“Games to Play with Babies will allow you to interact with your baby as well as teach them valuable skills while having fun.” 

—San Diego Family Magazine, on Games to Play with Babies

“Featuring more than 225 simple activities to delight and stimulate children during their first year, this book includes numerous intriguing variations on games and notes on what babies will learn from each game… Any equipment needed is readily available and each game is fun and natural—no flash cards here!”
—Birmingham Family Times, on Games to Play with Babies

“Packed with games and illustrations to help nurture your child and build confidence, coordination, and social skills. Makes a great gift for new parents.”
—ParentLife, on Games to Play with Toddlers

“Most of us lack the creative energy to come up with loads of new and exciting activities for our toddlers. That’s why I love this book. It’s packed with easy games you can play anytime, anywhere. The games are more than just fun for your child. They are actually designed to enhance the development of your child’s language and motor skills. You’ll have a great time while you lay a strong foundation of learning in your child.”
—Christian Parenting Today, on 125 Brain Games for Toddlers and Twos

“From the best-selling author of Games to Play With Babies, Games to Play With Toddlers, and Games to Play With Two Year Olds comes this exciting new book for three to six-year-olds. Arranged by activity: alphabet, animal, birthday, color, counting, drama, guessing, imagination, language, listening, math, music, nursery rhymes, relaxing, rhyming, science, thinking, transition, and weather games. Also includes a skills and terms index. Great for group use!”
—Reviews from Parent Council, on 500 Five Minute Games

“No parent, teacher, or child-care center worker can afford to be without their own personal copy of 300 Three Minute Games!”
—Children’s Bookwatch, on 300 Three Minute Games

“Believing that laughter can be an effective teaching tool, Silberg provides more than 300 finger plays, jokes, poems, and activities designed to tickle children’s funny bones while helping them learn. Skills addressed include rhyming, sequencing, motor, socialization, and listening. While some of these activities will be familiar, fresh ideas are found throughout the volume. Directions for each activity are clear and sidebars note the developmental concepts addressed.”
—School Library Journal, on The Learning Power of Laughter

“Provides parents and caregivers with over 200 activities that will encourage young children to utilize their senses. The activities explore how the senses are used and how they add enjoyment and leaning to our lives. Recommended for parents or caregivers of young children.”
—Education Station

Q: You have written 16 books for parents and teachers and your books have won numerous awards, from Parent’s Choice Awards to Earlychildhood News Directors’ Choice Awards. Why do you think your books appeal to both parents and educators alike?

A: Parents and educators enjoy my books because they are easy to read, present meaningful activities that are simple and straightforward, and always tell the reader why the activity is important. While some books are really focused only on classroom learning, my books are easily adapted for home use so parents can pick up where school leaves off.

Q: How does brain research play a role in the books you write?

A: Research shows that brain activity creates tiny electrical connections called synapses. The amount of stimulation young children receive has a direct effect on how many synapses will be formed. By repeating experiences and activities, the connections grow stronger and eventually become permanent. I incorporate brain-friendly experiences and activities into my books so children develop strong brain function while they have fun.

Q: Your latest book, Baby Smarts, features games that parents can play with babies without buying expensive toys or props. How are these games helpful for a baby’s growth and development?

A: The games in Baby Smarts develop listening, language, motor, cognitive, and social skills. When babies form loving attachments to adults and have the opportunity and encouragement to explore and experience their environment, they will be prepared for learning throughout their lives. Adults can establish these bonds and provide these experiences with the activities in Baby Smarts.

Q: What is the most common misconception about raising a child today?

A: I think that many adults have unrealistic expectations for their children and expect them to act and think in ways that are not appropriate for their age. There are many great books that can help parents understand where their children should be developmentally while providing activities and games for helping children to reach developmentally appropriate milestones. I hope parents will utilize these resources so their children can build a strong basis for future learning.

Q: You focus on literacy and on helping children succeed and thrive as readers. What are simple techniques that parents and teachers can implement today?

A: Read to your child. Sing to your child. Make up stories using the child’s name in the stories. …and most of all, talk….talk….talk…to your child!

Q: You perform concerts, present workshops for teachers and administrators, and work one-on-one with children in classrooms: all of this when you’re not writing books or recording CDs! Which aspect of your career do find the most rewarding? Why?

A: I find all aspects rewarding. I get a lot of email thanking me for ideas that have helped teachers meet the needs of the children in their classrooms. When I give a concert and the families leave singing and dancing down the aisle, I get great satisfaction. When teachers tell me how meaningful my presentations are, I feel wonderful. As long as I know that I am helping to make the lives of children better, I am totally rewarded.

