(lively music) (speaking indistinctly) (baby cooing) >> Narrator: These children, like all children, are unique.

In their first few years, neural connections are being made at an incomprehensible rate, setting the Foundational Building Blocks.

Their experiences, relationships, and environment inform which connections are made and the continuum of growth.

While many factors shape a child's early development, we will focus on the variables that are within our influence.

We believe there is comfort in knowing that a parent needs little more than mindfulness and everyday interactions, to positively impact their child's development.

Over the course of the series, we will focus on specific themes, including perinatal health, language, developmental milestones, early intervention, and healthy relationships.

Positive early childhood experiences, carry into adolescence and adulthood, a proven investment in our communities and children.

The first episode will serve as an introduction to the journey of the first 1000 days.

Welcome to Building Blocks.

(lively music) >> Announcer: Legacy Foundation is Lake County's Community Foundation.

For over 30 years, we've partnered with donors and nonprofits, focusing on youth development, the arts, the environment, health, literacy, and other causes that matter to you.

We're committed to Lake County forever.

First things first, Porter County is dedicated to supporting families, healthy beginnings, and quality early learning, ensuring every Porter County baby is born prepared for a strong start in life.

Learn more at firstthingspc.org.

(bright upbeat music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here, the feeling that I was a part of a family.

(bright upbeat music) (lively music) >> Announcer: Support for Building Blocks provided generously by Tim Sourlis and Sue Eleuterio.

Additional support for local programming and Lakeshore Public Media is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(lively music) >> Narrator: The complexity of child development cannot be overstated.

That may feel overwhelming, but there are everyday actions that every parent can do to help their child grow and thrive.

The Building Block Series relies on professional and personal knowledge and experiences to help parents be their very best, even with needs and challenges that are as unique as the child.

>> 30, 40, 50 years ago, we used to kind of think, well, children don't remember anything before they're four or five years old, so whatever happens then you get a free pass.

But the reality is that those first few years of life where you won't cognitively remember anything, where you won't be able to literally bring up a memory, that doesn't mean that is there isn't a lot going on in your human development.

And the brain is developing at an incredible pace during those first three years.

Science tells us from 40,000 to a million connections per second.

By the time you get to be 15 months, two years of age, you really have more cell connections than you'll have the rest of your life.

But the name of the game isn't the most cell connections, the name of the game is the right cell connections.

And that development is the foundation of the way your brain is going to function the rest of your life.

And of course, like anything in life, you're only as good as your foundation.

So you can always kind of compensate forward or get around it, but if you have a strong base, you're always better off moving forward.

And so we can't really replace those early years.

(lively music) >> Narrator: We stress the importance of the first 1000 days, yet we should note that the human brain is constantly changing.

Genetic information is interacting with the child's relationships and environments, and many other factors that influence the experiences of the whole child.

As the science and understanding of early childhood development advances, healthy relationships and experiences remain as vital core elements.

>> We have to understand what goes into experience, education, which we often think about, okay, we have to give our kids this educational advantage.

Well, that's true, except if you only focus on education, you're only focusing on one critical area of the experience.

So education is part of early childhood experience, but it is not the totality of that experience.

So you really have to think about how do you support a child through all the developmental aspects of life, especially because before we get to the point where we need to emphasize the cognitive aspects, we have to make sure all those other pieces are developing the way they should.

And it's a constant interplay of your physical health bone, is connected to your emotional health bone, is connected to your cognitive health bone.

All these pieces play together, right?

It's a very dynamic period and it's the totality of child development, of human development that we should be paying attention to.

And then a child will easily learn how to write their name, and count to 10, and add numbers, if they're ready for school in all of those domains of life.

>> Narrator: The idea that parents and caregivers are a child's first teacher may seem obvious, but the significance of that influence is often overlooked.

While ABCs and 123s are the introduction to education, interactions and experiences are the child's introduction to emotional and relational health.

>> But it's a fire fire truck.

>> Narrator: These Building Blocks of development are established early and guided by the trusted caregivers of the child.

(speaking indistinctly) >> Mom: Yes, she's better now.

>> When it comes to our little ones, they have no idea what else is out there, and so if we set healthy connections early, if we create these relationships now when they're infants, it's only gonna set them up to succeed.

Knowledge comes from experiences.

