Here’s how to help your child learn and grow in those vital first five years

Jan. 18

90% of a child’s brain growth happens by age 5.

Your child’s brain will grow and develop more in their first five years than at any other time in life. And early childhood brain development lays the foundation for important skills and abilities they’ll need later in life.

Young children learn and grow through positive, nurturing relationships with parents and caregivers.

The care, stimulation, and love you provide in their early years will shape how your child’s brain develops.

What can you do?

Talk, read, and play together!

Quality time with you is the best thing for your child’s healthy development. Playing, sharing books, and having back-and-forth conversations with your child, starting before they can talk, helps them develop the brain connections they need to learn language and many other things.

Learn more about language and early literacy.

And also discover how children learn through play.

Learn more about child development

You don’t have to be a perfect parent, but understanding how your child is growing at each age and stage can help you be the best caregiver you can be.

Learn more about your child’s developmental milestones.

Learn more about brain development.

And find early childhood programs near you to learn more about child development and parenting.

Choose quality childcare

Many Arizona families need childcare for their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Quality child care and preschool programs help kids learn, grow, and develop important life skills.

Learn more about quality early learning and Quality First.

Use FTF’s quality childcare checklist to help find a quality program for your child.

What are some of your young child’s favorite ways to play? Let us know on social media at Arizona PBS KIDS on Facebook.

About First Things First

First Things First is Arizona’s early childhood agency, committed to the healthy development and learning of young children from birth to age 5. Learn more about early childhood programs at FirstThingsFirst.org.

This article first appeared on FirstThingsFirst.org.