Building young brains with the Big Little Moments
Toddlers and babies are growing and learning every day, and the little moments you share can make a big difference. From morning time to bedtime, waiting for the bus to playing together, every moment is a chance to help build a child’s brain.
How does it work?
Children’s brains are a lot like ropes, they are made of many different strands. Three of these strands are how they learn to talk, how they feel, and how they make friends. Every time you talk to a child, or respond to them, you’re helping these strands grow strong. And the stronger each strand is, the stronger their brain will be overall. All these little moments you share add up to something much bigger, giving children the skills they need to develop into healthy, bright adults.
The Big Little Moments:
Singing songs and rhyming rhymes
Singing with your child helps them learn and grow. Just like a house, a child’s brain needs building. When you sing a song together, you’re helping them build a strong and healthy brain.
Answering all their questions
Children love to ask questions. When you respond, even if you don’t know the answers, and start a chat that goes back and forth like a game of ping pong, you’re helping them learn and grow.
Giving hugs and high-fives
A child’s brain is just like a house, it takes time and care to build. When a child reaches out for affection, and you give them a hug or hold their hand, you’re doing more than being kind, you’re helping to build their brain.
Having skin-to-skin contact with your new baby
A baby’s brain is like a house, it needs building. When you touch your new baby skin to skin, it makes them feel safe and helps them to learn and grow.
Saying “well done” with stories and play
A child’s brain is like a house, it needs building. Part of this is them learning how to behave.
When you share play time or stories as a way of saying “well done”, you’re building their brain, helping them learn and grow.
Making waiting time, play time
If you’re waiting for a bus, to see the doctor, or in a line, use the time to chat with your child. When they ask you a question, it’s like they’re batting you a ball. When you respond, you’re batting that ball back, just like a game of ping pong. This back and forth helps them learn and grow.
Turning TV time into talk time
Chatting back and forth with a child, like a game of catch, is good for their brains. When they’re watching telly or playing on a phone and you ask questions about what they’re watching or playing, it’s like you’re throwing them a ball. When they respond, it’s like
they’re throwing that ball back. This back and forth helps them learn and grow.
