Words Grow Minds

About

Welcome to Words Grow Minds!

While everyone wants the best for their little ones, sometimes it’s hard to know what they need. The Words Grow Minds campaign gets straight to the heart of how parents and caregivers can help babies and young children thrive — it’s as simple as talking, reading, playing, and singing together from birth.

Backed by the latest research showing how these simple interactions literally grow children’s brains in the critical early years, Words Grow Minds has been developed with input from early childhood education and health practitioners, literacy specialists, and researchers.

Words Grow Minds is funded by the Government of South Australia.

Members of the Early Years Taskforce

Family Resources

Play

Mirror, mirror

Babies are fascinated by faces, especially their own! As they grow, little ones learn to...

Play

Meaningful interactions: Love grows brains

Watch – Love grows brains. Give your child your full attention and join in with...

Talk

Augmentative and alternative communication

Communication is not limited to verbal speech and in fact, many children of varying needs...

Sing

Music and the brain

Watch as Dr Ibrahim Baltagi explains how music influences the growing brain and activates core...

Talk

Interactive co-viewing

Screens are increasingly part of all our everyday lives, and it is especially true for...

Read

Active Reading – ‘Jump and Shout!’

Most of us think of reading as a ‘sitting still activity’ – but it’s not...

Read

Activity time!

The fun of reading doesn’t stop when you turn the last page. Extend your child’s...

Sing

It’s rhyme time!

Many local libraries run sessions like Baby Bounce or Rhyme Time, specifically designed to introduce...

Read

Make it up!

Young children love repetition – but reading the same book over and over again can...

Talk

Toy stories

Spark you child’s imagination by bringing toys to life, whether it’s a teddy or a...

Talk

Mystery box

Young children are always taking in information while they explore the world around them. Introduce...

Sing

Sing…and stop!

Kids get excited by anticipation, that feeling that something is coming. On the change table...

Play

Pop the bubbles

Have you ever heard a child say no to playing with bubbles? Never! Discover every...

Read

Not so fast

As we grow up, we learn to move quickly from one page of a book...

Talk

Telephone time

Children love to copy the big people in their lives doing all sorts of things...

Play

Obstacle course

Feeling couped up inside? Get outdoors and get your bodies moving with an obstacle course!...

Play

Playdough fun

Creating with play dough is a perfect opportunity to connect with your child. It’s also...

Read

Read on location

Read on location The beauty of reading is that you can do it anywhere, any time! ...

Sing

Change the words in silly ways

Replacing one word can change the whole meaning of your favourite nursery rhyme, ‘Galumph went...

Read

Prop it up

You won’t always feel like putting on a full-scale production of your child’s favourite book...

Sing

Instruments everywhere!

Anything can be an instrument – as long as it makes a noise! Explore the...

Talk

What’s inside the fridge?

Talking to your child doesn’t always have to be an exercise in imagination. Opening the...

Sing

Car karaoke

The car is a great place to let out your inner rock star. Whether it’s...

Talk

Speech milestones – speaking and understanding

All children develop and acquire skills at different rates. Developmental milestones are the ages by...

Talk

Questions, questions, questions!

Back and forth conversation is the simplest way to encourage your child to communicate with...

Sing

Sound and music play

Making sounds and music with babies is a lot of fun, and it’s also great for...

Sing

Singing in a second language

Singing is a fun way to help your child learn and remember words and sentence structure in...

Sing

Playing with sound

When we sing, we slow down the natural rhythm of our speech and stretch out...

Sing

Nursery rhymes

Babies and young children love music, singing and rhyme …so sing together anywhere anytime! Nursery...

Sing

Sing with to your baby – Getting started

Singing is a gentle way to bond with babies. Listening to music and singing helps...

Read

Looking for words: literacy activity

Everyday activities like going to the local shops are fun ways to help your child’s literacy...

Read

Developing literacy

Literacy is being able to read, write, listen, speak and create texts in ways that allow us...

Read

Reading and storytelling with babies and children

Reading books, sharing stories, talking, and singing every day helps your child’s development in many ways. ...

Read

Reading with babies from birth

Reading books, talking about pictures, sharing stories, and singing rhymes and songs help your baby’s development...

Read

Telling stories with children

Storytelling promotes literacy and language skills and gets children ready to start reading. Stories about...

Read

High quality books and resources to spark your child’s imagination

The Little Book Press is the publishing arm of Raising Literacy Australia, the lead agency...

Read

Read with your baby – Getting started

Reading aloud builds nurturing relationships, stimulates brain growth, and encourages language skills. Children who have...

Play

Play in a digital world: ideas and tips

Children learn through play. In today’s world, some of that play is digital and online....

Play

Visit a toy library

Toy libraries are an excellent way to let your child experience a variety of play...

Play

Play prepares children for school

Play is so much more than just what a child does for fun – its...

Play

Low-cost play ideas

Open-ended materials cost little or nothing and include things like balls, recycled cardboard, and fabric....

Play

Asking questions that spark play and imagination

This short video shows you how to ask open-ended questions in children’s play – for...

Play

Play helps child development

Why is play so important for child development? Play helps your child to explore the...

Play

Play with your baby – Getting started

Play may seem simple, but your baby or toddler is learning so much – just...

Talk

Connecting and communicating

0-6 months This short video shows a new parent connecting and communicating with her baby....

Talk

Communication and talking with babies and toddlers

Babies are born ready to communicate with you. Newborn babies communicate by crying. This is how they let...

Talk

Talk with your baby – Getting started

Talking with your child is one of the most important things a parent can do....

Serve and return

When you respond to a child’s invitation to interact with you, you are literally building their brains through establishing neural connections. It could be a hug, soothing sounds or words, or even simply eye contact and a smile, all appropriate responses contribute to the shaping of your child’s brain architecture.

South Australian children behind the national average for development

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a national collection of data which occurs every three years. Teachers of children in their first year of school complete a questionnaire, the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument, that assesses how children have developed by the time they start their formal education.

The first three years are crucial for brain development

A child’s earliest experiences have a greater impact on their future outcomes than those at any other point in their lives and have a more significant influence on a child’s brain development than genetics alone.

Conversational turns build brains

Talking with your child, turn-taking in simple interactions back-and-forth, with no more than five seconds in between, is crucial for a child developing and learning new skills.

Babies learn to speak through rhythm – not sounds

We know that children learn to speak through listening to those around them, but exactly how this occurs has previously been the subject of debate.

Early Years Directory

There are a range of Early Years services throughout South Australia that are here to help you give your child the best start in life.

With a huge variety of programs and services, from education and care, early intervention, and advice and support, to fun activities like playgroups and rhyme time, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

The Research

Words Grow Minds is backed by the latest research on early childhood development and education.

With up to 85% of brain development occurring in the first three years of life, it’s important parents and caregivers are equipped with the tools and information to support children to thrive from the very beginning.

Read more about how talking, playing, reading, and singing are the best things you can do for your child’s development.

Professionals

Words Grow Minds supports service providers to encourage families to talk, play, read and sing with their little ones every day.

Network with other service providers, access the campaign guide and resources, or enrol in our free Professional Learning Course for those working with children and families, all right here!

Community Events

Every outing is an opportunity for little ones to learn about the world around us. Words Grow Minds is proud to sponsor and promote events and activities in the community that you can attend with your whole family. New experiences and precious memories that can help build the foundations for future learning.