BLOG: Face Time or Facebook?

Every once in a while, we read a blog that really hits home! I hope what I'm about to say does so for many of you. 

Get in your car, drive around and you will see parents pulling up to a stop light with a baby or very young child in the back seat, and the adult will pick up their cell phone to see who sent them a message. 

Big mistake! Ninety percent of a child's brain development occurs in the first 5 years of a child's life. Language development starts from the moment they're born with children hearing sounds from the mother, father and other family members. Watching their lips, to see how sounds are formed is essential to good language development.

When parents miss the opportunity to talk with their children at every possible moment, engaging them in hearing words, new words and even stretching their vocabulary will pay huge dividends as the child grows up and goes to school.

Every signal or stop sign affords a parent or grandparent a fantastic opportunity to help a child develop better language skills.

Face time with your child or Facebook with friends some you have never met…… an interesting dilemma.

Bill Habermehl was the superintendent of Orange County Department of Education from 2001-2012.