Healthy Relationships Build Strong Learners

• March 28, 2016

Emily Rubin, director of education outreach programs for the Marcus Autism Center, says babies need an incentive to communicate. Once a child knows that words and sounds result in the reward of positive interactions with adults, that child’s brain chemistry changes, and language development gets underway. Most think it’s the other way around: that brain development comes first, then social engagement follows. Not so.

Babies aren’t born knowing how to socially connect. They need a lot of help. “Babies desperately need frequent and positive social interactions to fuel their development,” said Rubin. “That’s what we call language nutrition.”

Positive social relationships also lay the foundation for higher-level executive thinking. These positive relationships should be everywhere. Especially at home and in early education environments.

Last week we introduced you to Baby Ella. Find out why she and any baby who receives lots of loving words from extended family and community are bound to do great things in life.

All videos are available on the Get Georgia Reading YouTube channel.