There are many ways to engage the mind of a child.
Reading, singing, even the simple act of playing all build connections in the rapidly developing brain. Need more ideas? Use these flashcards as your starting point.
K A N S A S H E A L T H F O U N D A T I O N
309 East Douglas • Wichita, KS 67202-3405
316-262-7676 • 800-373-7681 • www.kansashealth.org

There are many ways to engage the mind of a child.
Reading, singing, even the simple act of playing all build connections in the rapidly developing brain. Need more ideas? Use these flashcards as your starting point.
K A N S A S H E A L T H F O U N D A T I O N
309 East Douglas • Wichita, KS 67202-3405
316-262-7676 • 800-373-7681 • www.kansashealth.org

F L A S H C A R D
A song is a gift to a child’s mind. Music makes connections, builds language and forges bonds between parent and child. At just a few months of age, a baby will smile at a melody and move to a rhythm.
Any kind of music will do, “Mary Had A Little Lamb” or Mozart. Better yet, put your child’s name in a song. Then clap, bounce and dance. Sing.
4
4
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, lit- tle lamb lit - tle lamb.
4
4
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb. Its fleece was white as snow.
4
4
Eve-ry where that Ma- ry went, Ma-ry went, Ma- ry went,
4
4
Eve-ry where that Ma- ry went, the lamb was sure to go.
Practicing nursery rhymes and songs will help children learn to read more easily.
Young children learn more about reasoning from musical training than from computer instruction.
Music instruction has been shown to boost brain function in preschoolers and improve performance in school, especially in mathematics.
Singing songs is important to helping children develop their language skills.

F L A S H C A R D
A song is a gift to a child’s mind. Music makes connections, builds language and forges bonds between parent and child. At just a few months of age, a baby will smile at a melody and move to a rhythm.
Any kind of music will do, “Mary Had A Little Lamb” or Mozart. Better yet, put your child’s name in a song. Then clap, bounce and dance. Sing.
4
4
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb, lit- tle lamb lit - tle lamb.
4
4
Ma - ry had a lit - tle lamb. Its fleece was white as snow.
4
4
Eve-ry where that Ma- ry went, Ma-ry went, Ma- ry went,
4
4
Eve-ry where that Ma- ry went, the lamb was sure to go.
Practicing nursery rhymes and songs will help children learn to read more easily.
Young children learn more about reasoning from musical training than from computer instruction.
Music instruction has been shown to boost brain function in preschoolers and improve performance in school, especially in mathematics.
Singing songs is important to helping children develop their language skills.

Talk
F L A S H C A R D
H umans love to talk, to interact, to listen.
Talk to your baby from the moment he or she is born. The ongoing stream of sights, sounds, voices and words makes a child’s brain take shape.
Point to objects and name them. Use the words you speak yourself.
Every new moment creates a chance to use words. The more you talk, the more connections a child builds in the mind — and with the world. Talk, talk, talk.
That bird is called a parrot.
What color is the parrot?
The parrot is green.
Can you say parrot? Can you say green?
Parrots like to talk, too.
They like to ask for crackers.
Do you like crackers?
Children exposed to complex sentences will develop better languagecomprehension skills.
Infants learn to recognize the sounds of their native language by the age of six months.
The number of words an infant hears directly from a parent or other person is one of the most important predictors of later intelligence.
Children spoken to in a positive tone of voice will respond more positively than a child spoken to in negative tones.

Talk
F L A S H C A R D
H umans love to talk, to interact, to listen.
Talk to your baby from the moment he or she is born. The ongoing stream of sights, sounds, voices and words makes a child’s brain take shape.
Point to objects and name them. Use the words you speak yourself.
Every new moment creates a chance to use words. The more you talk, the more connections a child builds in the mind — and with the world. Talk, talk, talk.
That bird is called a parrot.
What color is the parrot?
The parrot is green.
Can you say parrot? Can you say green?
Parrots like to talk, too.
They like to ask for crackers.
Do you like crackers?
Children exposed to complex sentences will develop better languagecomprehension skills.
Infants learn to recognize the sounds of their native language by the age of six months.
The number of words an infant hears directly from a parent or other person is one of the most important predictors of later intelligence.
Children spoken to in a positive tone of voice will respond more positively than a child spoken to in negative tones.

F L A S H C A R D
T he most natural sight in human experience is a child at play. Play encourages a child to make his or her own discoveries about the world. It helps a child create an identity separate from the parents. Play can take countless forms: a game of peekaboo, a baby pulling socks from the laundry basket, a toddler stacking blocks.
When there’s play, there’s wonderful activity happening in the brain. So play.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys, etc, etc.
1 Hold up your fingers to match the number of monkeys.
5 When Mama calls the doctor, hold an imaginary phone to your ear.
2 Pretend your fingers are monkeys and bounce them up and down on your other hand.
6 Shake your index finger.
(“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”)
3 When a monkey falls off, hold up one finger.
Repeat until you get to one little monkey!
4 When a monkey bumps his head, hold your head with both hands.
Children play better by themselves after first enjoying an adult’s undivided attention.
Play encourages independence, self-confidence and creativity.
For infants, play can be as simple as interacting with another person.
Children start life with an instinct to explore and discover
— and the best toys are often the most simple.

