Baby Talk Newsletter September 2021

Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work with Infants and Toddlers
Issue No. 124  September 2021
Baby Talk Newsletter September 2021 pdf

BabyTalk is a free, one-way listserv that is distributed monthly. Each issue features high quality, readily available, and free resources. Resources in Spanish are highlighted on the pdf; on this blog they are in green. All or part of BabyTalk may be freely shared or copied. To subscribe to BabyTalk, or for more information, please contact Camille Catlett at camille.catlett@unc.edu

Building Babies’ Brains Through Play: Mini Parenting Master Class

By engaging in playful serve and return with a child, you can literally help build stronger connections in the brain. Strong neural connections are the foundation for all of a child’s future learning, behavior, and health. In this Mini Parenting Master Class from UNICEF, Center on the Developing Child Director Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., explains the importance of serve and return interactions like play—and how easy they are to do, especially through practice! Companion resources (handouts, videos, and research) are provided at  https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/building-babies-brains-through-play-mini-parenting-master-class/

Small Steps for Big Vision: An Eye Health Information Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers

The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness partnered with the National Head Start Association to create this online resource to provide families and caregivers with the information, suggested actions, and assistance they need to be empowered partners in their children’s vision and eye health, and to care for their own vision and eye health. Learn more at https://nationalcenter.preventblindness.org/small-steps-for-big-vision/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

First Steps to Improve Social Skills

What parents and teachers do when children are not acting out may be the first step to promoting good behavior. Developmental psychologist, Ed Feil, PhD, studies "First Step Next," a school and home-based intervention program that redirects focus from negative behavior to more positive behavior by providing positive feedback when kids are behaving well. Giving kids a pat on the back or telling them what a good job they’re doing can help improve positive social skills and decrease negative behaviors. Learn more by reading/watching in English or Spanish at https://positiveparentingnews.org/news-reports/first-steps-to-promote-good-behavior/

Guides to Including Young Children with Disabilities in STEM Learning Opportunities 

The STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE) recently released two guides on including young children with disabilities in STEM learning opportunities.

• A Guide to Adaptations This guide provides information on how adults can make adaptations to support the access and full participation of young children in STEM learning opportunities. The guide focuses on environment (e.g., room set-up, equipment, how an activity is done, length of time), materials (e.g., adaptations to toys, materials, assistive technology devices), and instruction (e.g., add information, reduce steps). https://stemie.fpg.unc.edu/guide-adaptations?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
• A Guide to Teaching Practices This guide shares practices used by adults (e.g., family members, practitioners) or, in some instances, by other children to help facilitate children’s participation in everyday routines, learning experiences, and activities. Using these strategies engages children in activities, maintains their interest, and provides opportunities for them to learn concepts and thinking skills that support STEM learning when using adaptations is not a sufficient support. https://stemie.fpg.unc.edu/guide-teaching-practices?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

GUMDROP: "What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?"

Enjoy this TED Talk presented by the world's youngest-ever TED Talk speaker, 7-year-old Molly Wright, as she discusses what playful things grown-ups can do to support brain development and help children thrive by age five. https://www.ted.com/talks/molly_wright_how_every_child_can_thrive_by_five