cause and effect, toddlers often have trouble describing what they feel. You can encourage your child to build an emotional vocabulary by giving him labels for his feelings. If he's acting disappointed about not being able to go to the park, you might say, "You feel sad about that, don't you?"

You can also let him know that it's normal to have conflicting emotions about something — for instance, he may be both excited and scared during his first week at daycare.

If your child seems sad or upset for no immediate reason, try looking at the big picture and thinking about what might be troubling him. Have you moved recently? Did you and your spouse have an argument in his presence? If you're not sure what's going on, watch and listen to him while he plays. If he makes the Mommy doll shout a lot, you'll have a pretty good idea what's bothering him.

Validate your child's emotions.
Instead of saying, "There's no reason to get so upset" when your child gets mad andthrows a tantrum because he's unable to put together a puzzle, acknowledge how natural his reaction is. Say, "It's really frustrating when you can't finish a puzzle, isn't it?" Telling him his reactions are inappropriate or excessive will make him feel as if he should muzzle them.

Turn tantrums into teaching tools.
If your child gets upset when he hears that he has an appointment with the dentist, help him feel in control by preparing for the visit. Talk with him about why he's afraid, what he can expect during the visit, and why he needs to go. Tell him about a time you had stage fright before a recital or were scared to start a new job and one of your friends made you feel better. Talking through emotions works the same way for children as it does for most adults.

Use conflicts to teach problem-solving.
When your toddler goes head-to-head with you or another child, make his limits clear, then guide him toward a solution. For example, you can say, "I know you're upset with your sister for knocking over your block tower, but you can't hit her. What else can you do if you get mad?"

If your child doesn't have any ideas, give him options. Anger management specialist Lynne Namka advises telling your child to first check his tummy, jaw, and fists to see if they're tight, breathe deeply "to blow the mad out," and to feel good about recovering control. Then, Namka says, help your child use a strong voice to talk his anger out, beginning with something like, "I feel mad when you yell like that." Children should know that it's okay to be angry, as long as they don't hurt other people for that reason.

Set an example by staying calm.
You'll also want to check how you react to your child's display of emotions. It's important not to be verbally harsh when you're angry. Try saying, "It upsets me when you do that," rather than "You make me crazy," so your child understands that the problem is his behavior, not him. Be careful to avoid excessive criticism, which tends to chip away at a child's self-confidence.

And above all else, stay in touch with your own feelings. Some parents ignore their own negative emotions, hoping to spare their children discomfort or difficulty. But hiding your real feelings will only confuse your child. By acknowledging that you're displeased without acting upset, for instance, you show your child that even difficult feelings can be managed.