As challenging as it can be to take our kiddos out, and I get it, mother of two, I didn't wanna take my kids out at all when they were little until one day I finally said, you know what, we have to try.

My fears cannot outweigh the benefits that I know are out there for my children.

We started simple, we went to the park.

Sometimes we would go to the park and there wouldn't be anybody else there.

But you know what, my kiddo got to see a brand new place, they got to hear new words from me, because I had to share with them what new experiences were there.

And then before you knew it, there were other kids.

Kids also pick up on those social skills of parents.

My children learned pretty early on, mommy's a talker.

They learned that it was okay to converse back and forth, to go up to another little person because they have these models over here watching what they're doing.

Well those two mommies are talking, I guess I can go talk to somebody as well.

That only happened because I got them, I got them out, I got them into this world.

>> You know, the word experience has become my favorite word in the human language.

Whether you like to travel, or read, or learn, or whatever you do, it's all the experience of doing those things helps you do the next thing, and the next thing, and the next.

We all need experiences in all aspects of our lives.

And it's no different for infants and toddlers.

(cool music) (baby cooing) >> Your belly?

(cool music) >> Narrator: Early relational health is vital for shaping relationships.

As with all close relationships, both partners grow to know themselves and each other leading to an open and healthy connection based on safety, security, trust, and hope.

>> So I know all of this is overwhelming for parents to think about because they always think of the things that they didn't do for their kids.

First off, we know we're all doing the very best we can.

We all love our children, and we all want what's best for our children.

And that doesn't mean we're perfect, but the bottom line is what matters most to your kids is the relationship that you have with your child.

So focus on the relationship, how you can support your children, how you can nurture them in every chance.

The younger they are, that means talking to them, communicating to them, even if they're not able to talk back to you, they're listening to every word you say, they're watching everything you're doing, they're learning constantly from what you're doing, and what you're doing with them.

Those interactions you have with them are the most powerful experience that they're gonna have.

So interact with them, be with them, play with them.

Even if we as adults think we're really not doing anything, your being with your children is what your children need.

>> You know, at the beginning I isolated myself a lot because I was scared, I was sad, I felt very alone.

Whether your child is six months old and you're just finding out that, oh, they might have this, or if you're struggling in the thick of it in the NICU, do not isolate yourself.

Don't say no to the groups, don't say no to family reaching out to help you, don't be scared to reach out for help.

We were fortunate enough to have some awesome people in our corner during the NICU, after the NICU now, and now we have a whole team of therapists that are like family to us.

As bad as Owen needed his therapist, I honestly didn't know how badly I needed them as well, I'm sorry.

>> The emotional components for a child directly relate to the emotional components and health of their trusted adults.

Making sure that parents and caregivers know their health, their mental health, their wellbeing is a huge priority.

I'm sharing a lot with families about how important it is that they take care of themselves.

Finding the right supports so that they can then support their child.

There's nothing to be ashamed of, it's something we need to be proud of that we can all support each other because if we're supporting the parents, we're supporting the kid.

>> Your job is to give them comfort, support, protection, and nurturance, and if you give them that, you'll be giving them safety, security, hope and trust.

And if we as parents can give our children safety, security, hope and trust, we've done our job.

>> When we can give our babies our full and undivided attention for little periods of time throughout the day, it makes a world of difference.

You listen to them, you say something, they listen to you, they say something back.

An adult got really excited when me as baby made a sound, so I'm gonna do it again because I want to keep them engaged with me.

I seek those connections, and as a baby, those connections are crucial from little baby playtime groups to listening to their teachers as they grow up.

>> In early childhood, it's about relationship, relationship, relationship.

As goes the relationship, so goes the child.

(cool music) Even though we like to kind of romanticize what an ideal time it may be for many of us who had a good childhood to say, what a stress-free thing, everything was taken care of for me, but the stress, the pressure, the worry, the anxiety, all of those things are there throughout all aspects of life, and it's all about how we experience them, and learn to deal with them, and know that there's other people that love us and are behind us.

>> Stuck in your belly.

>> They might not have the most complex emotions early on, and quite honestly, we don't want them to.

But if they're hungry, if they're sad, if they're sleepy, if they're fussy, it's okay to label it.

We can't just tell people, ah you're fine, babies will get over it.

No, we identify it, and then we give solutions.

If we're hungry, you need to eat, if you're fussy, maybe try snuggling, maybe try giving 'em a cuddly or singing them their favorite song.

