The experiences young children receive in the first three years of life are crucial to brain development. As your child receives loving care and stimulation, neural connections are formed between his brain cells. These connections form the wiring system of the brain. Your child's early experiences largely determine the strength and function of her brain's wiring system. Warm responsive parents, who cuddle and talk to their children and provide challenging learning experiences, promote healthy brain development for their children. (Taken from Building Brighter Futures at http://www.smartstart-nc.org)

Publications:

Article: Early Brain Development

Newsweek article "Reading Your Baby's Mind"

Programs:

• BrainNet is dedicated to improving the lives of children by ensuring that all persons and systems who come into contact with pregnant women, parents and children promote healthy, optimal brain development.
• Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) Early intervention provides services to families and infants and toddlers, birth to three, who have a disability and /or delay.

 Internet links:

• BrainNet A strategic alliance of public and private partners working to improve the lives of all children in Washington State by ensuring that all persons and systems who come into contact with pregnant women, parents and children promote healthy, optimal brain development.

• Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) -  a "whole-child," comprehensive, family-focused preschool program designed to help low-income children and their families to prepare for and succeed in school. Because many factors affect a child's learning ability and development, the program has four interactive components: education, health and nutrition, parent involvement and family support. ECEAP Brochure (English), ECEAP Brochure (Spanish)
• Early Childhood Education Career Development Ladder Pilot Program - We can build a ladder into the middle class for early childhood education teachers and in doing so insure our children grow and develop with the help and nurturing of committed and caring professionals.
• Early Connections Technology in Early Childhood Education - Connecting technology with the way young children learn: resources and information for educators and care providers.
• National Center for Early Development and Learning (NCEDL) - focuses on enhancing the cognitive, social, & emotional development of children from birth through age eight.
• Neurons to Neighborhoods : a great brochure on linking research on brain development to practice and public policy.
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) - Our mission is to help local school districts give children hope and skills for their future, and to lead and serve school districts so that all children can: read, write and communicate; know and apply math, science, history, civics, geography, arts, health, and fitness; think, make reasoned judgments, and solve problems; and understand the connection between learning and opportunities in life and work.
• Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) - promotes interest, study and action concerning the well-being and education of all young children, with an emphasis on those birth to 8 years old, and their families.
• Washington Learns - This site, sponsored by the Governor's Commission on Early Learning, I Am Your Child Campaign and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center includes links to sites on early learning and brain research. Includes links to Washington State agencies.