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Congratulations On Your Baby!

United Way Young Leaders Society and our partners hope that you and your baby enjoy the complimentary book. This book is just one of the many resources we provide to parents in our community that support early learning and literacy.
Wendy Nielsen Young Leaders Society Committee Chair

Young Leaders Society

The Young Leaders Society of United Way of East Central Iowa supports initiatives that target early childhood education and assist parents in their role as their childs rst teacher.

Play & Learn is a weekly gathering for ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers to learn and explore through art, music, play and stories.

Did you know?

Children who are read to at home have a higher rate of success in school.

Play & Learn is supported by Young Leaders Society.

UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org

Please visit UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org/BabiesandBooks to learn more about Play & Learn, the materials touched in this booklet, and additional resources for you and your family.

Visit a
More t han books

Library
Did you know?

tapes Ds and C usical Find m Movies ernet ith int ters w you Compu assist ians to Librar of all atalog tro e rized c ompute ials at all m C ter the ma libraries

Your Metro Library Card works at the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion Public Libraries. Books may be returned to any location or at a Hy-Vee store in the blue Metro Library Book Box.

es and ory tim all for st t oin us programs a ils. J r deta special Call fo ns. locatio

Fun tim e!

Cedar Rapids Public Libraries 319-398-5123 www.crlibrary.org Hiawatha Public Library 319-398-1414 www.hiawathalibrary.com Marion Public Library 319-377-3412 www.marionpubliclibrary.org

Five ideas for new parents

Understand and respond to your babys needs.
You cant spoil an infant, so go to her when she fusses or cries. Ignoring a babys needs can do harm by causing stress levels to rise. You may not always understand your babys cues, but be patient. This is a learning process for both you and your baby. If she likes what you are doing, you know you are getting it right.

By responding to your babys cues, you teach her that you care about her needs and that she can trust you.

Take care of yourself so you can take care of your child.

Becoming a parent can be overwhelming and exhausting. Unless you take care of yourself, you will have a hard time taking good care of your child. For this reason, it is important to have support from friends, family or community organizations.

Do not be afraid to ask for help caring for your child.

More ideas at UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org/BabiesAndBooks

UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org

Talk, sing and read to your child.

Let your child hear your voice as much as possible. The young brain is especially interested in sound. Sounds are also important to a child because they are the building blocks of speech and language.

You can form a deep emotional connection between you and your child by simply sharing the sound of your voice.

Create a predictable world for your child.

It also teaches him that he can depend on you. If your child understands this, he will spend less energy fussing over his needs and more time learning. Routines can include basic activities like feeding and bathing.

Providing routines and expected responses gives your child a sense that the world is a trustworthy place.

Provide a warm and loving environment.

A child who feels loved will have an easier time learning about the world around her. Therefore, make sure you interact with your child, providing love and a ection.

Helping your child feel safe and secure is the key to encouraging growth and development.

Do you have concerns about your childs development?

Your child may be automatically eligible for services from birth to three years old if he or she: Was born premature Was exposed to lead or drugs Has a known condition Is in foster care By 3 Months Old Your Baby Should:
Lift her head when laying on her stomach Follow a moving object with her eyes Be able to grasp a rattle Wiggle and kick her legs Smile back at people Make cooing sounds Cry in different ways to communicate For more info about your babys development and needs, please visit our website:

We have people who can help evaluate such things as your childs: Speech Vision Hearing Behavior Emotional Development Preschool Readiness

www.EarlyACCESSIowa.org

Call today to set up an appointment: 319-399-6746 or 1-800-332-8488

Looking for Childcare?

or www.iowaccrr.org to find quality childcare providers in your area

Call 866-324-3236

All about

Reading
Bring books everywhere.
Keep small books in your car, purse and stroller and pull them out on the bus, while waiting at a doctors o ce or when standing in line.

Help your baby touch books and turn the pages.

Are there things to touch on the page? Talk about what you see.

Read and play with books every day.

Make it a fun and special time. Read the same story before naps or bedtime. You dont have to nish the story. Stop when your baby loses interest.

Point to interesting pictures as you read.

Describe them. Explain what you see. Play peek-a-boo with the pictures by covering and uncovering them with your hand.

More ideas at UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org/BabiesandBooks

Picture books with simple objects or faces Board or cloth books with durable, easy-turn pages Books with textures to touch and feel

Best Bo oks

UnitedWayofEastCentralIowa.org