MAIN Kids Health Child Development Learning Skills

As their minds are stimulated by the sights and sounds that surround them, children begin developing learning skills even from early infancy.

While physical development is aided by caring concern and good nutrition, cognitive ability follows from a baby's natural curiosity about the world and how to manipulate it to fulfill simple needs.

An infant learns that crying brings food, comfort and a clean diaper. As motor skills develop baby learns to bring objects closer to explore the environment. Everything is tasted as a potential food source until the brain grasps the concept that eating is not the only enjoyable activity available.

Once that happens, baby begins to conquer the world. Enriching the space that your baby lives in helps to stimulate brain development and it's the smart parent who encourages early language skills and an optimum environment for learning.

Around the Web, discover more about helping your child get a head start at top sites that show you how to stimulate the capacity for early learning - along with tips on where to find fun interactive games online, homework help by subject for older kids, plus information on learning disabilities and the signals that tell you when to seek help ...

ABC's of Child Care - Cognitive - Broad list of recognized milestones from infancy to age five, from PBS.

Learning, Play and Your Newborn - Expert tips for stimulating an infant's mind with related articles for first- time parents and related resources, from KidsHealth.org.

Early Childhood Education - Education Atlas - Extensive links list of top sites offering tips, advice on kindergarten readiness, special needs information, related magazines, e-zines, and organizations, interactive learning pages for preschoolers, and more early education resources by subject.

Early Childhood and Education Resources - One-stop browsing for kid-friendly learning resources including source materials, interactive games, videos, suggested reading.

NEA - Help for Parents - Extensive guide from the National Education Assocation featuring homework help tips, advice on improving parent-teacher conferences, and a best-of-Web guide to related resources.

Improving Your Child's Learning Ability - Tips & advice by subject matter including mathematics, geography, spelling, reading & vocabulary building, checklist of reading skills milestones by age group, with additional resources for learning more about ADHD and other learning disabilities.

You Child, Ages 7 - 11 : School - Parent's guide for second to sixth grade students with related milestones, expert skill building resources, printable worksheets, and related links to more on homework, reading skills development.

BBC - Parenting - Learning - Good overviews on for helping children learn from infancy to 16-plus, with links to related resources and interactive learning tools.

LD Online - Parenting & Family - With the focus on learning disabilities including a virtual library of feature articles offering advice on parent advocacy, coping with ADD, improving reading and study skills, and practical tips for dealing with emotional and behavioral problems.

also see -> ADD / ADHD | Autism

also see in Education -> Early Childhood Education | K-12

also see -> Mom-Approved Games & Toy Reviews

also see related feature stories -> Starting First Grade

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