When employers want to fill a job, they start with a stack of resumes. Looking at credentials, degrees, schools, experience, awards, and affiliations, they decide who to interview. Typically, it’s in these job interviews that careers are made, and communication skills make all the difference. A candidate has good ideas, but how well does she articulate them? Another has a rare degree from a good university, but can he facilitate a meeting or lead a team?
Have you ever seen a baby right after she was born, and then again a few weeks later? Even in that short amount of time, she seems to have changed exponentially! As much as this is true for a baby’s physical development, so it is for her cognitive development. Research indicates that as soon as they are born babies begin to acquire essential skills, including those related to language.
The skills she gains in the first years of life will become a key part of the skill set that enables her to succeed in school, enter into a profession, and navigate her social environment. It’s a rich period of development, and there are many fun ways you can make the most of it.
“Talk to your baby.” “Respond to your infant’s cues.”
We get this advice all the time, but what does it actually mean? Babies benefit when we expose them to lots of language, but it’s not merely a question of word count. What really seems to matter is the personal connection--being involved in the give-and-take of a genuine conversation. Here is a guide to the best kind of “baby talk”: Evidence-based tips for helping babies reach their full potential.
Young children learn language at an incredible pace. The brain networks underlying many language skills are already in place when a baby is born, and a considerable amount of language learning takes place in the first year of life. Even before a baby can talk, the areas of her brain related to language are developing rapidly and absorbing new information.
Warm weather brings with it more opportunities for children to get outside and play. This is wonderful, because it is through play that children learn about the world and themselves. Child-led free play allows kids to flex their imaginations, try out different roles in the world, and explore what interests them. Here are 5 suggestions for your next trip to the library or bookstore. Chances are, these books will make children hop to their feet and get moving. (In fact, they're perfect for children who have a hard time sitting through a story!)