>> We'll take a break.

>> I need that.

>> Wait one second.

>> We need to feel all of the emotions and also recognize that there are ways to the shift, and work on then getting back to feeling good in your own body.

>> Those experiences, even though you don't cognitively remember, your body remembers them.

And what that means is how you respond to stress later in life, is gonna be wired into you.

So that's a biological memory.

Negative, scary, frightening experiences, the brain has to compensate for that.

It has to learn, how do I protect myself?

So what you're seeing on a biological level is children are prematurely aging, and that's all a result of stress and the experience or the lack of experience, 'cause they've lacked stimulation, and bonding, and the relationships that we want for so many of our kids.

>> Yeah.

>> Mom: Yeah.

>> Narrator: Milestones, many parents have expectations of when babies say their first words or walk their first steps, but we know that milestones are guides and not rules.

Every child is different, and we all have to learn the cues telling us what a baby needs.

As parents act on behalf of their child in the immediate term, they are helping to build a foundation for self-advocacy.

>> Geoffrey: Any parent who has multiple kids, they know how different one kid is from another child to a third child.

It does take time to learn those cues because like in any relationship, you're learning how two people communicate, and of course the baby's in a very dynamic stage where they're changing every day, and so what you have to read may be quite different from Monday to Tuesday or Wednesday.

So it is a challenge for parents, I mean, it's obviously the most difficult job you'll ever have because it is constantly changing.

And now you've got this infant who is developing rapidly right in front of you and you have all your stresses of life and you're trying to tend to this fragile new life and learn their cues and help them understand, and help them learn that you are the dependable person that that they can rely on.

>> Some kids are visual learners, some kids are auditory learners, and some kiddos are more hands-on learners.

So really taking a step back and just getting to know your child, what motivates them?

Also, remembering that just because one area of development might seem a little delayed or behind, doesn't mean that they're not flourishing in probably three others.

Nobody is supposed to know everything, and no one should be doing this on their own.

If a parent feels that in their gut something's off, then by all means, let's ask the questions.

If we don't ask, we're not gonna find out anything.

The purpose of early intervention is start now, so there isn't a problem later.

>> Especially being a mother and the love that you have for your child, if there is even like an inkling that something could possibly be off, I think that you should take that leap, ask for help, get the resources, get your child evaluated, there is no shame.

Everyone pretty much through early intervention is so caring and helpful, I hope that through all of his NICU stay, I hope his early days home, I hope now in 10 years from now, Owen never felt alone.

every step of the way I tried to be there with him as much as he was there for me, and he still is.

And we spend every single day together.

I am his caregiver, we're just like our own little duo now.

We don't really go anywhere without each other, and he supports me just as much as I support him.

Do you want one?

Okay.

>> It is really a learning process between two people, and that's what building a relationship is all about.

And that's part of the fun, because as you do read the cues better and you see your child responding to you better, that's such a satisfying and bonding thing, you feel it, and your child feels it too, because they're getting their needs met, they're being soothed and comforted.

That's a wonderful experience for anyone at any time of life.

>> Yes, are you so very excited?

Therapy is a lot.

The doctor visits are a lot.

He does not sit on his own, he does not eat on his own.

So him not having that independence can be a lot, but at the end of the day, he's here and he's a very happy little boy, and you do what you have to do.

I can't imagine life without him now.

I don't really remember a time before he was in the NICU or anything where he wasn't a part of our life.

Some days are rougher than others and some days are absolutely terrific.

And sometimes when you have a child with special needs, that's just how it is, and you just kind of roll with the tides, but at the end of the day, like we're buddies, we're buddies.

(cool music) >> We could be all done.

(indistinct) What are you doing?

Hi baby.

>> The whole concept of fixing the achievement gap in the school is really misplaced.

The intervention, the fix is in those first three years, the first five years.

And think about it like as the lines diverge in achievement, you want to fix it here when it's as wide as my fingers can go, or do you want to fix it here when it's just starting?

Fixing that is much less expensive, takes a lot less time, is much more achievable than if you're trying to fix a kid who's already two or three years behind in fourth grade.

What has their experience been in school?

How do they feel about school?

How do they feel about themselves at that point that you're stepping in to intervene versus starting young?

>> A cat.

(speaks indistinctly) >> Narrator: Small moments can have a big impact.

