Prenatal baby education

I was in Sibu a few weeks ago, and my dear sister-in law (SIL) asked me if I carried out any “胎教” (I loosely interpret it as “prenatal baby education”). The conversation went something like this:

SIL: Er sao (二嫂, second sister-in-law), did you carry out prenatal baby education?

Me: Eeeerrr… you mean playing music or reading to the baby in the womb?

SIL: Ya things like that. It’s very important you know? (Duh…)

Me: Why important leh?

SIL: My friend said huh she played a piece of music to her baby while in the womb all the time, and her baby could recognise the music years after birth!

Me: Oh, so playing music to the baby prenatally will help a child remembering a piece of music…

SIL: Ya!

Me: Got other benefits or not? (I mean, remembering a piece of music years after birth is not exactly a big benefit…)

SIL: It’s very important lah!

I have to stress here that my SIL is a very caring person and she wants the best for her unborn niece/nephew. She is also a very attractive young lady and a very filial daughter… SIL, you won’t be angry that I record our conversation here hor? ^ ^

*****

Yesterday when I recalled this conversation, I googled the concept online. I keyed in “prenatal baby education” and got a whopping 188,000 results. And when I entered the key word in Chinese, I surprisingly found 5,820,000 results! We Asians are really kiasu, eh?

Some of the prenatal education systems that I found boast of improving a child’s intellectual, social, creative and emotional capacities even in the womb. Some believe that playing music religiously to the baby in the womb will make him/her the next Mozart. Others claim that certain education programs will churn out super babies eg start walking at 6 months old, talking at 8 months etc.

With all due respect, I am more ready to accept the other school of thought (aka the Regallian school of prenatal baby education). To me, prenatal baby education is:

Loving and accepting the baby

*****

Be happy

Be goofy, sista! ^ ^

*****

Living an upright life

Read your Bible, say your prayers, live with a clear conscience

*****

Eating healthily and staying healthy

Ahem, the photo here indicates, “Do not be like me!” Take more fresh food, eat a balanced diet, exercise… Remember, do not be like me!

*****

So my dear SIL, I do carry out prenatal baby education and I am fully confident that my child is going to be a genius!