Talk Read Sing - First 5 of CA

When I'm walking with the little guy, we stop at every.single.sign. He now recognizes the letters in his name and has to see if he sees them in every sign. He particularly loves the letter A :) We have walked the same little route his whole life, and it's been amazing to see how much he has soaked and how our conversation changes based on his ideas. I can see how important talking and reading to A has been - his vocabulary grows by leaps and bounds every month!

We talk about shapes (stop signs), letters, roosters, we sing about our neighborhood, he runs, walks, bikes, he reads books, walks the dog, asks unending questions, races with daddy...it's amazing how much he's learned in the last three years! I know as a working mom that I have limited time to spend patiently exploring the world with him - but I also know how important it is! 90% of a child's brain is formed in the first 5 years of life (how crazy is that?) - what we do and how we interact with our kids is so important in those early years, and it lasts a lifetime.

A singing his heart out :)

Both my husband and I want what's best for A. We want him to thrive and be happy. We also know that talking and playing and singing and reading (sometimes the same book over and over and over again...) are so incredibly important. We can make a difference. We have made a difference. It's important to have family and other supportive, loving people in your kid's lives. But even if you don't have lots of family around or willing to help, there are resources out there to help you get your child those early experiences that really make a difference.

When A was little he went to weekly First 5 California classes here in town - not only was it a safe, fun place for him to play and learn, it was free (one of my favorite free activities to do with a toddler)! They offer great programs for the child - and the adults that take care of them. I know sometimes parenting seems overwhelming - it's great to know there is a place that offers resources to help us make a difference.

We, as the parents, have so much to give our kids.

By playing a game of peek-a-boo or hide and seek with them.

By talking to them about their day.

By singing the song that reminds you of your childhood.

By reading their favorite book.

We can set them up for a lifetime of learning :) #talkreadsing - it's that simple!

For more information and helpful activities and ideas - please check out First 5 California on facebook, twitter and their website! The website is full of great resources – free cookbooks for healthy meals, electronic books and activities to download. The activities are grouped by age and easy to replicate. I can't wait to try the Alphabet House activity. A is going to love finding letters all over the house. If you are unsure where to start, definitely start at their website. It's "The first place to go for everything children 0-5!" – in both English and Spanish!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of First 5 California via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.