The 3 Core Science Concepts Behind Vroom
It’s easy to remember these principals and apply them in your work with parents and caregivers.
- Positive Adult-Child Relationships
Positive, supportive experiences with adults are important to children’s brain development. These interactions are the foundation for building a strong and resilient brain.
- Vroom Tips help adults find easy ways to bond with their children and promote learning. Here’s an example:
Spotlight Tip Example
Today’s Feeling
Vroom Tip #67
Suggested ages 3 - 5 years
- Ask your child to talk about their day using feeling words like happy, excited, and sad. Try questions like, “Was there a time when you felt frustrated today?” Ask them to make faces that express these feelings. Share your day as well.
- Brainy Background When you take time to talk about feelings with your child in fun ways every day, you make your relationship stronger. You're helping them connect feelings and actions, too. Once your child understands their emotions, they can better relate to others.
Children learn best in supportive and trusting relationships. You're bonding with them as well as helping them learn.
- Back and Forth Interaction
During the earliest years, children’s back and forth interactions with trusted adults create millions of brain connections.
- Vroom encourages these interactions through eye contact with the child from day 1; stretching out learning moments, and more. Here’s an example:
Spotlight Tip Example
Babble On
Vroom Tip #13
Suggested ages 0 - 12 months
Don’t be afraid to babble. When your child starts to make noises, treat it like a real conversation and mimic the sounds right back. See how many times you can go back-and-forth!
Brainy Background All kinds of conversations help to build children's brains—even when they're still learning how to talk. By following your child's lead and responding, you spark the connections they need for language and communication later on.
- Building Life Skills
Life skills develop naturally through positive childhood experiences. They include focus, self control, problem-solving, and taking on challenges. Vroom helps parents build their child’s skills in these important areas.
- These are what scientists refer to as executive function skills.
Spotlight Tip Example
Animal Stop and Go
Vroom Tip #964
Suggested ages 2 - 4 years
- When moving or dancing with your child, instead of using the words "stop" and "go," choose two animals. Encourage them to move when they hear the word "bird" and to stop when you say "dog." Go back and forth between the two animals, fast and slow. Then give them a turn to lead the game.
- Brainy Background Children learn skills like focus and self-control by moving, not by sitting still! Playing active games with your child helps them learn to pay attention, follow directions, and respond to changing situations—skills they will need in school and in life.
Studies show that school readiness and success, better health, and stable finances in adulthood are tied to having strong executive function skills.