Training: Adapting Vroom Content

Module 1: Brain Building Basics

Brain Building Basics

The Vroom Brain Building Basics are a distillation of the science behind Vroom.  

These accessible, action-oriented prompts for parents and caregivers are the foundation of Vroom Tips.

The Big Idea?

Each Vroom Tip includes at least one of the five Brain Building Basics. These prompts help caregivers think about their role as brain-builders in simple, actionable ways!

  1. Look (Red)
    Children use their eyes to learn.
    • See what catches your child’s attention and talk about it. Or connect eye-to-eye, then smile, chat, hug, or make funny faces!
Look
  1. Chat (Purple)
    Children’s brains light up when you talk, sing, or make sounds back and forth with them.
    • Chat about your day, about food, or about what’s around you. Or, string sounds together for a fun conversation!
Chat
  1. Follow (Gold)
    Young children learn best when you follow their lead.
    • Tune into your child’s words, sounds, movements, and ideas! Then respond with your own words and actions.
Follow
  1. Stretch (Blue)
    Children’s brains grow strong when you help them stretch their learning further.
    • Keep a moment going: Ask your child a question that starts with what, when, where, how, or why!
Stretch
  1. Take Turns (Green)
    Children learn from taking turns when you play, talk, or explore.
    • After they go, take your turn. Then repeat: they go, you go, they go, you go!
Take Turns
Keep in Mind

Just like Vroom Tips, the five Vroom Brain Building Basics are for adults. These actions reflect what the caregiver is doing, not the child. (Although in some cases they might both be doing it!)

Color-Coding

While a single Vroom Tip may reflect more than one of the Brain Building Basics, we’ve identified a primary focus for each tip. To make it easy for parents to identify them, each of the Brain Building Basics is assigned a color. Vroom Materials are color-coded to show which Brain Building Basic each Vroom Tip highlights. While we choose to color-code the tips for easy identification, this isn’t a requirement for using Vroom Content. That said, the Brain Building Basics are an important tool to help parents practice brain building on their own!

Vroom Tip: Picture This and Brainy Background

This Vroom Tip, Words All Around, is all about communication and illustrates how conversations can be hand with a child even before they start to speak. Because this tip aligns with the Brain Building Basic "chat," it has been colored purple.