THE FIRST FIVE YEARS

What if I was to tell you that the game of Peekaboo could change the world? Thanks to the scientists, we now know just how important the first five years are for our health and development, especially our brains. Our brains develop faster in our early years than any other time in our life. It can create up to 1 million neural connections every second, but we need your help. Our healthy development depends on these top five things:

The most special period for our development is the first five years of our life. What’s something really impactful you can do? Serve and return. And when? Early and often. Imagine the difference we could make if everyone did this.

All of these helps our brain and us to reach our full potential. So, what’s something you can do that can really makes difference? “Connect, talk and play with us.” Copycat games build imaginations and empathy. Naming games build vocabulary and attention. And games like Peekaboo, yep, Peekaboo, actually build memory and trust. Each time you talk to us, play with us, make us laugh, it not only builds and strengthens our relationships and mental health. It actually teaches us some of the most important life skills, from making friends, to taking a test, to getting a job, to one day maybe even starting a family of our own. I know it’s important for adults to use their devices sometimes, but kids are hardwired to seek out meaningful connections. Not receiving then causes confusion and stress.

What if a whole childhood was like that? How hard it would be for a child to feel calm, to feel safe, to learn to trust anyone, and the lifelong impact that would have. So, please try to remember the most special period for our development is the first five years of our life. What’s something really impactful you can do? Serve and return. And when? Early and often. Imagine the difference we could make if everyone did this.