I Am A Brain Builder

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I Am A Brain Builder A Workshop for Parents
Written by Sunindiya Bhalla Project Manager,
Brain Building in Progress Initiative
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Workshop Goals

• As a result of this workshop, participants will
• Gain an understanding of young childrens brain
  development
• Understand the importance of back-and-forth
  interactions
• Realize that as caregivers, they are the ultimate
  Brain Builders
• Gain strategies and ideas to turn any moment into
  a Brain Building moment
• Understand the importance of enriching
  environments and the types of places that are and
  can be Brain Building Zones
• Learn 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

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The More We Know

• Lets start with a quiz!

The More Well Help Children Grow!
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The Science Behind Brain Building

• 90 percent
• 700 connections
• 18 months
• 30 million words

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A Childs Brain
From Parenting from the Inside Out by Dr. Dan
Siegel and Mary Hartzell
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What is Brain Building?

• You ask a question. A child answers.
• You keep the conversation and interaction going.
• Thats 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 childs social and emotional
  well-being and school success.

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Establishing Neural Connections
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Practicing Through Play
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Lets Play!

• Are You Faster Than A Four-Year-Old?

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Brain Building Happens at Home
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6 Ingredients For A Learning-Ready Brain
Math Set the table count things, learn words,
and repeat the pattern
Language Practice letters, shapes, and numbers
in some sand or flour
Creativity Make musical instruments out of
things at home decorate them and put them to a
song
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6 Ingredients For A Learning-Ready Brain
Social/Emotional Practice making faces that show
feelings
Science Practice animal poses and make animal
sounds
Gross motor (movement) Play/sing Head, Shoulders
Knees Toes
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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
• Its 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
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Reading Together Builds Brains
SK (what, where, when, who, why questions)
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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
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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!
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www.BrainBuildinginProgress.org
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IAmABrainBuilder

• Share your Brain Building moment!  Tell us how
  you are Brain Building by posting a picture or
  describing your favorite activity using
  IAmABrainBuilder
• Follow us to learn more about Brain Building in
  Progress and get other brain building ideas!
• Were on Twitter _at_MassEarlyEdCare and
  _at_SpeakUnited
• Like us on Facebook

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I Am A Brain Builder A Workshop for Parents
Thank you!