Q: You have lectured and performed in Singapore, Australia, and Bali. What differences do you see in education and parenting in these countries compared to what you see in the United States?

A: In all of the countries that I have worked in, the basic love and care for children is universal. The methods for teaching are often different; for example, the schools in some countries try to emulate Reggio. Other countries still use worksheets, letters of the week, and more formal methods of teaching. All of the countries that I have visited use music as a way to teach everything. Of course, I agree with that because music is nonjudgmental and gives joy and pleasure to everyone.

Jackie Silberg’s website

Download children’s songs by Jackie

The following Professional Development opportunities are offered by this author:

KEYNOTES

Touched by a SongThis dynamic keynote explores how music affects children’s linguistic, visual/spatial, kinesthetic, and intrapersonal development. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn a variety of action songs, quiet songs, fingerplays, lullabies, and signing games from a variety of cultures. In addition, participants will explore ways to help children develop social and emotional skills while learning to appreciate music. Participants will go back to their classroom with a revitalized passion for music, as well as the tools and techniques necessary to confidently incorporate music into the classroom experience.

You Can Make a DifferenceIn this inspiring and entertaining keynote, Miss Jackie mixes educational wisdom and fun to explore the ways teachers can make a difference in the lives of the children in their classroom. Participants will return to their classroom with a new appreciation of themselves and the children with whom they work. With combination of child development information and classroom philosophy, this inspiring session is energizing and exciting.

INFANT & TODDLER WORKSHOPS

Smart Babies: Games for Learning and Playing with an Emphasis on LiteracyA baby's brain develops at a phenomenal rate during the first few years of life, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for growth and learning. In this workshop, participants will learn a variety of activities, songs, and games that use the latest brain research to help support and enhance children’s learning in these crucial early years. This workshop explores using music and movement to accelerate children’s cognitive learning, early literacy development, and creativity.

Simple Games to Promote Early Brain Development for Infants, Toddlers, and TwosChildren have the ability to acquire and process a vast amount of knowledge at a very young age. This workshop teaches a variety of fun-filled games that maximize children’s educational experience and brain development from birth to age two. For each game, Miss Jackie provides information on related brain research and on how the activity helps promotes children’s brain development. These simple games and activities strengthen the brain connections necessary for language acquisition, physical development, bonding ability, and more.

Infant/Toddler Brain DevelopmentInfants and toddlers learn best through fun activities that encourage bonding between adult and child. In this workshop, Miss Jackie teaches participants the best ways to interact with infants and toddlers in order to stimulate children’s language acquisition, physical development, and cognitive thinking skills. The activities and games presented in this workshop promote listening and language skills, coordination, problem-solving, imagination, confidence, dexterity, and many other skills.

PRESCHOOL WORKSHOPS

Peas Porridge Cold, Peas Porridge Hot: Nursery Rhymes that will Teach a LotNursery rhymes play an important role in children’s lives, helping to stimulate memory, improve language skills, enrich vocabulary, develop phonemic awareness, encourage thinking skills...and they’re fun! This workshop teaches educators and parents how to use the connection between nursery rhymes and literacy to help children learn to read. Participants will leave the workshop with ideas and activities that help children experience the joy of song and rhyme. A bibliography will be provided, as well as handouts containing interesting information about Mother Goose and the origin of many popular rhymes and songs.

The Learning Power of LaughterThis workshop—based on the book by the same name—will show participants how to integrate humor and laughter into the learning process, using the power of laughter to encourage childrens’ creativity while helping them learn sequencing skills, develop phonemic awareness, use their imaginations, develop listening skills, and work with rhymes and language. Participants learn how to use fun and laughter to foster a child’s imagination and love of learning.

Nurturing Literacy Skills in Young ChildrenLearning to read is an important milestone in every child’s life, and the foundation for literacy is built in the earliest years. Based on the latest reading research, this workshop teaches participants songs, poems, chants, fingerplays, and games that develop phonemic awareness, alliteration, alphabet fun, phonics, vocabulary development, and fluency in children from birth to three years.

Laughing and Singing Make Way for Good ReadingEmerging research shows that rhymes and songs are more than entertaining—they play a positive role in helping children develop both vocabulary and sound discrimination between birth and age six. With an emphasis on ages three to six, this workshop shows participants how to unleash the power of rhythm and rhyme to teach important skills, while having fun with songs, poems, rhymes, and fingerplays.

Games that Develop Skills in Young ChildrenThis jam-packed session is full of games, songs, and fun learning ideas perfectly suited for children aged three to six. Like all of Miss Jackie's workshops, participants are treated to interactive games that are full of fun and laughter.

To request information about this author´s presentations, please contact Robyn Clark at [email protected]