Babies aren’t born smart — they’re made smart. And what makes them smart? Words.
Research proves that language has unmatched power to build a baby’s brain. The number of words a young child hears, and the tone and meaning of those words, is crucial to the way the brain develops. That’s why the Studer Community Institute staff created a series of radio spots using tips from Dr. Dana Suskind’s book, "Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain." The tips, featuring Institute founder Quint Studer, offer practical advice for parents and caregivers to exposure young children to more words. Research that Suskind and her team at the University of Chicago have done supports research that indicates that the more words a young child hears, the stronger the connections in that child’s brain will be. Children who hear fewer words before age 3 face challenges in developing language and reading skills they will need to succeed in school.
So how do you start? The advice all boils down to this: Talk to your child. All the time. Every day. Need some help getting started? Just listen to these spots. And then share the advice with everyone you know who may spend time with a young child.
In this report
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iPhone lying on a table
Talk More Tips: Teaching Texts
by Shannon Nickinson
A California program uses text messages to prompt parents with tips, strategies to talk more with their young children.
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Child playing with a puzzle
TMW Tips: Talk numbers
by Shannon Nickinson
Talking about shapes, numbers and patterns is important. It helps build number sense, basic math and comparison concepts.
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Dr. Dana Suskind speaking at an auditorium
TMW Tip: The most important years of learning
by Shannon Nickinson
The science is indisputable. The essential years for developing the human brain are from birth through 3. Helping parents with their role in that is key.
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Variety of books lying on a table
TMW Tip: Share books while you read together
by Shannon Nickinson
Parents had to learn that it was OK for their children to fidget while reading. What’s important is keeping the child engaged — because engaged kids learn better.
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Preschool teacher playing with students
TMW Tip: Ask questions
by Shannon Nickinson
Yes-no questions are only good for one-word answers. How and why questions force your child to start building problem-solving skills.
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Man feeding a baby
TMW Tip: Talk all the time
by Shannon Nickinson
When your baby makes a sound, it’s her way of trying to talk to you. Answer back, even if you feel silly doing it. Every word you say is building her brain.
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Child playing with a number puzzle
TMW Tip: Praise the effort
by Shannon Nickinson
Research shows that children who are praised for their effort are less likely to give up when faced with a challenge.
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Baby looking at the camera
TMW Tip: Build on 'baby talk'
by Shannon Nickinson
Make the word fragments your baby starts to say into full sentences to help her learn more words.
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Preschool teacher playing with students
TMW Tip: Use word chains to boost brain power
by Shannon Nickinson
Talk to your baby about what you're doing all the time. Adding more words to describe what you're doing is like adding links in a chain, one that will help your child's brain build strong connections later on.
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Four children at a table playing with building blocks
TMW Tip: Talk about what you do
by Shannon Nickinson
Talk about what you are doing when your baby is there. When you change a diaper, when you wash the dishes, when you do anything, talk about it to your child.
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Teacher reading a book to three children
TMW Tip: The power of positive words
by Shannon Nickinson
Babies learn more from positive words than harsh, negative words. They also learn more from words that describe than from words that only give orders.
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Man feeding a baby
TMW Tip: When a child cries, respond with love
by Shannon Nickinson
Positive, loving interaction with a parent is what helps your baby’s brain grow to be healthy, sharp and ready learn.
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Teacher reading a book to a child
TMW Tip: Use your voice
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Read early and often with your child, and remember: Repetition is key. You will get tired of reading the same story long before your child will get tired of hearing it. Keep reading it anyway.
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iPhone lying on a table
TMW Tip: Ditch the smartphone
by Shannon Nickinson
How can you help you child be ready for kindergarten? Ditch the device and talk to — and with — your child.
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Three children sitting on the floor playing with blocks
TMW Tip: Build words into all playtime
by Shannon Nickinson
How you can help build your baby's brain? Make words part of everything you do when you play together.
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Man feeding a baby
Radio spots encourage parents to use power to build language skills
by Shannon Nickinson
The Studer Community Institute staff has crafted a series of radio spots that give parents and caregivers tips on how to boost the number of words young children hear, improving the language skills they will need to be ready for kindergarten.
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