National Week of the Young Child
April 19-25, 2009

Building brain capacity for language development starts at birth

When babies are born, their brains are primed to learn language, including millions of brain cells for controlling language. During the first years of life, the baby’s brain cells connect with other cells to form complex pathways for language. With the brain primed for language acquisition, the ball is now in the court of the adults and caretakers in the baby’s life. As the baby hears people speak, the brain strengthens these pre-wired language connections. Without activity in these brain cells, those cells can whither away within the first 10 years of life. The bottom line is, talk to your baby or young child all the time.

TIPS FOR BRANIACS
TIP: Watch and listen to see how your baby communicates what she is thinking and feeling. Repeat the sounds and words your child uses, and have a back-and-forth conversation.
WHY IT MATTERS: This shows that words have meanings attached to them. This is one of the critical building blocks for a child’s later reading lessons.

TIP: Read, sing and tell stories.
WHY IT MATTERS: Making language fun for a child paves the way for him to become a lifelong reader.

TIP: Talk to your baby or young child all the time.
WHY IT MATTERS: Don’t feel silly talking to a baby who can’t talk back. Hearing language sparks the creation of pathways between brain cells.

SOURCES: “Better Brains for Babies,” University of Georgia; “From Neurons to Neighborhoods,” Jack P. Shonkoff and Deborah A. Phillips; WestEd: The Program for Infant/Toddler Care, Ronald J. Lally; South Carolina First Steps staff.



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