Stretch and exercise their brains!

Had a great visit with the grandkids this weekend and was reminded of the benefits of exercise! That's partly because I'm always exhausted when they go and partly because I got to hear The Cat in the Hat recited from memory. This morning I just viewed an adorable Facebook video of a friend's child reciting The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Although neither of the 2 year olds are actually "reading", in the truest sense of the word, they are practicing some very valuable reading behaviors. You'd be shocked to know that in my first grade classroom I had kids who didn't know how to open a book and turn left to right. Add that to the heartbreaking realization that they had missed all that language, all those stories, and the amazing realization that print on a page could bring delight. Brain research also tells us that the brain works much like a muscle. The more you work it, the better it works! So my little performers are getting a workout! To encourage memory development in your child, start with nursery rhymes and poems. Bible verses, songs, and finger plays! If you know of some other sites with fun memory boosters, leave a comment below!