First advice: Want your child to get ahead?

Wayne County has welcomed its first new baby of the year — and a couple of others as well — since 2008 dawned.

And that offers the opportunity for the rest of us to share a little wisdom for those who are welcoming new family members this year.

So, here we go: If there was one piece of advice you could give parents of a new baby, what would it be?

There are multiple answers — some might say enjoy your child, while others might suggest that starting a scrapbook now will provide happy memories later.

There might even be a trick or two about getting new little ones to sleep through the night.

But there is also another, very important, charge that should be made to every parent who is lucky enough to bring a healthy baby into the world.

Give your child the gift of a love of learning.

You can start right away with music and later on add a story each night before bed. Set the stage for your new son or daughter to love school and learning and be part of his or her exploration and achievement.

Of all the gifts you can give him or her, there is none that will benefit your child more in years to come.

Published in Editorials on January 3, 2008 11:22 AM