Promoting Child Social Emotional Health

Top 10 Tips to Build a Healthy Young Brain and Mind

Social relationships are key

1. Practice social communication: The developing brain is built by practice.
2. Know and love your child deeply: Intimate relationships are the key to healthy brain development.

Learning is a social experience

3. Seek eye contact whenever possible: Where the eyes are is where attention and learning will be.
4. Share excitement and interest: Optimal learning requires encouragement from others.
5. Keep it simple: Limit toys and screen time, while encouraging reading.
6. Talk early, talk often: Creating extended conversation helps grow and enhance brain development.

Future competence begins early

7. Limit playing alone: Imitation and participation in all daily activities is essential for the developing brain.
8. Play together often: The young brain is learning to work together now for later more important purposes.
9. Mix the age groups: Opportunities for play and interactions with all age groups helps the developing brain to build social strength.

Emotional well-being builds from shared experiences

10. Welcome the range of emotions: Expression and practice with all emotions builds health.

David W. Willis, M.D
Behavioral-Developmental Pediatrics
Medical Director