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Early Links
Paint Shoalhaven REaD, Black and Yellow
Paint Shoalhaven REaD, Black & Yellow began in 2016 as a collaborative working party of early childhood teachers, community organisations, librarians, community workers, local Elders, and community members. Rhonda Brain’s Community Early Literacy Program inspired it – Paint the Town REaD, which began in Parkes NSW, and is now inspiring communities across Australia. The aim is to encourage all levels of the community to support Shoalhaven children’s early learning from birth, and to make this lots of fun for everyone!

Recent scientific research has confirmed what many people believed anyway – the first three years of a child’s life (and the months before birth) have an enormous impact on a child’s wellbeing, learning, and behaviour. Brain growth at that time is incredible – 80-90% of our brain growth and connections occur in these first few years, and we will never get such an opportunity to help our brains as in these early years.
Growing babies’ brains depend on the grownups in their lives for stimulation. It’s not hard! Just by taking the time to have fun with little ones – playing games, sharing stories, picture books, songs, rhymes with babies and toddlers, just to name a few – gives those hungry brains just what they need to reach their potential.
