Chatting with toddlers makes them smarter
A study published last week in Pediatrics found that the impact of early literacy was “nothing short of remarkable.”
The study found that the impact of conversational turns had a shockingly strong and consistent impact. Research found that toddlers with parents who spend lots of time listening and chatting with them are more likely to have better language skills and higher IQs a decade later than youngsters left hanging in silence.
Researchers called the findings “astounding.” One of the findings was that conversation was the most important things for developing brains, even more important than exposure to new words. Toddlers who had been chatted with frequently showed up to 27 per cent of their higher performance in verbal comprehension 10 years later.
When planning screen time for young kids, keep in mind apps, television shows, or computer programs that prompt conversational turns. These programs can be beneficial as they help build this crucial area. Skyping a relative is also a great way for kids to get in lots of conversation. Even if they are too young to answer back, they are still listening and learning.
Programs like Storytime at the library are also a great option.
Join us on Tuesday mornings at Centennial Branch at 10:30 and Wednesdays at our Crystal Ridge Branch at 2:30 p.m. for songs, stories and crafts.
Don’t worry — we have something to help keep adult brains sharp as well. Join us at Brimstone Brewery in Ridgeway (209 Ridge Rd. N.) on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. for an evening of trivia entertainment.
Trivia is a form of mental exercise that helps to keep the mind sharp while enhancing cognitive function. Trivia works the areas where working memory functions, which means that playing trivia games can be an easy way to stave off the symptoms of dementia.
Come armed with your knowledge of random, common knowledge trivia. You can join as a team or be added to one. Please register in advance by calling the library.
Catch the library this weekend at the Taste of Fort Erie on Bridgeburg Historic District on Jarvis Street. We’ll be there with our beloved Big Blue Blocks, which create hours of fun for kids of all ages. Stop by and stay hi — we’d love to see you.