In this Ted Talk, seven-year-0ld Molly Wright explains how parents can help their kids thrive and develop into calm, happy children and adults. Connection and playing with your children is of the utmost important, something that Molly summarizes with the phrase “Serve and Return”. In an age of technology and ever-increasing responsibilities for parents, it important to give your kids your undivided attention as often as possible. Games like peek-a-book, copy-cat, and naming games all help children to develop important things, like trust, imagination, and vocabulary, while reinforcing the bond and connection between parent and child.

The first five years of a child’s life are a period of crucial development and growth, and parents’ support of their children during this time creates a foundation that the child can develop from for the rest of their life.

To watch the full Ted Talk and learn more, click here!

Afrah Rafi

UConn KIDS Research Assistant

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