Baby brains are constantly growing.

Brains become larger and heavier as they create new brain cells and form pathways between these cells. These pathways allow a baby to learn, and are stimulated every time a baby reacts to something around her such as colors, sounds and happy emotions. By the time a child becomes an adult, her brain has grown to four times its original weight.

Exposing children to a variety of books and pictures helps stimulate their tiny brains. Introducing a child to a variety of picture books from birth helps nurture the development of the important connections or “synapses” (see picture below) in the brain that are needed for the baby's brain to grow.

Synapse picture - credit to Public Library Association

How can you stimulate your baby's brain? Pick up a book and read it with her!