Polk County Health Center (417) 326-7250 / (417) 326-2766 fax info@polkcountyhealth.net 1317 W Broadway St, Bolivar, MO 65613

A program for stay-at-home parents of children ages 0 up to 3 years.

What we'll talk about...

Interesting facts about how the brain develops and works

How to encourage curiosity and promote social and emotional development in your child

Fun activities to do with your child that encourage lifetime learning

How your child learns through the ages and stages of development

And much, much, more!

If you are...

A stay-at-home parent with a child under 3 years

Receiving WIC services in this county

And at least one of the following...

Not employed or work 20 hours or less per week

A teen parent

Participate in an education or job training program

Then...

After your WIC appointment, stop in and talk to the child development educator. We'd be so glad to see you!

AMAZING BRAIN FACTS!!

The weight of the human brain triples during the first year of life.

Children who are spoken to frequently by their parents know about 300 more words by age 2 than children whose parents rarely talk to them.

A 3-year-old's brain is twice as active as a college student's.

Brain scans show explosive growth between ages 0-3.

Babies actually absorb and organize information better than adults.

Brain Development Ideas

Birth to 3 months: Stimulate sight by moving black-and-white objects in front of your baby's face. Play soft, soothing music. Gently shake rattles and let your baby attempt to grab at them.

3 to 6 months: Place your baby on his/her tummy and encourage movement by putting a toy just out of reach. Sing and dance with your baby. Babies love looking at faces, especially yours.

6 to 9 months: Play peek-a-boo. Have a mirror for your baby to look into. Puppets and squeeze-toys are great at this age.

9 to 12 months: Allow exploring. Repeat words (mama and dada). Give praise for achievements. Let him/her play with stacking toys and containers.

12 to 15 months: Allow them to explore. Teach new songs. Children this age enjoy push toys. Encourage them to repeat after you when naming objects.

18 to 24 months: Give simple instructions. Encourage them to ask for things and to talk for themselves.

24 to 30 months: Encourage drawing. Play comparing and matching games.

30 to 36 months: Play with them using their ideas. Introduce more books. Encourage play with other children.

See the Child Development Educator for more information about this FREE and voluntary program.

Jacki Castrodale, Child Development Educator

Monday 8am-4pm & Tuesday 8am-12pm