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The Brain Architecture Game is a tabletop game that helps people appreciate the impact of early childhood experiences on outcomes across the lifespan. Your goal is to build a brain that is as tall as possible, which represents functionality, and as sturdy as possible, which represents the ability to withstand stresses. The game is a 75-90 minute experience optimized for groups of 4-6 people per table. It can be played in small workshops, conferences, and large events, with as few as 8, or as many as 300 participants.Read More →

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There is a growing body of research to support the importance of the first 1001 critical days. This infographic pulls out some key facts and statistics to support the case for action.Read More →

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This infographic sets out the core story of why relationships between parents and their babies in the first 1001 days are so crucially important. It was co-created by a wide range of professionals, coordinated by the Parent-Infant Foundation. Importantly, the infographic makes it clear that BOTH tackling adversity AND supporting early relationships are important in giving children the best start in life.Read More →

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This video, developed by the Alberta Family Welfare Initiative, describes what is meant by the concept “serve and return”. Serve and return is one of the most important forms of child and guardian interaction. It occurs when a parent or caregiver is responsive to a child’s verbal cues and actions. By providing positive feedback via eye contact, sound, words, and physical interaction, the adult helps spark the child’s interest and enthusiasm in practicing things like speech, language and social learning. Without active serve and return engagement, children can lose interest in these activities, potentially undermining the development of fundamental brain architecture.Read More →

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The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) has developed an online course to make Brain Story science available to professionals and the public. Brain Story Certification is designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health. The course is also designed for professionals seeking certification in a wide range of fields. It is a free, in-depth course comprised of 19 modules. The course is for anyone who wants to learn more about the science of brain development. Upon successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate in Brain Story Science.Read More →

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The Alberta Family Welfare Initiative has developed the “Brain Story Toolkit” comprising of videos and documents to foster understanding of brain development and the link with early childhood experiences. This four minute video, “How Brains are Built” was developed with considerable input from partners at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the FrameWorks Institute.Read More →

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In response to this evolving understanding and a dramatic increase in research on early brain and child development, an expert workgroup of pediatricians and public health professionals revised five modules to provide the latest key information and resources on early brain development, toxic stress, ACEs, parenting and how to be an advocate in your community. In addition, a sixth supplementary module was created with a specific focus on the role of public health professionals.Read More →

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In 2009, Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child launched a collaboration with the Interactive Media Division of the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC) to develop and test new ways of communicating the science of early childhood development using interactive media. The “Brain Hero” video, depicting how actions by a range of people in the family and community impact child development, is the first product of this collaboration. This 3-minute video adapts the visual sensibility of interactive game models to a video format and portrays how actions taken by parents, teachers, policymakers, and others can affect life outcomes for both the child and the surrounding community.Read More →

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This grid provides a framework and examples for promoting and supporting Early Brain and Child Development (EBCD) in practice. Intended for busy health professionals, the grid, which was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Early Brain and Child Development Leadership Workgroup, distills information from a wide array of resources into a practice-friendly framework for pediatricians.Read More →

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This video tells the story of little Elena Stojic, who was born two months early in Kragujevac, Serbia. With support from UNICEF Serbia, the facility where she was born is employing kangaroo care with pre-term newborns. In the video her mother, Mirjana, describes how skin to skin contact helped her bond with Elena and resulted in immediate benefits for Elena’s health and development.Read More →

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This video opens with Bill Gates explaining the power of kangaroo mother care in preventing newborn death. It then cuts to a health worker explaining why she uses this technique.Read More →

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This video library covers topics related to nutrition, breastfeeding, small babies, newborns, and childbirth. The videos are available in multiple languages and can be viewed on the site or downloaded. There are both videos intended for parents and videos intended for health workers and volunteers.Read More →

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Infographics and posters that can be used in program and advocacy efforts related to breastfeeding. For other languages contact the regional or national UNICEF and WHO offices.Read More →

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In this 12 minute soap opera, ammaji (grandmother) helps a mother and father understand why it’s important for them to spend time with their children, give them attention, talk to them, and play with them. Read More →

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HealthPhone™ is a video reference library and guide to better health and nutrition practices, for families and communities, including the illiterate, in their language, distributed on mobile phones. There are over 2,500 videos in 70+ languages. Topics include breastfeeding, safe motherhood and newborn health, child development and early learning, child protection, and malaria. Read More →

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In this educational and heartwarming 24 minute video filmed in India by Hands to Heart International (HHI), you will learn the basic baby massage strokes, the benefits of massage, and tips on how to know if the baby is enjoying the massage. The video is subtitled in 21 languages.Read More →