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!


A blue illustration of a mother and child. The mother is asking questions and the child is responding.

Stretch - Brain Building Basic

Stretch

Children’s brains light up when you talk, sing, or make sounds back and forth with them. So chat about your day, food, and what’s around you, or string sounds together for a fun conversation!


A purple illustration of father looks into his baby's eyes. The father and baby are babbling back and forth.

Chat Brain Building Basic

Chat

Children use their eyes to learn. See what catches your child’s eye and talk about it. Or connect eye-to-eye, then smile, chat, hug, or make funny faces!

A red illustration of a mother and child. Both are pointing to a butterfly.

Look - Brain Building Basic

Look

Young children learn best when you follow their lead. Tune into your child’s words, sounds, ideas, and movements! Then respond with your own words and actions.

A yellow illustration of a mother following her daughter's movements.

Follow - Brain Building Basic

Follow

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!  

A green illustration of a father and child throwing a ball back and forth.

Take Turns - Brain Building Basic

Take Turns

Willner Family Professor Psychology and Public Policy, and University Professor, New York University

Dr. Larry Aber

Professor of Cognitive Psychology, NYU Steinhardt

clancy-blair-headshot

The Late Dr. Clancy Blair

Director, Center for Early Childhood Health & Development, NYU Langone

laurie-brotman-headshot

Dr. Laurie Brotman

geoff-canada-headshot

Geoff Canada

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of British Columbia

adele-diamond

Dr. Adele Diamond

President and Founder of the Children’s Defense Fund 

marian-wright-edelman-headshot

Marian Wright Edelman

Director, Language Learning Lab, Stanford University

anne-fernald

Dr. Anne Fernald

President, Families & Work Institute & Founder, Mind in the Making

ellen-galinsky-headshot

Ellen Galinsky

Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley

alison-gopnik-headshot

Dr. Alison Gopnik

Director, Human Developmental Psychobiology Lab, University of Minnesota

megan-gunnar-headshot

Dr. Megan Gunnar

Director, Infant and Child Laboratory, Temple University

kathy-hirsch-pasek-headshot

Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek

Professor of Management Practice, University of Louisville

nat-irvin-ii-headshot

Dr. Nat Irvin II

Co-Director, Institute of Learning & Brain Science, University of Washington

pat-kuhl-headshot

Dr. Pat Kuhl

Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center 

michael-levine-headshot

Dr. Michael H. Levine

Senior Advisor, Buffet Early Childhood Fund

joan-lombardi-headshot

Dr. Joan Lombardi

Katherine E. Smith Endowed Professor in Child Development, Oregon State University

megan-mcclelland-headshot

Dr. Megan McClelland

andy-meltzoff-headshot

Dr. Andy Meltzoff

Professor of Medical Psychology in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center

Dr. Catherine Monk

Director, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

jack-shonkoff-headshot

Dr. Jack Shonkoff

Nancy M. and John E. Lindahl Professor at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota 

philip-zelazo-headshot

Dr. Philip Zelazo

Vroom App

Vroom Science, Research, Evaluation, and Metrics

About Vroom

Vroom Materials

About

Science

For Professionals

Log In

Try Vroom

Header Menu

Behind the Research

Support and FAQ

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Ver en español

Footer Menu

Life Skills that Promote Executive Function

Diamond, Adele. “Why Improving and Assessing Executive Functions Early in Life Is Critical.” Executive Function in Preschool-Age Children: Integrating Measurement, Neurodevelopment, and Translational Research., pp. 11–43.

Blair, Clancy, et al. “Two Approaches to Estimating the Effect of Parenting on the Development of Executive Function in Early Childhood.” Developmental Psychology, vol. 50, no. 2, 2014, pp. 554–565.

Allan, Nicholas P., et al. “Relations between Inhibitory Control and the Development of Academic Skills in Preschool and Kindergarten: A Meta-Analysis.” Developmental Psychology, vol. 50, no. 10, 2014, pp. 2368–2379.

Best, John R., et al. “Relations between Executive Function and Academic Achievement from Ages 5 to 17 in a Large, Representative National Sample.” Learning and Individual Differences, vol. 21, no. 4, 2011, pp. 327–336.

Back and Forth Interactions

Weisleder, Adriana, and Anne Fernald. “Talking to Children Matters.” Psychological Science, vol. 24, no. 11, Oct. 2013, pp. 2143–2152.

Brooks, Rechele, and Andrew N. Meltzoff. “Connecting the Dots from Infancy to Childhood: A Longitudinal Study Connecting Gaze Following, Language, and Explicit Theory of Mind.” Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, vol. 130, 2015, pp. 67–78.

Ramãrez-Esparza, Nairán, et al. “Look Who's Talking NOW! Parentese Speech, Social Context, and Language Development Across Time.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 8, 2017

Positive Adult-Child Relationships

Groh, Ashley M., et al. “Attachment in the Early Life Course: Meta-Analytic Evidence for Its Role in Socioemotional Development.” Child Development Perspectives, vol. 11, no. 1, 2016, pp. 70–76.

Brotman, Laurie Miller, et al. “Effects of ParentCorps in Prekindergarten on Child Mental Health and Academic Performance.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 170, no. 12, Jan. 2016, p. 1149.

Bindman, Samantha W., et al. “Do Children's Executive Functions Account for Associations between Early Autonomy-Supportive Parenting and Achievement through High School?” Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 107, no. 3, 2015, pp. 756–770.

Emerging Research

Vroom Guide: Talking About Race with Young Children

Una Guía de Vroom: Hablar de la Raza con los Niños Pequeños

A new collection of Vroom Tips™ on identity is now available! These tips show how kids of all backgrounds build self-awareness and understand their role in their family, community, and beyond.

We know COVID-19 is having a big impact on the lives of families. Vroom is here to help.

With Vroom, it's easy to be a brain-builder. Whether you use the Vroom app, Vroom web app, Vroom by Text™, or even print at home, Vroom Tips can always be there when you need them. 1,000+ Vroom Tips, and the brain science behind them, are right at your fingertips!

Icon VroomApp

Icon SMS

Vroom by Text™ sends customized tips for your child from our virtual coach, Jesse.

Icon Clipboard

Put a Vroom Tip in your bag, near your diapers or on the fridge! (And print an extra to share with a friend!)

Life gets busy. Vroom stays simple.