There’s a reason that baby dolls, toy kitchen sets, and play vacuum cleaners are all popular sellers. That’s because your toddler’s imaginary play begins close to home…. Not as an astronaut or princess, but as the person they know best (and adore most): YOU. Thread 🧵

Parents/grandparents: this post could save your family hundreds of dollars. Did you know it’s possible for young children to have TOO MANY toys? 🧸 🎁 (A Thread 🧵)

For your baby the whole world is a puzzle waiting to be solved. 🧩 Check out this clever little one as she combines background knowledge and trial and error in an effort to put on a pair of socks. 🧵 Thread…

Does your toddler call every animal a dog? Or call the moon a ball? Both are examples of a perfectly normal toddler behavior known as overextension. Thread 🧵

As your baby grows, they will interact with the same toys in different ways. (Thread 🧵)

It’s true: Infants not only babble with an accent, but even their cries reflect the unique musicality of their mothers’ native languages. (Thread 🧵)

“Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy about him or her.” A couple weeks ago I shared this wonderful quote from the developmental psychologist Uri Bronfenbrenner. And it’s true. Every child needs at least one. (Thread 🧵)

DADA! I’ve run across many great reaction videos, filmed as toddlers realize a parent has returned from work. (Thread 🧵)

During pregnancy, we often speak of adults as “expectant.” An expectant mother. Expectant parents. But we aren’t the only ones. As your baby enters the world, they too are expectant. (Thread 🧵)

Expecting a new baby? Know that when it comes to “hand me downs” even free isn’t always a great deal. Thread 🧵

Your baby is studying your every move. Why? To become just like you, of course. (Thread 🧵)

How fascinating is this video from youngchelsmarie (IG)? Alongside expressive language itself, young children are internalizing lessons about the gestures and tones of voice that can help make their messages convincing. She may not have the all the right words, but she’s already making her case!

Excited to share the message of The Daycare Myth today at the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children’s Early Learning Collaborative Symposium in Boise.

Babies begin distinguishing between animate and inanimate objects as early as four months. At least in very basic ways. Thread 🧵

Your face is an endless source of fascination and information for your baby. Thread 🧵

“Excuse me, I need to take this call…” 📱 Your baby is a keen observer of the world. This includes a growing knowledge of objects and their uses. Which brings us to this little one - who has reached an important developmental milestone: symbolic play. (Thread 🧵)

Amazing things happen when lap reading is introduced as a joyful part of your baby’s daily routine. Thread 🧵

This month will mark 1 year since the release of my book, The Daycare Myth. To celebrate, Teachers College Press is offering a 20% discount until Oct. 15. Just use the code DCMYTH at checkout. Link below And if you’re interested here’s a bonus offer… 🧵

Your baby is adorable by design. Those big eyes. Those chubby little cheeks. That sweet smile… Thread 🧵

Newborns are so tiny. Most full term infants weigh only 6-8 pounds at birth. But cherish (and document) these special moments while they last, because you won’t have a little baby for long. 🧵

When it comes to information gathering, your face is like your baby’s own personal internet. (Thread 🧵)

Imagine having the world come into focus for the very first time. This little one, shared to TT by tiktokkrissa, is being fitted for her first corrective lenses and it’s a real treat to watch. Just how is a parent supposed to know if their baby’s vision is in need of intervention? Thread 🧵

“Mali, say “hurry!”” As I share child development lessons, I often frame up interactions between parents and their children as they model concepts like “serve and return” and “parentese.” Thread 🧵

Nothing tickles your baby’s funny bone like the unexpected. (Thread 🧵)

How do you plan to greet your newborn in his or her first minutes? This alert little one is enjoying the benefits of at least two special gifts as they enter the world. Thread 🧵

The way you speak to your child is the way they will learn to speak to others. And to themself. (Thread 🧵)

Great things happen when you read with your baby. Thread 🧵

It never fails. After months of late night feedings and short bursts of sleep, your baby FINALLY begins sleeping through the night… only to begin waking again. What gives? (Thread 🧵)

What will your baby remember about infancy? I was so touched by the caption that mckynlee.mckell used to accompany this video shared to IG: “These little moments that they won’t remember, but I’ll never forget.” And it’s true… at least in part. 🧵

Language learning takes place across multiple dimensions at once. Thread 🧵

Baby talk vs “parentese” - what’s the difference? Thread 🧵

The period from prenatal to three is the most critical window in all of human development: a time during which infants and toddlers lovingly apprentice alongside their parents (and other loved ones) as they learn what it means to be human. Thread 🧵

Is your baby beginning to pull themself up to a stand? Here’s something you need to do right away: Lower your crib mattress. 🧵

Want to give your child a leg up in kindergarten (and life)? Expose them to a million extra words. It’s easier than it sounds. Thread 🧵

Imitation isn’t just the sincerest form of flattery. It also plays a key role in early brain development. Thread 🧵

Need help calming your baby to sleep? This dad knows an important secret: skin to skin contact. Thread 🧵

When will your baby begin to smile? The answer all depends on how you choose to define the word “smile.”  Thread 🧵

When learning a new skill, your toddler needs the same things you do: Opportunity. Practice. And an environment in which it’s safe to fail - at least initially - as you work things out. Thread 🧵

Dad’s home! 🏠 Because it’s one of the most frequent questions I receive, here’s your periodic reminder that your baby doesn’t forget you when you go to work. Thread 🧵

Children enter the world with a singular goal: to be just like YOU. Luckily they’re born with just the right tools to begin this apprenticeship: rapidly developing brains and finely-tuned powers of observation. Thread 🧵

Sometimes we all need a little help getting our point across. Thread 🧵

Your baby knows your voice, even before they enter the world. Thread 🧵

The British pediatrician D. W. Winnicott once wrote, “There’s no such thing as a baby. There is a baby and someone.” Thread 🧵

The British pediatrician D. W. Winnicott once wrote, “There’s no such thing as a baby. There is a baby and someone.” Thread 🧵

For your baby, your love is more than a gift… it’s a lesson. Thread 🧵

Ever sleep so deeply that even a marching band couldn’t wake you? Thread 🧵

Does your little one want to hear the same book over and over and over again? Thread 🧵

Your baby is a communicator from their earliest days. Thread 🧵

Infants are the world’s most accomplished language learners. Thread 🧵

Yes. Even you! If you’ve followed me here for any length of time (or read my book The Daycare Myth), you know that I’ve written extensively about the ways that infant brain development is optimized through face to face interactions with highly engaged adults. 🧵