I Am A Brain BuilderA Workshop for Parents

Written by Sunindiya BhallaProject Manager, Brain Building in Progress Initiative

Workshop Goals

As a result of this workshop, participants will:

Gain an understanding of young children’s brain developmentUnderstand the importance of back-and-forth interactions Realize that as caregivers, they are the ultimate Brain BuildersGain strategies and ideas to turn any moment into a Brain Building momentUnderstand the importance of enriching environments and the types of places that are and can be Brain Building ZonesLearn more about the Brain Building in Progress initiative

• Look for Brain Building Zones in their community

• Find events in their community

• Engage in the #IAmABrainBuilder public awareness campaign on social media

The More We Know…

Let’s start with a quiz!

…The More We’ll Help Children Grow!

The Science Behind Brain Building

90 percent

700 connections

18 months

30 million words

A Child’s Brain

From Parenting from the Inside Out by Dr. Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell

What is Brain Building?You ask a question. A child answers.

You keep the conversation and interaction going.

That’s Brain Building.

Doing learning activities together does a lot more than develop skills and strengths that prepare your child for kindergarten. Science shows that engaging

back-and-forth interactions between a child and a caring adult actually build connections in the developing brain. Just as a strong foundation for a house supports all that is built on top of it, brain building forms the foundation for a

child’s social and emotional well-being and school success.

Establishing Neural Connections

Practicing Through Play

Let’s Play!

Are You Faster Than A Four-Year-Old?

Brain Building Happens at Home

6 Ingredients For A Learning-Ready Brain

Language: Practice letters, shapes, and numbers in some

sand or flour

Math: Set the table – count things,

learn words, and repeat the pattern

Creativity: Make musical

instruments out of things at home;

decorate them and put them to a song

Gross motor (movement): Play/sing

Head, Shoulders Knees & Toes

Science: Practice animal poses and

make animal sounds

Social/Emotional: Practice making faces

that show feelings

6 Ingredients For A Learning-Ready Brain

Brain Building Starts at Birth!

Research has found that infants as young as six months can understand words, and infants as young as seven months are practicing words in their head

It’s important to talk to babies, make eye contact, play simple games like peek-a-boo, and most importantly, read books together!

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-07/uow-mbt070814.php

Reading Together Builds Brains

EVIEW (by asking questions)

XPAND (on what the child says)

SK (what, where, when, who, why questions)

ISCUSS (what you have read)

HARE (life experiences that relate to the book)

Any moment can be a Brain Building moment!

Whether you are at the grocery store counting fruits

and finding colors……or riding a train or bus

Brain Building can happen anywhere!

You can always bring a book with you wherever

you go…

…make up a story together…

…or talk about the things you see!

www.BrainBuildinginProgress.org

#IAmABrainBuilder

Share your Brain Building moment!  Tell us how you are Brain Building by posting a picture or describing your favorite activity using #IAmABrainBuilder

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I Am A Brain Builder A Workshop for Parents

Thank you!