Your Baby Brain Toolkit 0-3

What science has learned about the infant brain in the last 30 years is amazing! Magnetic Resonance Imaging can now be done noninvasively. This means babies' brains can be tested while sitting on their parents' laps or comfortably looking at images moving across a screen. These breakthroughs allow scientists to measure many things they previously could not.

One example that comes to light is from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Here's a quote from their website.

In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections form every second. After this period of rapid proliferation, connections are reduced through a process called pruning, which allows brain circuits to become more efficient. In light of these findings, focusing on early childhood only makes sense. -Center for the Developing Child, Harvard

Every second?!? That's a lot of responsibility for parents, grandparents, teachers, child care providers, nannies, and all other caregivers who provide care and education for children during the first few years of their lives.

Facts like these can make us wonder how we can do our best for the children we care for without freaking out and getting anxious ourselves.

Have you noticed that there is a lot of information to sort through on the internet, and much of it contradicts itself? It can be hard to know who to trust.

We at Early Childhood Rocks, a nonprofit organization, want to make it a little bit

easier for you, just because we can. Here's a place to start.

Focus and breathe. Connect with yourself and conjure up what you already know about your child and yourself. Then have fun.

Why?

Problem-solving is learning

Learning is play,

And play is fun.

Problem-solving is the primary engine for infant brain development, both cognitive and emotional. Babies find their way in the world by solving problems through love and attention. Their interactions with you can never be replaced by a computer or AI.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, child care providers, nannies, and all other caregivers deserve a clear, easy-to-implement toolkit with fun, brain-enriching ideas. At Early Childhood Rocks, we respect the caregivers. That's why our tool is free. All you have to do to get it is click on the photo below and start reading.

We guide you through:

4 techniques

• Creating Connections

• Reading w/ Feelings

• Supporting Play

• Setting Boundaries without Blame

Take these 4, use them, and make sure that everyone else in your child's life uses them too.

Free Toolkit!

Thanks for reading this! You hold so much power when you hold a young child. We want you to have the respect you deserve. It's true that the hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world!

Join us in our mission to change the world through early childhood care and education. That way, you'll get a new tip or idea from us every week in your inbox, and we'll be sure to stay in touch. If you're not ready to join our community yet, you can view a complete copy of the toolkit here.

Enjoy!

Nanci J Bradley is an early childhood and family educator, author, teacher, SELF-care facilitator, family aerobics instructor, and an all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, healthy eating, lifelong learning, and most of all, PLAY! She studied early childhood education at Triton College and received her BS in education from NIU in 1986. She received her MA in human development from Pacific Oaks College in 2011. She lives and teaches in Madison WI.