Title: Reading Develops the Brain
Feed: CWKN #387, May 28, 2008
Time:  1:42
SUGGESTED LEAD: DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERTS HAVE RECOMMENDED FOR DECADES THAT PARENTS READ ALOUD TO THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN IN ORDER TO SPUR LANGUAGE SKILLS AND OVERALL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. TODAY WE CAN OBSERVE HOW READING ACTIVATES THE YOUNG MIND USING IMAGES FROM INSIDE THE BRAIN. CONNECT WITH KIDS HAS THE STORY.
<<PKG>>

NATS: “Which one?  Right there … RIGHT THERE?  This one?”

NARR:  EVERY NIGHT … BEFORE THEY GO TO BED … TWO-YEAR-OLD EMILIE AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL PICK A FEW BOOKS FOR STORY TIME. (:07)

NATS: “Here’s a book that I like.  Harry Potter!”

NARR:  THEY’RE EXCITED TO GET STARTED … BUT STORY TIME IS QUIET TIME, SO PARENTS MAY WONDER IF THEIR CHILDREN ARE REALLY LISTENING. (:07)
 
SUPER:  Julie Corsini, Mother (:22)
“I used to think that Michael would fall asleep when I would read him a book, but he never has.  It’s always start to finish.”

NARR:  IN FACT, KIDS LEARN A GREAT DEAL WHILE THEIR PARENTS READ ALOUD.

IN THESE BRAIN IMAGES, RED AREAS SHOW THE MOST ACTIVE PARTS OF THE BRAIN … EVIDENCE THAT KIDS ARE LISTENING, AND THINKING. (:12)

NATS: (father son read simultaneously) “Hello, do you like my hat, I do not, goodbye. Goodbye.”

NARR:  THIS IS NOT A PASSIVE EXPERIENCE.  AS KIDS LISTEN, THE WIRING OF THEIR BRAIN CHANGES … SPEEDING UP THEIR ABILITY TO MASTER LANGUAGE. (:09)

SUPER: Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist (:53)
“Well into the elementary school years fourth, fifth grade, children who had had a lot of book reading when they were younger are still doing better in language skills.”

NARR: IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TASK OF CHILDHOOD … DE-CODING LANGUAGE … READING ALOUD IS A POWERFUL WAY TO HELP THEM BREAK THAT CODE. (:09)
 
SOT: Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., Developmental Psychologist
“Whether it’s just an alphabet book, or a rhyming book or a real story book or whatever.  I think at least once a day you want to sit down with your child with a book, and engage in some sort of reading activity.”

NARR:  ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, PARENTS SHOULD START READING TO THEIR CHILDREN AS EARLY AS AGE SIX MONTHS … EVEN BEFORE THEY START TALKING. (:10)

SOT: Julie Corsini, Mother
“The kids love it.  They LOVE it.  It’s a captured audience.”

NATS: (reading, pan up to bookcase, back down) “One dog up on a house…”

SUGGESTED TAG:  HOW CAN PARENTS HELP STIMULATE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT?  THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE:  READ ALOUD TO YOUR CHILD.  FOR SOME IDEAS ON HOW BEST TO DO THAT, LOGON TO (LOCAL URL) AND CLICK ON THE CONNECT WITH KIDS ICON.