⁉️Did you know your child’s brain grows to 90% of its adult size by age 5? That’s not just a fun fact—it’s a game changer. This means that the early years are a critical window where every word, hug, song, and story shapes how your child thinks, learns, and feels. Their brain is building the foundation for everything that comes next: school, relationships, decision-making, and emotional health. Here’s what you can do right now as a caregiver: • 🗣️ Talk constantly. Narrate your day, ask questions, and let your child respond. Language grows the brain! • 📖 Read daily. Even 10–15 minutes of story time builds focus, vocabulary, and imagination. • 🧸 Play together. Imaginative play builds problem-solving, emotional control, and social skills. • 🎶 Sing and rhyme. Songs build memory, rhythm, and speech development. • ❤️ Offer comfort and patience. These years shape how your child handles stress, disappointment, and connection. What can they learn during this time? • 🌈 How to express big feelings • ❓ How to ask questions and solve problems • 🤝 How to connect with others • 🌟 How to be curious, confident, and creative The early years matter. A lot. Let’s make the most of them—one story, one hug, one moment at a time. Click the link in our bio to read our latest blog post and learn more! #EarlyLiteracy #BrainDevelopment #FRCColumbiaCounty #ParentingTips #FamilySupport #ReadPlayGrow #TalkReadSing (fb)

We love when Tracy Snyder from Family of Woodstock joins our playgroups! Tracy is the Program Manager for Nutrition and Physical Health, and she visits FRC playgroups once a month in both Hudson and Valatie. This month, she focused on gross motor skill development—and as you’ll see in the video, the kids had an amazing time jumping, balancing, crawling, and moving through all sorts of playful activities! Gross motor play isn’t just fun—it’s essential for early childhood development. It helps build coordination, body awareness, confidence, and even lays the foundation for early literacy by supporting focus and brain-body connection. We’re so grateful for Tracy’s visits and the joy, movement, and learning she brings to our families each month! #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #GrossMotorSkills #PlayToLearn #FamilyResourceCenters (fb)