Big Little Moments

How do the Big Little Moments work?

Children’s brains are a lot like ropes, they are made of many different strands. Three of these strands are how they learn to talk, how they feel, and how they make friends.

Every time you talk to a child, or respond to them, you’re helping these strands grow strong. And the stronger each strand is, the stronger their brain will be overall.

All these little moments you share add up to something much bigger, giving children the skills they need to develop into healthy, bright adults.

The Big Little Moments

Sharing a story

Young brains need building, just like houses. Sharing stories is really important for helping young brains grow and learn.

Using loving words

Just like houses, young brains need building. When you use kind, loving and calm words in response to what a child is doing, you’re helping them learn and grow.

Making everday moments fun

When your baby tries to play with you during every day moments, like when you’re getting them dressed, be playful back with them. This back and forth, like a game of catch, helps them learn and grow.

Talking to the bump

Babies’ brains are like houses, they need building and they’re being built even before they are born. When you touch, sing or talk to the bump, you’re laying a strong base that will help them learn and grow.

Making time to play

Young brains are like houses, they need building. Every time you play with a child, you’re helping them build a strong base so they learn and grow.

Listening and responding

Chatting to your child is really important. When they ask for your attention, it’s like they’re batting you a ball. When you respond, you’re batting that ball back. This back and forth helps them learn and grow.

Saying what they see

Making playful noises and pointing to things are some of the ways babies talk to you. When they do this, it’s like they’re throwing you a ball. When you respond you’re passing that ball back, like a game of catch.

Saying what they’re doing

Young brains need building, just like houses do. When you talk to children about what they’re doing, you’re laying the base for a strong brain.

Singing songs and rhyming rhymes

Singing with your child helps them learn and grow. Just like a house, a child’s brain needs building. When you sing a song together or say a rhyme, you’re helping them build a strong and healthy brain.

Answering all their questions

Children love to ask questions. When you respond, even if you don’t know the answers, and start a chat that goes back and forth like a game of ping pong, you’re helping them learn and grow.

Giving hugs and high-fives

A child’s brain is just like a house, it takes time and care to build. When a child reaches out for affection, and you give them a hug or high-five, you’re doing more than being kind, you’re helping to build their brain.

Having skin-to-skin contact with your new baby

A baby’s brain is like a house, it needs building. When you hold your new baby skin to skin, it makes them feel safe and helps them to learn and grow.

Saying “well done” with stories and play

A child’s brain is like a house, it needs building. Part of this is children learning right from wrong. When you share play time or stories as a way of saying “well done”, you’re building their brain, helping them learn and grow.

Making waiting time, play time

If you’re waiting for a bus, to see the doctor, or in a queue, use the time to chat with your child. When you ask them a question, it’s like throwing them a ball. When they respond, they‘re throwing that ball back. This back and forth helps them learn and grow.

Turning TV time into talk time

Chatting back and forth with a child, like a game of catch, is good for their brains. When they’re watching TV or playing on a phone, watch and play with them. When you ask questions about what they’re watching or playing, it’s like you’re throwing them a ball. When they respond, it’s like they’re throwing that ball back. This back and forth helps them learn and grow.

Building young brains with the Big Little Moments