Influence Healthy Children's Brain Development Ages 1-5

Be warm and loving

Through warm and loving interactions, such as touching, smiling, singing and talking, your child will feel safe and secure with their caregivers. Touch is very important since it stimulates the brain to release growth hormones.

Be responsive to your child’s sounds, expressions and movements

Infants cannot use words to express themselves, therefore, they feel secure and loved when they are responded like comforting them when they cry, feeding them when hungry, etc.

Talk, read and sing to your child

Studies show babies whose mothers often spoke to them learned almost 300 more words by age 2 than babies whose mothers rarely spoke to them. By encouraging participation in older children, such as asking questions, pointing out pictures and predicting outcomes, children’s brains are even more stimulated and challenged.

Establish routines and rituals

Routines and rituals help children learn what to expect and how to understand the world around them. Children which have safe and predictable interactions and activities have been found to do better in school later on.

Encourage curiosity, safe exploration and play

Parents should encourage safe exploration and play, and be receptive when a child needs to return to them for security. Play is recognized as an important opportunity for children to learn and explore.