Mother Goose on the Loose

Early pretend play is linked to better mental health years later

Early pretend play is linked to better mental health years later Pretend play is often seen as just for fun, but new research links early imaginative skills to better long-term mental health. The findings suggest that encouraging creative play in toddlers reduces behavioral difficulties years later.

I just saw this in an ALA post. I visited the Cox Campus a few years ago, and they do wonderful work!!!!

Hi everyone,

Our Cobb Library Cox Campus team works closely with The Rollins Center for Language and Literacy and its Cox Campus, which is in this video. There are Cox Campus members in all 50 states and beyond.

Building the Brain is the new episode of Your Fantastic Mind, a nationally-syndicated series produced by Emory Brain Health in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting. The episode features Talk With Me Baby at Atlanta's Grady Hospital and Literacy & Justice for All in Marietta City Schools.

"Explores how early brain-building shapes learning, reading and child development."

Watch at https://youtu.be/PX6Q7YskEho?si=qdzubDB8uI06Mppb

Related resources:
Cox Campus & The Rollins Center for Language and Literacy: Free, evidence-based language literacy training and resources for every adult in a child's life:
www.coxcampus.org
https://coxcampus.org/talk-with-me-baby-strengthens-early-language-development-nationwide-through-leadership-partnerships-and-evidence-based-training/
Small TALK, Wellstar Health System's pediatric literacy program:
https://www.wellstar.org/medical-services/service-lines/child-and-adolescent-care/small-talk
Cheers,
Tom

Tom Brooks, MPA
Communications Specialist
Cobb County Public Library
266 Roswell St.
Marietta, GA 30060

[email protected]
770-528-2549

Small TALK Small TALK™ is Wellstar’s Pediatric Literacy Program that emphasizes the importance of talking, reading, singing and playing with your child to promote brain growth and development.

Copngratulations to Children’s Librarian Gloria Bartas, who has become an Internet sensation!

The Best Thing I've Ever Done with Puppets - Jbrary Learn how to sing a puppet version of the classic book Dear Zoo to share at storytime with young children.

What a privilege to listen to Peter Gray speak at the Conference on Play in Indiana.

Here's a fascinating article about recent findings in brain research.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CGSXk92JF/

A New Type of Neuroplasticity Rewires the Brain After a Single Experience | Quanta Magazine “Neurons that fire together, wire together” is not the full story. A novel mechanism explains how the brain can learn across longer timescales.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fshare.google%2FkDz58ZyWCoBvzYIB7%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhiDQyLOmkR39uMsEPcfmTB2RGbDKcgP_3abaoP0pVzqtmVawO5kM0bM6a_d_aem_WBULSUzMM3H6lOgykbIEvg&h=AT4Oi11Q3Oog97BnUwTiPRMCfQ8vPA7vwwb91CZ_xb7u08mHRyHa3XYSEOUczoGk4uGKabYhjh4edFK2dzhfovSLwLMR4RKSASsGxLITEa2c67bkCdzhWF4yc7538w2rscI7c78WdM94T1a_J3MREmdUfbM2iA&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT5rrp-aWHAvGx2uVY828AFPKJf8DU7aWsoW-g4xBWD0OIA-4Xv9AdeVoLhOGzQrGsUnFs-zX3nJHQGCfnUZIR8f2XFhln9j1EXKAKIJXP_wwbhdiMGV8HpBGEqfCJvhRqr9XDG2D0lFZ9vcFMf3WEuk

I'm a literacy specialist and a mom. One simple habit helps preschoolers build reading skills long before kindergarten. As a mom, I want my toddler to memorize all the letters. As a literary expert, I know that's not the best route. Instead I prioritize engaged reading.

If you are in Indiana, please consider coming to the National Conference on the Value of Play from April 28-30 in Bloomington. Rachel Payne and I will be presenting on Wednesday morning, April 29 on "Play with Your Books: Book-Based Play and Play-Based Books for Young Children."
For more information, visit:

2026 Conference: Conference: US Play Coalition: Indiana University This annual conference brings together leading play researchers, educators, health scientists, park and recreation professionals, landscape architects, designers, planners, business and community leaders, psychologists, physicians and parents from across the globe.

Jan-Feb 2025 MGOL Newsletter -

Jan-Feb 2025 MGOL Newsletter This song addresses a behavior I’ve seen in storytime (particularly in the last five years), where caregivers hesitate to intervene when their child needs a break.