In fact, a child's consistent interaction and engagement in healthy environments, with trusted caregivers is crucial.

These everyday moments build a curious and engaged mind for the child to navigate the continuum of learning.

>> We can't just isolate one challenge from another.

There is no one person who knows every answer to every question.

Creating and continuing a team approach for every child is a beautiful thing, and I encourage everybody to do it.

>> Oh, look at your pink unicorn.

>> You are the best person for your child.

Nobody's gonna love your child more than you, nobody's gonna do better for your child more than you.

And it's okay to ask for help because everybody just wants what's best for you and your child.

So just ask, we're out here, we want to help.

We're here when you're ready.

The beauty of seeing your child with other children is seeing, okay, well my kid might not be doing A, but look at B, C, and D, they're leaps and bounds ahead.

There's nothing wrong with your kiddo if they're struggling in one area.

We all have our challenges and there are resources out there to help support so that they can just continue to grow and thrive in their environment.

(cool music) >> Good job.

(kid laughing) >> In your everyday moments, talk, read and sing with your children.

It's not only just the number of words too, it's the quality of those interactions.

You go to the grocery store, pick out an apple, what color is the apple?

Wait for the response.

And like, oh yeah, it is red.

You wanna help me put in the basket?

Let's count how many of apples are putting in the basket.

So these are the language-rich interactions that really help promote their development.

>> Green.

>> When a baby is fresh out into the world, right, seeing new sight and sounds, there's a lot going on and the brain is growing very, very rapidly during this time.

When you talk, they're listening to the person they love most.

And so not only is it building their brain, but it's also building that bond between parent and child.

(baby mumbling) When they start talking back, then you can have like conversations with your little one.

That continues to build upon this foundation and really lead to a great start in life.

>> Hexagon.

>> It's a hexagon.

>> What's really come out in research is that the skills that are actually more predictive of school success, and educational success, and educational outcomes, aren't just a person's IQ, or language ability, or literacy skills early in life, but it's really executive function, which the jargon would be working memory, inhibitory control, mental flexibility.

Well, what does that mean?

In real life, that means your ability to plan, to reason and to problem solve.

If you can do those things that are gonna probably be a very high functioning adult.

The foundational Building Blocks of being able to plan reason and problem solve as an adult are laid in the earliest years.

>> One of the first words I think babies learn is, no, no, stop, put that down, don't touch that.

When we can shift it and let a kiddo be able to say, no, or stop, a big one that I love to teach a kiddo is wait.

It allows them to yes, advocate for themselves and to clue the parent in.

They need something, they need a minute.

We all need a minute sometimes.

So choosing words like that without the negative connotation, but just to simply say, hang on, wait, can decrease frustration in both a child and a parent, and we know that when frustration goes down, learning goes up.

(speaks indistinctly) (baby sneezing) >> Bless you.

>> To deal with all of the challenges that any life will have, no matter what your resources are, your ability to persevere 'cause you have safety, security, hope and trust in your heart, that is how people find resilience, and that resilience comes through relationships.

That's the key, is we all have to have at least one adult who is hopelessly crazy in love with us, who will always be there for us.

There have been noted economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Nobel Prize winning economist from the University of Chicago who have documented that you save a a ton of money, 13% per year based on investing in young kids early.

And you save that money because you have years of benefit and you have years of avoiding the need for social services, and then you have a life of productivity, working, paying taxes, contributing to society, as opposed to people who need much more expensive intervention for much longer times, who are dependent upon social services, and the interventions aren't as successful.

We know what happens if we don't do these things.

We know it's cheaper and more effective if we invest early.

We know we help people reach their potential if we invest early, we know they'll have better educational outcomes, we know they'll have better health outcomes.

All of that science is there, and people don't really argue that science, the question is, what do you do about it?

And if a child receives comfort, support, insurance, and protection consistently throughout those earliest months and years, then they learn safety, security, trust, and hope.

And whether the world is the the world, the the country, the state, the county, the community, your house.

If the children in that environment learn safety, security, hope, and trust, think about what a foundation that is for them, and think about what a world we would live in.

(lively music) (upbeat music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here, the feeling that I was a part of a family.

(upbeat music) (cool music) >> Announcer: Support for Building Blocks provided generously by Tim Sourlis and Sue Eleuterio.

Additional support for local programming and Lakeshore Public Media is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(lively music) (upbeat music)