| In those first few years of your child's life, his/her | | | | Each story is a new adventure to the child and |
| brain is like a sponge soaking up everything in | | | | you can relive it as well. Ask your child to tell |
| sight and within earshot. Children are learning more | | | | you a story and listen with all of your heart. Let |
| and quicker during this time than at any other | | | | your enthusiasm show and know that you are |
| time in life. | | | | celebrating your child's potential and actively |
| As parents, you have numerous opportunities | | | | nourishing child development. |
| every day to help shape your child's future | | | | Sing songs appropriate to your child's |
| through the kinds of experiences you provide. | | | | developmental stage, play dress up and pretend, |
| You are, in effect, your child's first teacher. If | | | | role-play (take turns being each other). Any |
| you provide rich, exciting experiences, your child's | | | | activity that involves moving is nurturing your |
| learning potential is nurtured and that sponge's | | | | child's natural instincts and motor skills. Make |
| absorption capacity is amplified. | | | | puppets out of socks and stage a puppet show. |
| Excel your child's listening abilities by tape | | | | Allow the child to make up lines and be a puppet, |
| recording sounds from nature such as a bird | | | | actively participating in the learning process. |
| singing or the wind blowing, thunder rolling or | | | | Drawing, writing and painting are invaluable |
| anything else you can find. Tape record | | | | activities that boost child development. Keep a |
| environment sounds such as a car driving by, a | | | | variety of materials for these activities readily |
| door shutting, a faucet running or a horn blowing. | | | | accessible to your child. Participate with your |
| The more sounds you can tape, the better. Set | | | | child in the learning process. |
| aside a 30 minute time slot every other day and | | | | If your child sees you having fun with these |
| ask the child to tell you what the sounds are as | | | | activities, you are modeling your desire to explore, |
| you play them back. | | | | a desire that is necessary for the learning process |
| Tell children stories that you were told as a child. | | | | to take place. |
| It makes no difference how old the stories are. | | | | |