As the end of summer nears, I wish the images popping into mind were not of the forest fires burning across Washington State. The dry winter coupled with a hot summer has led to fires beyond even the worst predictions. Areas distant from the fire on both sides of the mountains are seeing smoke instead of blue skies, reminding us of the pain that others are experiencing. There are Reach Out and Read programs in and near towns that have been evacuated, and we know that means that many families our doctors serve are experiencing trauma. Our thoughts remain with them and the firefighters, as we hope for favorable changes in the weather and a positive path forward for children, families, and communities.
There is no way to make anything good out of fires that threaten lives and homes. But perhaps this quote can help turn the nightmare vision of a rapidly growing fire toward the vision of a spark leading to something positive. I think of children's eyes lighting up with interest, their passion being sparked, and their natural quest for knowledge gathering its own momentum. This all starts with the wonderful give-and-take between parent and baby, the joy at recognizing another human face, of seeing it respond, of vocalizing, and hearing a response. Experience with young children readily demonstrates this, and brain research tells us more and more about how it happens.
Sharing books with young children is like lighting a fire. Each baby's brain is wired to interact, to learn, to take in everything around it, and to toss it back and forth with a loving adult, learning all the while. Once attuned to this you can almost "see" the neurons connecting when you look at a child. And just like a fire, the learning takes off once it starts. All babies can do this--but they need the spark of human interaction to light the fire. And that spark is made stronger by the addition of a book--it strengthens what happens in that relationship--and the child's educational outcomes will be better!
This month we're excited to share with you the latest brain research on books and young children. It takes us further toward understanding how reading children's books help spark that fire and build young children's brains. It affirms how important Reach Out and Read books, and the parent-child interactions they inspire, really are, and how these infant-toddler experiences connect with what children will learn in pre-K and beyond. Read on to learn more about the studies, and the media's attention to them.
We hope you will have time to spark your own learning by enjoying a good book or two as summer ends, and be inspired to help assure all children in our state will be able to do the same.