F L A S H C A R D
T he most natural sight in human experience is a child at play. Play encourages a child to make his or her own discoveries about the world. It helps a child create an identity separate from the parents. Play can take countless forms: a game of peekaboo, a baby pulling socks from the laundry basket, a toddler stacking blocks.
When there’s play, there’s wonderful activity happening in the brain. So play.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys, etc, etc.
1 Hold up your fingers to match the number of monkeys.
5 When Mama calls the doctor, hold an imaginary phone to your ear.
2 Pretend your fingers are monkeys and bounce them up and down on your other hand.
6 Shake your index finger.
(“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”)
3 When a monkey falls off, hold up one finger.
Repeat until you get to one little monkey!
4 When a monkey bumps his head, hold your head with both hands.
Children play better by themselves after first enjoying an adult’s undivided attention.
Play encourages independence, self-confidence and creativity.
For infants, play can be as simple as interacting with another person.
Children start life with an instinct to explore and discover
— and the best toys are often the most simple.

F L A S H C A R D
A child delights in rhyme. The repetition and rhythm of rhyming words are the building blocks of reading. Through rhyme, a child begins to understand how language works, how expression is used in the voice and the subtle differences between word sounds. So sing a restful lullaby. Read aloud from Dr. Seuss. Tell a tale from Old Mother
Goose. See how easy it is to rhyme?
Small children are aware of rhyme before they learn to read or spell.
Rhyming helps children learn about letter sequences, an important skill in reading.
Preschoolers exposed to frequent rhyming show increased skills in recognizing the differences and similarities between words.
The more children are exposed to rhyming, the better they will understand how to read.

F L A S H C A R D
A child delights in rhyme. The repetition and rhythm of rhyming words are the building blocks of reading. Through rhyme, a child begins to understand how language works, how expression is used in the voice and the subtle differences between word sounds. So sing a restful lullaby. Read aloud from Dr. Seuss. Tell a tale from Old Mother
Goose. See how easy it is to rhyme?
Small children are aware of rhyme before they learn to read or spell.
Rhyming helps children learn about letter sequences, an important skill in reading.
Preschoolers exposed to frequent rhyming show increased skills in recognizing the differences and similarities between words.
The more children are exposed to rhyming, the better they will understand how to read.

F L A S H C A R D
A child is hungry for words, pictures and the sound of a loving voice. Reading to a child fills all of these needs, nourishing the mind for a lifetime. It’s never too soon to begin. Hold up a book to your baby and talk about the pictures.
Point to words as you read them. Use different voices. Make sound effects. Let your fingers dance across the page. Then do it every day. Let the reading go on and on.
Based on a fable by Aesop
There was once a mischievous dog that would sneak up and nip at everyone’s heels. His master hung a bell around the dog’s neck so everyone would hear the rascal coming. The dog was very proud of his bell and went jingling and jangling all over town, with his head held high. One day an old hound said to him, “Why are you so proud of yourself?” The dog answered, “Don’t you see my bell? It’s my reward for being such a good dog!”
When an adult reads to a child, the repetition of words helps a toddler to remember new ideas.
A toddler’s vocabulary grows at an astonishing pace, with new words added daily.
Reading to children stimulates their emotional and cognitive growth.
Even reading books with only one word per page improves a child’s language development.

F L A S H C A R D
A child is hungry for words, pictures and the sound of a loving voice. Reading to a child fills all of these needs, nourishing the mind for a lifetime. It’s never too soon to begin. Hold up a book to your baby and talk about the pictures.
Point to words as you read them. Use different voices. Make sound effects. Let your fingers dance across the page. Then do it every day. Let the reading go on and on.
Based on a fable by Aesop
There was once a mischievous dog that would sneak up and nip at everyone’s heels. His master hung a bell around the dog’s neck so everyone would hear the rascal coming. The dog was very proud of his bell and went jingling and jangling all over town, with his head held high. One day an old hound said to him, “Why are you so proud of yourself?” The dog answered, “Don’t you see my bell? It’s my reward for being such a good dog!”
When an adult reads to a child, the repetition of words helps a toddler to remember new ideas.
A toddler’s vocabulary grows at an astonishing pace, with new words added daily.
Reading to children stimulates their emotional and cognitive growth.
Even reading books with only one word per page improves a child’s language development.

