Bright from the start : the simple, science-backed way to nurture your child's developing mind, from birth to age 3 / Jill Stamm, Paula Spencer.

Includes bibliographical references.

Wows every parent must know -- A is for attention : why it matters -- Face time : you are your baby's first toy -- Play time : the real work of play -- Screen time : when baby meets modern life -- Down time : doing nothing is important, too -- Attention-builders little ones love -- B is for bonding : why it matters -- Responsive care : tuning in to one another -- Hands-on care : introducing vitamin T -- Child care : how to make a brain-based choice -- Bond-builders little ones love -- C is for communication : why it matters -- Everyday talk : thank goodness its cheap! -- Everyday reading : Dr. Seuss had it right -- Everyday music : Mozart myths & facts -- Communication-builders little ones love -- Epilogue: the upstream solution.

A cutting-edge handbook for parents, from a pioneer in infant brain development, that bridges the gap between the most current neuroscience and practical parenting techniques

Dr. Jill Stamm?s daughter was born almost four months premature, and doctors insisted she would never walk or talk. Now, thirty-two years later, her daughter is living proof that nearly every baby?s brain has the potential to adapt and flourish given the right attention. A leading authority in infant brain development, she makes new, remarkable findings accessible to everyone in Bright from the Start. What babies need is as simple as A, B, C:
? ATTENTION: including how to increase a child?s attention span, and how to balance stimulation with down time
? BONDING: illustrating the importance of developing emotional attachment between a child and a consistent caregiver?and why this is key to cognitive development
? COMMUNICATION: with breakthrough advice for tapping the correlation between verbal engagement with parents and higher IQ rates among children

She also discusses what kind of childcare environment to select, why learning toys don?t teach as much as you think, why reading to a baby is critical, and how you can help your child learn how to pay attention. By working with Dr. Stamm?s ABCs in Bright from the Start, all parents can help to build a radiant future for their precious little ones.