Water 4 Seeds Presents: Literacy Starts in The Womb

By Mia Durr, Founder of Water 4 Seeds

The best time to begin your child's literacy journey, is in the womb.

Early childhood education starts in the womb. One of the best ways to build baby brains is to read to them while they are in the womb. When I was pregnant with my daughter Zora, I spent at least 10 minutes a day reading books to my big round belly. I began reading at the end of my second-trimester of pregnancy. My favorite books to read were "I Like Myself" by Karen Beaumont and "Whose Toes Are Those" by Jabari Asim. In addition, I would read Aesop fables which teach many life lessons. This tradition continued with my son who was born in 2020.

Back in 2015, I suffered a miscarriage which took a couple months to recuperate both mentally and physically. The miscarriage was spontaneous and I learned it was no fault of my own, rather a random occurrence that happens throughout the world. That was a huge relief because I thought it occurred because of an action I failed to take. With that understanding, I knew I wanted to try again. During my second pregnancy, I delved into more research about babies and prenatal development.

I learned that there are many ways to promote early literacy and brain development while the baby grows inside the womb. I came across a term called "rainbow babies" which refers to babies born following a miscarriage or stillbirth. The mothers of rainbow-babies form support groups to help other moms recovering from loss. I joined a few rainbow baby support groups which offered a wealth of resources about diet, health and literacy in the womb. I wanted to share those resources with you so that you can support your baby's growth and development. As parents, it is essential to recognize the importance of early childhood literacy from the womb. This will allow us to actively support our children's learning journey. Here are a few tips to enhance your child's early literacy and strengthen the bond between parent and child:

1. Read daily: Set aside time each day to read with your baby. It may feel odd reading to a round belly, but trust that they can hear your voice. Based on an article titled "Benefits Of Reading To Your Baby And Young Children" from the nonprofit organization Terra Centre, Sara-Jayne Carcerano writes: The benefits of reading to your children can start before they are even born. Around 18 weeks of pregnancy your baby will be able to start hearing their first sounds and their hearing will rapidly develop during the next few weeks to be able to recognize voices. I recommend books that encourage early speech development or baby-friendly books with sounds and rhymes. You'll be able to bond with your baby while increasing literacy. Feel free to read whatever brings you joy.

2. Play music: Playing music can help baby's early brain development. According an article on Unicef.org titled "How Music Affects Your Baby’s Brain: Mini Parenting Master Class" by Dr. Ibrahim H. Baltagi: It is proven that music has a role in brain development before birth. Listening to music during pregnancy will not only have a soothing and uplifting effect on the pregnant woman, but also a positive influence on the unborn baby. Around 16─18 weeks of pregnancy, the little one hears its very first sound. Although classical music is a top choice for babies in the womb, I played any music with live instruments such as jazz, r&b, and tribal drumming. Be sure to keep the noise at a safe level, of course.

3. Take care of your mental health: Be sure to keep your stress levels down and avoid all forms of arguments/quarrels/drama. Being pregnant already throws your hormones in a tizzy! Research has shown that increased stress can cause cognitive disorders in early fetal development. Based on an article titled "Effects Of Prenatal Stress On Pregnancy And Human Development: Mechanisms And Pathways" from the National Library of Medicine by Mary E Coussons-Read, PhD: Stress during pregnancy is related to slower cognitive development even in the absence of preterm birth (PTB) or low birth weight (LBW), and has been correlated with slower infant growth and development in animals and humans. Do your best to nurture a peaceful environment for your growing baby.

4. Take care of your physical health: Practice any safe exercises approved by your doctor. It has been said many times, but be sure to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet. During the pregnancy of my daughter, my fruit cravings were through the roof. I would eat a fruit salad from my local grocery at least 4 days a week! My daughter is now 8-years-old and she loves eating fruit. When we are healthy, we create a healthy environment for our babies to grow.

As parents, it's important to promote literacy as early as possible. It's not just about preparing children for academic success; it's about nurturing their overall development. It's important to set them up for a lifetime of learning!

5. Speak positively to your baby: Speak words of affirmation. If you're religious, you can speak specific prayers concerning love, good health and wisdom. One thing I often did was write a list of positive character traits I wished that my babies would exhibit. For example, I would speak to my baby and say "I pray that your are responsible, intelligent, loving, determined, respectful, etc." Each pregnancy was a different prayer or affirmation. For words of affirmation, I would say things like "you are growing so strong!" whenever I would feel the baby kick.

Whether it be words of affirmation or prayers, start cheering your child on while they're in the womb! Let them know that they are destined for greatness and they can be whatever it is that they wish. Let them know, no matter what, you will always be there for them cheering them on!

Check out the sources below to learn ways you can promote literacy in the womb and prenatal development.

Benefits of Reading to Your Baby and Young Children

Click here to read full article: Terra Centre

How Music Affects Your Baby’s Brain: Mini Parenting Master Class

Click here to read full article: Unicef Parenting

Fetal Health and Development

Click here to learn about the developmental stages of pregnancy: MedlinePlus 

When Can My Unborn Baby Hear Me?

Click here to read the full article: American Academy of Pediatrics - HealthyChildren

Effects of Prenatal Stress on Pregnancy and Human Development: Mechanisms And Pathways

Click here to read the full article: National Library of Medicine

DISCLAIMER: Water 4 Seeds does not always agree with the mission and values of every source, company, business, or government entity posted. However, if the information is beneficial and promotes positive mental and physical health, we will share that information. You may utilize the information to do what is best for you and your child's development. Always consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding your mental or physical health.