5 Fast Facts About Your Toddler's Developing Brain

Knowledge is power. Help your child grow and learn by providing enriching experiences that boost brain development.

Jan 23, 2019

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5 Fast Facts About Your Toddler's Developing Brain

Jan 23, 2019
Your child can begin absorbing important brain-boosting skills as early as infancy. Even if your little one is too young to read real words, letter and sound recognition at a young age will prepare your child as she learns later on. From vocabulary to movement, use these tips to support your early learner's brain development through fun activities and helpful book suggestions. 
 
1. Early childhood is key. The brain makes the most connections among its cells before your child turns 10. This is also the time when he learns language best. When you use rich language with your young child, you are improving his future vocabulary.
 
Book PickA Caldecott winning title, Owl Moon reveals a beautiful scene of nighttime, filling your child's imagination with detailed imagery of a winter evening outdoors. Plus, the introduction of new vocabulary words and new settings will help expand his knowledge in this this rhythmic and comforting bedtime classic. 
 
2. The brain builds upon repetitive sensory experiences. The language portion of the brain is enhanced greatly by interaction with others because the brain can then connect words with objects and experiences.


Book Pick
The Wonky Donkey combines a silly story with a ton of fun rhyming words, creating a memorable pattern in your child's brain. Plus, this laugh-out-loud tale of a kooky donkey also shows the importance of being different and teaches kids about accepting others for who they are. 

3. Movement gets the brain going. An active body makes for an active brain, so make learning a hands-on affair.

Book PickGet moving with Baby Shark! Featuring a famous little shark your child can't stop talking about, this picture book provides fun and interactive instructions for your little one to act out—from dancing to clapping her hands. Your little learner will be molding fine motor skills and having a blast with the whole shark family, doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo! 

4. Stress disables learning. Cortisol, a hormone that kills off connections in the learning and memory parts of the brain, is produced during trauma. While you can't (and shouldn't) protect your child from all stressors, a close relationship with you and other caring adults will help her learn to cope and to feel good about herself.

Book PickBring comfort to your baby with My First Taggies Book: I Love You. Made of soft cloth, your little one can snuggle up with his new favorite book and listen to a story about loving mommy, daddy, and himself. This little read will introduce new textures, encourage curious play, and offers a sweet story about parent-child bonding. 

5. Music boosts learning. Singing, listening to, and playing music improves spatial orientation and mathematical thinking. Plus, rhyming builds language skills.

Book Pick:
 Five Green and Speckled Frogs: A Count–and–Sing Book combines important math practice with language boosting sight words — plus, a fun chance to sing and dance! Teach your child about these five little frogs and their buggy dinners. Your child can sing, count, and dance along all while learning skills that will grow for years to come. 

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Thinking Skills & Learning Styles
Spatial Reasoning
Vocabulary
Listening and Speaking
Age 1
Infant
Age 2
Communication and Language Development
Learning and Cognitive Development
Physical Development