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Dan Wuori

@danwuori.bsky.social

11K followers 630 following 1.3K posts

Educator, Author of The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It)

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Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · Nov 10

Hi! I’m new around here and wanted to say hello.

My name is Dan Wuori and I have dedicated my social media channels to helping explore the wonderment of early childhood development.

The NY Times wrote about this project back in March. I’d love to connect! www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/u...

Watch These Cute Videos of Babies (and Learn Something, Too)

A social media account features smiley toddlers, while also offering positive lessons about child development.

www.nytimes.com

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 17h

How fascinating is this video from youngchelsmarie (IG)?

Alongside expressive language itself, young children are internalizing lessons about the gestures and tones of voice that can help make their messages convincing.

She may not have the all the right words, but she’s already making her case!

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 5d

Excited to share the message of The Daycare Myth today at the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children’s Early Learning Collaborative Symposium in Boise.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 6d

Loving this sweet video shared to IG by joelansett.

(PS: more sophisticated understandings of plants as living typically develop during the preschool years.)

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 6d

One of the ways they do so is through careful observation of an object’s independent motion - or lack thereof.

But what is one to conclude when a tree begins waving to you? And convincingly so.

You wave back, of course.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 6d

Babies begin distinguishing between animate and inanimate objects as early as four months. At least in very basic ways.

Thread 🧵

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

Look for opportunities to sit face to face in close proximity to your little one. They’re not only enjoying the view… they’re learning from it.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

Babies also use our faces to help unlock the mysteries of spoken language - watching the movement of our lips and mouths with keen interest as they work to decipher just how we make those wonderful sounds coming out of our mouths.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

First, they’re monitoring your mood and facial expressions as a gauge of their own safety. When you are happy and relaxed, chances are that your baby will be too.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

And that adoration? Those wide eyes? Both are helping to promote dad’s attachment and caretaking behaviors.

But there’s more than just adoration driving newborns’ attunement to faces.

Your baby uses your face as a critical - and primary - data source.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

Watching this beautiful video, shared to IG by gerookerbs, the first thing you’re likely to notice is baby’s adoring gaze and unbroken eye contact.

It’s true. For your baby there is no sight more beautiful than your face.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 8d

Your face is an endless source of fascination and information for your baby.

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Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 14d

It’s a great reminder (especially in this day and age) that you needn’t buy a ton of highly-specific plastic toys.

Indeed, more multi-purpose toys, like wooden blocks, can serve you well - allowing your little one to use their imagination in new and flexible ways.
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🎥 via cute.babieshd on IG.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 14d

My favorite part of this whole video comes in the final second or two. If you watch closely you’ll notice that there is, in fact, a toy cell phone on the table - which baby bypasses in favor of a more imaginative approach.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 14d

Typically beginning between 12-18 months, symbolic play involves the imaginative use of one object to represent another.

A kitchen bowl becomes a hat.

An empty box becomes a car.

Or, in this case, the base to a baby monitor becomes a cell phone.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 14d

“Excuse me, I need to take this call…” 📱

Your baby is a keen observer of the world. This includes a growing knowledge of objects and their uses.

Which brings us to this little one - who has reached an important developmental milestone: symbolic play.

(Thread 🧵)

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

Only a year old and he’s already putting the pieces together. Kudos to mom and dad for what’s clearly been a steady supply of cuddly, interactive reading.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

And there’s little doubt that he’s learning how books themselves are organized and work.

Notice how he holds the book in its correct orientation, proceeding from left to right and front to back.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

And don’t assume that just because his spoken (or expressive) language isn’t yet reflecting it, that he isn’t developing a rich vocabulary as his parents share these texts. Remember that our receptive language (that which we understand when spoken aloud) precedes our expressive abilities.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

His language is not yet conventional. But listen as he babbles in “board book style,” stringing together short bursts of language… 1 or 2 sentences per page, before proceeding to the next.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

This little one (12 months), shared to TT by mamaofcutehapas, has spent enough time reading with his parents that he’s already showing off all he’s learned as part of his independent “reading.”

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 18d

Amazing things happen when lap reading is introduced as a joyful part of your baby’s daily routine.

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Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 22d

Just take a screenshot of your order confirmation from the Teachers College Press website and send it to me, along with your mailing address, to dwuori at gmail dot com.

Here’s the link to order: www.tcpress.com/the-daycare-...

The Daycare Myth 9780807786482 | Teachers College Press

Teachers College Press

www.tcpress.com

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 22d

I recently ran across a stash of about 2 dozen remaining sets here which I’m happy to sign and mail while supplies last.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 22d

When the book was released I signed personalized bookplates and shared a special promotional postcard with all those who pre-ordered.

Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · 22d

This month will mark 1 year since the release of my book, The Daycare Myth. To celebrate, Teachers College Press is offering a 20% discount until Oct. 15. Just use the code DCMYTH at checkout. Link below

And if you’re interested here’s a bonus offer… 🧵