Nurturing Your Child’s Brain During Everyday Routines
Originally published in the Summer 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine.
Science tells us that 90% of the brain has already developed before a child even enters kindergarten. Without a doubt, families are an essential part of their children’s learning and development, starting at birth.
Children build important connections in their brains during everyday routines — getting dressed, washing their hands, playing, sleeping, and eating. These daily routines with your child can be valuable opportunities for them to learn a new skill or healthy habit.
In fact, your child is learning every time you talk with them, sing a song, read a book, and play simple games
like peek-a-boo or Simon Says. There are many ways to support your child’s learning and developing brain — without having to buy expensive toys or adjust your busy schedule.
You Are a Brain Builder!
Here’s the great news: Brain-building moments can happen during everyday moments through simple, back-and-forth interactions between you and your child.
Vroom® helps families add learning into their everyday moments and routines with children through simple, daily brain-building tips. Our Brain Building Basics™ are five ways to turn moments you already spend with your child into opportunities to connect with them and encourage learning.
- Look for what catches your child’s attention.
- Chat back and forth with them about everyday things while going about your routine.
- Follow your child’s lead by responding to their sounds.
- Take turns with your child when you talk and play.
- Stretch your child’s mind by building on what your child says and asking questions.
Building Brains Anytime, Anywhere
Are you looking for ideas to make shared times with your child — like diaper changing, getting dressed, or running errands — more fun and engaging? Child Care Aware of America, the nation’s leading voice on child care, has partnered with Vroom to bring brain-building tips to families and caregivers through a collection of easy-to-use resources.
Vroom has used research on early brain development to create tips for families to support their children’s brain development. Each science-based tip offers an idea for turning a common, everyday moment or routine with a child into something more.
Visit WeAreBrainBuilders.org for the resources listed below and more:
- Creating Calm Moments at Home
- At-Home Tips to Make the Most of Everyday Moments with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler
- Creating Routines that Ease Home-to-School Transitions
Free Brain-Building Tips at Your Fingertips
Sign up for Vroom by Text™ to access over 1,000 free brain-building tips! Download the Vroom app, visit Vroom.org or text VROOM to 4825.
