Advocacy Messages
IF VIDEO DOES NOT PLAY PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BUT I AM STILL LEARNING.
IF VIDEO DOES NOT PLAY PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW
These advertisements are so precious. I believe that they are effective because they demonstrate how everyday moments can become teachable moments between parents and children. I believe that a lot of parents forget to talk to their children about learning experiences as the opportunity arises during the day. What is cute is the way the commercials do not show the children at first so it looks as though the adults have lost their minds at first, but then when you see the infant and toddler it is clear that the voice and the actions are to amuse the babies but at the same time the information the parent and grandparent are sharing are valuable.
In the brief overview that follows these commercial on the Ad Council.org it states that learning begins at birth. Born Learning is an organization that has made it their personal mission to assist parents and grandparents in making the most of the years between birth and third grade so that there is no achievement gap in the child’s learning. Children are born absorbing information. We tend to consider babies as “non thinkers” but the truth is their little brains are ready to learn from the moment they are born. It begins with the most crucial survival instincts, but then it moves on to other information in the environment such as emotions, speaking, moving, eating and all other actions that are taking place around it on a daily basis. In psychology we learn that a baby’s brain is like a sponge constantly absorbing information, it can also be compared to a blank slate when it arrives that the child’s environment determines how and what is written on the slate. WE as parents, grandparents and caregivers have a responsibility to our children to be the first teacher that they know. Therefore we must begin at birth teaching them all that they need to know to be successful in life. And yes that does mean that we have discussions with infants that we perceive cannot even understand what we are saying, because we may never know just what kind of impact the conversations we have with babies before they can speak back may have on their intellectual development. So the next time you are around a newborn, infant or toddler take the opportunity to teach them, do not allow teachable moments to escape and add to the gap in the child’s learning.
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the briefs; especially, the videos. They were very creative. I agree that there still are quite of few people that think babies are "non-thinkers", but they are so wrong. The primary years are so important. These are the years when children learn so much. With the right amount of stimulation, young can learn so much.