Key Message 1: “Taking the time to interact with children through simple, everyday activities are the best ways to get brains firing”.
Rewrite this key message in YOUR own words as a message you would feel comfortable delivering to families. Please feel free to comment on or reply to any other contributions.
Idea sharing - Key messaging 1
Discussion
Positive interactions with the most important adults in a child's life, are extremely valuable in terms of brain development.
It is never too early to read to your baby.
Encourage them to talk and make sounds engaging with them in your everyday life.
If they want to read the same book again that's okay! If they want to read 4 books, read them 4 books.
Your little person loves nothing more than to spend their day with you so don't hesitate to include them in your day to day activities. Narrating your day together is a one way to assist with their learning. Nothing is too silly to talk about, whether it be what you see in the store while buying groceries, talking in the car about the changing traffic lights, etc. Hearing your voice, your tone, your animations, etc. are all beneficial to their learning.
Don't feel like you have to plan formal sessions with your little one, even every day interactions are great for getting their little brain going. Maybe you could talk about the items you pick off the shelf when you are out shopping, or talk about the colours of clothes you are dressing them in at change time?
Use everyday tasks to stimulate your child.
Brain growth of an infant is only possible if the caregiver is fully engaged at every level and opportunity that arises.
Quiet time with a parent relaxing and reading out loud have benefit even as early as when baby is in the womb
Talk to the baby about the shape and colour of the apples and how many you are buying. Count the apples as you place them in a bag/trolley. With an older child, discuss the colours and shapes of the apples. Ask the child if they would like red or green apples. Discuss how many apples you're buying and ask the child to help select the number of apples. Count the apples as they are put in the bag. You may like to ask the child to select and count the apples on their own.
engaging in everyday activities and chatting along with your child
are so important and can be fun as well
We talk to our children and babies on a daily basis so it is never to early to share a story.
As soon as baby is born, start reading. Never too early.
A few times, I come across a little one talking their own language. I love to have a simple conversation with them about whatever they are saying in easy words. "Your shoe? Yes, there is your shoe. Is it on your foot?" Somehow they seem to jabber all the more excitedly, "like wow, this lady is understanding me". Take every opportunity to engage. Turn it into a song is another tool that we use.