Love
F L A S H C A R D
A child craves the loving touch and affection of a parent.
It’s always the right time to smile at your child, hold hands and hug when they’re happy or sad. Through
H U G S touch, children learn about the world around them. They learn how to share affection themselves. The loving closeness and attention of a parent gives a child security and confidence. So tickle those toes. Snuggle on the couch. Simply love.
Hold hands with your child.
Cuddle together in a soft chair.
Smile, smile, smile.
Give hugs for no reason.
Hug some more.
Tickle toes with a game of
“This little piggy.”
Play “Patty Cake.”
Gently massage baby’s arms, legs and feet.
Pet a soft bunny together.
Children who feel loved will respond better to parental guidance in all areas of their lives.
Being warm and loving to a baby encourages a child’s self-image.
Love and affection from a parent or caregiver encourages brain development in young children.
The expressions of a loving caregiver will help shape a child’s relationships as an adult.

Love
F L A S H C A R D
A child craves the loving touch and affection of a parent.
It’s always the right time to smile at your child, hold hands and hug when they’re happy or sad. Through
H U G S touch, children learn about the world around them. They learn how to share affection themselves. The loving closeness and attention of a parent gives a child security and confidence. So tickle those toes. Snuggle on the couch. Simply love.
Hold hands with your child.
Cuddle together in a soft chair.
Smile, smile, smile.
Give hugs for no reason.
Hug some more.
Tickle toes with a game of
“This little piggy.”
Play “Patty Cake.”
Gently massage baby’s arms, legs and feet.
Pet a soft bunny together.
Children who feel loved will respond better to parental guidance in all areas of their lives.
Being warm and loving to a baby encourages a child’s self-image.
Love and affection from a parent or caregiver encourages brain development in young children.
The expressions of a loving caregiver will help shape a child’s relationships as an adult.

F L A S H C A R D
S tories help a child make sense of the world. When you tell a story to a child, you pass on the shared values and beliefs of our culture, lessons that a child cannot learn on his or her own. And the more stories you tell, the more you teach. Stories introduce the words, ideas and thinking skills that a child will use later in reading and writing. Storytelling starts a process that begins in wonder and ends in wisdom.
Along came the wolf to the house made out of straw.
“Little pig, little pig, let me in!”
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin,” answered the pig.
The wolf said, “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” So the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house right to the ground. The little pig jumped up from the pile of straw and ran as fast he could to his brother’s house made of sticks, the wolf hot on his trail.
Telling stories to small children improves their listening skills, vocabulary development and the ability to organize their thoughts.
Active participation in storytelling increases the fluency of verbal expression in young children.
Storytelling is linked to an increase in imaginative play and creativity in children.
Storytelling is a key building block of a child’s intellectual development.

F L A S H C A R D
S tories help a child make sense of the world. When you tell a story to a child, you pass on the shared values and beliefs of our culture, lessons that a child cannot learn on his or her own. And the more stories you tell, the more you teach. Stories introduce the words, ideas and thinking skills that a child will use later in reading and writing. Storytelling starts a process that begins in wonder and ends in wisdom.
Along came the wolf to the house made out of straw.
“Little pig, little pig, let me in!”
“Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin,” answered the pig.
The wolf said, “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” So the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house right to the ground. The little pig jumped up from the pile of straw and ran as fast he could to his brother’s house made of sticks, the wolf hot on his trail.
Telling stories to small children improves their listening skills, vocabulary development and the ability to organize their thoughts.
Active participation in storytelling increases the fluency of verbal expression in young children.
Storytelling is linked to an increase in imaginative play and creativity in children.
Storytelling is a key building block of a child’s intellectual development.

Draw
F L A S H C A R D
D rawing is a creative language of the developing mind.
Before children have many words, they want to draw and express feelings. They want to describe the world they are newly discovering. Drawing is fundamental and natural. Put a crayon and paper in front of a child and soon you’ll see remarkable colors, lines and shapes. Drawing motivates writing and reading. It stimulates thinking. To live is to create.
Color on restaurant placemats.
Use bathtub paints during bath time.
Set up an easel for quick access to painting and drawing.
Keep paper and crayons within easy reach of your child.
Use chalk on the driveway or sidewalk.
Use washable markers in case art appears on the wall.
Draw pictures in the sandbox.
Children’s drawings are an enriching step toward written expression.
A young child’s drawings serve as the foundation for a lifetime of writing.
Children often learn to draw by watching others do the same.
Young children’s drawings portray a visual expression of their experiences and understanding.

Draw
F L A S H C A R D
D rawing is a creative language of the developing mind.
Before children have many words, they want to draw and express feelings. They want to describe the world they are newly discovering. Drawing is fundamental and natural. Put a crayon and paper in front of a child and soon you’ll see remarkable colors, lines and shapes. Drawing motivates writing and reading. It stimulates thinking. To live is to create.
Color on restaurant placemats.
Use bathtub paints during bath time.
Set up an easel for quick access to painting and drawing.
Keep paper and crayons within easy reach of your child.
Use chalk on the driveway or sidewalk.
Use washable markers in case art appears on the wall.
Draw pictures in the sandbox.
Children’s drawings are an enriching step toward written expression.
A young child’s drawings serve as the foundation for a lifetime of writing.
Children often learn to draw by watching others do the same.
Young children’s drawings portray a visual expression of their experiences and understanding.