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Early learning and brain development

Given that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs by age 5, participation in quality early learning becomes an important foundation for a child’s education. Visit FIRST 5 California’s Brain Model to learn more.

Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher. Family routines, telling stories, talking, playing, singing, and making books available are all great ways that create early learning experiences and set the foundation for transitions to early learning settings in childcare, preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten.

Please visit the sites below to find family activities for ages birth to 6:

• Visit FIRST 5 California to find many activities and ideas for infants, toddlers, and young children.
• Visit a Family Resource Center. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County operates many Family Resource Centers across the county which provide families with fun and educational parent and child activities, nutrition and wellness programs for the whole family, developmental screenings for ages birth to 5, parent and caregiver workshops, and much more! Find a center near you.

Once a child is enrolled in early learning, there are many activities families and caregivers can do with their children to prepare them for their first weeks of preschool, transitional kindergarten, or kindergarten:

• SJPL Book List – Read alouds are a great way to talk to your child about starting school. Check out this book list created by the San Jose Public Library.
  
• Transitions to Kindergarten Parent Guide – Created by the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Early Learning Services, the following guide provides ideas for activities that can help your child prepare for the first days of school. English / Spanish / Vietnamese

Watch the following Potter the Otter video as a family to talk about the first day of school!