Today's Tiny Tidbit

"Baby brains are fascinating. Watch this interactive link to see why and how https://www.zerotothree.org/baby-brain-map.html"

"There is no substitute for books in the life of the child." Read together everyday!

About 85% of brain development happens in the first five years of life. The amount of words heard matters! Reading daily enhances development! Read, talk and sing with your kiddo.

Adult vocabulary is largely determined by the number of words heard during the first three years of life.

Reading to a child from infancy helps start a lifelong love of books and helps grow a healthy brain. Repetition enhances brain development!

It's the brain's amazing flexibility throughout a child's first 5 yrs that prepares them to learn about their world.

@Usher hosts webcast for kids on reading & believing in yourself! bit.ly/1CKxrKq

Embrace teachable moments like cooking.

1 in 6 children who are not reading proficiently in third grade do not graduate from high school on time. Read early and read often to start the reading habit.

Encourage high drama! Reading with animation builds children's understanding of how to read with intonation.

Kids don't need fancy toys to stimulate brain development - they need you. Read to them, talk with them.

Play word games with your child. Break down bigger words into smaller parts and have them join in too. Try clapping out the syllables of longer words.

New experiences, new places, new friends & new books can introduce new words to your child's vocabulary.

The more she knows, the better she'll read. The better she reads, the more she'll know.

By age 4, children whose parents talk to them frequently may have heard 30 million more words than their peers. It will be much easier for your child to read words he has heard before.

Babies and toddlers aren't always cooperative and sometimes it's hard to read aloud. I promise it's worth doing! Make it a habit: read aloud every day!

Study finds infants practice words in their minds before they can talk. What a wonder babies are!! huff.to/1rhU7Od

Data from a national study confirms that both school and home are important in determining academic success. But, the HOME is more critical. Involve your children in reading activities every day!!  

Nationally 37% of children arrive in kindergarten without the skills necessary to begin their learning journey. Read, sing, play and talk to your child every day. The more words they hear, the better prepared for school they will be!

When you are reading with your child, if a word’s too long, say it slowly to let your child hear the different parts (syllables) that make up the word.