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Laura Bush visits with parents Ronnie and Chakeiva Collins, a couple from Plant City, Florida and their 2-day-old son at Tampa General Hospital on Tuesday, October 1, 2002. Mrs. Bush presented the new parents a copy of the Healthy Start, Grow Smart magazine series that provides parents with critical information about the early development, health, nutrition and safety needs of babies and toddlers. White House photo by Susan Sterner.

Healthy Start, Grow Smart

All parents need to know how important it is to read to their babies and to encourage children to play with books and develop essential skills before they enter school. Research on language acquisition and brain development shows that the groundwork for reading begins from the day a child is born.

The Healthy Start, Grow Smart magazine series outlines activities designed to stimulate infant brain development and build skills that children will need once they start school. Ideas are included for fun, age-appropriate activities that center around reading, language, and learning. The series also includes important health and safety information and resources for parents and families.

Mrs. Bush initiated a similar effort in Texas and is now sharing this same helpful information with new parents across the country.

These magazines, printed in English and Spanish, are available every month for the first 12 months of a baby's life. They are given to new mothers who might not otherwise have access to this vital information. Local family assistance clinics (WIC or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) and state health and human services agencies are working to distribute the magazines, and the entire series is available on this web site.

Healthy Start, Grow Smart (pdfs)
PDF Name Graphics Version Text-only Spanish Graphics Spanish Text-only
Your Newborn Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your One Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Two Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Three Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Four Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Five Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Six Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Seven Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Eight Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Nine Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Ten Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Eleven Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text
Your Twelve Month Old Graphics Text Graphics Text

Resources for families

Reach Out and Read
Ready to Read, Ready to Learn
Healthy Start, Grow Smart
Careers in Teaching
White House Conference on Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers
Transition to Teaching
Teach for America
Troops to Teachers
The New Teacher Project
Mrs. Bush's Character and Community Initiative
Family Resources



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