From Hillary Clinton's Too Small to Fail: Love, Play, Read
Have
you ever noticed how some children (and adults!) can get so absorbed in
a book that the rest of the world seems to disappear around them? A
love for reading can be both fun and educational, and it can start early
in a child’s life.
According to the National Institute for
Literacy, one out of every five children in the United States will
experience a reading or writing problem in school. But children who are
read to on a regular basis from infancy are better prepared to learn in
school and beyond. In fact, the more words that an adult speaks, reads
or sings to a child from birth the better the child’s grasp of language.
Parents
and caregivers can help create a love for reading in their children by
reading a wide variety of books, stories and other materials with their
children every day. For parents who find reading books difficult, there
are many other opportunities to help build a child’s reading and
vocabulary skills. Reading signs out loud while walking through the
grocery store, pointing out words on bus ads, or even flipping through a
book and talking about the pictures can also help build a child’s
understanding of reading. And singing, rhyming and conversation are
great ways to stimulate babies’ brains and expand their grasp of
language.
Research also shows that when parents or caregivers use
“big” words with their children—even if the child seems too young to
understand—they are helping their children learn how to communicate more
effectively.
Resources for Sharing:
- These articles
from PBS Parents offer tips for how to incorporate reading into other
daily activities, like riding in the car or taking a bath.
- Additional fun ways for parents and caregivers to build their children’s literacy skills from Get Ready to Read.
- This article from the American Academy of Pediatrics explains why vocabulary is important to early brain development.
- This op-ed by Cindy McCain and Roberto Llamas explains the word gap and how parents and caregivers can help close it.
Video
Check
out this video produced by the staff of Next Generation and Too Small
to Fail about favorite children’s books—we dare you not to get a little
teary! >>
Have
you noticed how babies try to put everything in their mouths, no matter
the yuck factor? It is one of the many reasons we must remain vigilant
around young children, but it’s also a fascinating peek inside their
active brains. By using their senses—sight, touch, hearing, smell and
taste—young children explore and learn about their world. And this
curiosity offers a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to help
their children learn.
Even from before birth, children are
gathering information about the world around them. Researchers now know
that infants in utero can recognize their mother’s voice, and many
recognize commonly heard sounds and speech patterns. From birth on,
babies use all their senses to catalog what they learn and to develop
their thinking skills. It is during this time that “sensory play” (play
activities that encourage the use of all five senses) becomes important
for later learning.
For example, babies learn to recognize songs
they hear from parents and caregivers and eventually learn to sing
along. And when a parent or caregiver describes the different textures
they encounter—like coarse sand or smooth glass—young children begin to
expand their vocabulary to better describe what they feel.
Parents
and caregivers can encourage sensory play by offering safe, fun
activities inside and outside the home that stimulate baby’s senses.
Baskets filled with scarves or plastic kitchen utensils offer safe, fun
ways for a baby to use sensory play. Also, parents can use everyday
moments—like splashing water during bath time—to encourage exploration
of the world around them.
Resources for Sharing:
Video
Kayden became a social media sensation thanks to her excitement at running in the rain. Check it out, here. >>
A
cuddle. A warm smile. Softly spoken words. All of these things help
babies feel comfortable and secure, and help them learn that they can
trust the adults around them. The more safe and secure babies and young
children feel, the more easily they form healthy relationships with
others, and can turn their attention to learning.
Early brain
development researchers have found that the emotional and social
development of children is as important—if not more important—than their
cognitive development. This is because when children form secure attachments (close
emotional bonds built on love and trust) with parents and caregivers,
they more easily explore the world around them, regulate their own
emotions, and can comfort themselves when needed. If a young child has
formed insecure attachments (emotional bonds characterized by
unpredictability and fear), they may not know how to safely and
appropriately interact with other people and their environment.
The bottom line? Secure attachments help a child build the skills they will need to succeed in school and in their adult lives.
Parents
and caregivers can help build their child’s social and emotional
development in a few simple ways. Even if the reason for crying is
unclear, it is important that a parent or caregiver respond calmly and
affectionately to reassure the child. Established routines are also
important in helping babies feel secure, even if the routines are
adapted from time to time to accommodate a child’s needs. And small
actions—like looking into a baby’s eyes when talking, or gently stroking
their forehead at bedtime—can help increase the sense of bonding for
both parents and child.
Resources for Sharing:
- PBS’s special feature “This Emotional Life” explains why emotional bonding is so important for children’s health and well-being.
- Our blog post on the special role of parents in young children’s lives offers ideas for ways to improve bonding.
- Bonding with fathers is
the focus of this article from Kids Health, which offers ways that
fathers can build strong emotional bonds with young children, too.
We're honoring all of the teachers who have made a difference in our lives—parents and caregivers, too—for World Teacher’s Day on October 5th. Starting Monday, September 29, use #MyFirstTeacher on Twitter to share your best early teacher and what they taught you. We’ll retweet our favorites, so include a photo if you can!
Video
Parents
from the land “Down Under” explain how they bonded—or didn’t—with their
young children (including thoughts from actor Russell Crowe!). >>
