The W Child and Parent Development Center Lab School + Early Childhood Hub

08/26/2026

OF COURSE! 🥰

The W has been recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-27 by TIME.

“We are proud to be named the top university in Mississippi in the inaugural TIME Best Colleges rankings. This marks the third time in just over a year that a major national publication has ranked The W at the top among Mississippi universities. This honor shows how our continued work is making a difference for our students and the state’s workforce," Interim President Scott Tollison said.

As the highest ranked institution of higher learning, private or public, in Mississippi, The W earned an aggregate score five points higher than any other university in the state. The W’s highest marks came in the areas of student outcomes and learning environment.

https://www.muw.edu/news/the-w-leads-mississippi-universities-in-inaugural-time-americas-best-colleges-ranking/

08/26/2026

Excited to have this important work in the building! If you know any mamas who need support, send them! 👶🤰

08/08/2026

Neural Nugget: Between 0–3 years old, a child’s brain forms over 1 million neural connections per second. This time in life is the most pivotal, and also the most vulnerable for brain development. Early experiences shape cognitive development in early childhood.

We’ve made the science of baby brain development accessible for all. The Baby Brain Map is your interactive guide to early brain science. Start exploring now and help lay the foundation for healthy growth: https://bit.ly/4w3j4jg

08/08/2026

08/06/2026

The Mississippi University for Women is hosting the Healthy Beginnings Fair on Aug. 6 from 4-6 p.m. in the Pohl Gymnasium lobby. This free event connects families with vital health resources focused on maternal and child health. Local providers will offer information on prenatal care, children’s activities, and wellness tips. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fE0Y27

07/29/2026

A pediatrician is an important part of your child's development team, but they're not the only one.

During a well-child visit, your pediatrician may spend 15 to 30 minutes with your child a few times each year. Between those visits, children are learning every day through play, conversation, relationships, and everyday experiences.

That's why every caring adult matters.

Parents. Grandparents. Childcare providers. Teachers. Sunday School volunteers. Coaches. Mentors.

When we all understand developmental milestones, we can celebrate progress, encourage learning through play, and help families ask questions early if concerns arise.

Together, we can help every child get the strongest possible start.

Free Resources

📱 CDC Milestone Tracker App
Track developmental milestones, receive reminders, and learn what to expect at every age.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html

💡 Vroom Brain Building Tips
Turn everyday moments into brain-building moments with free, research-based activities.
https://www.vroom.org

💙 Learn more about the WISE Start Project
Building communities, one child at a time.

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Developmental Monitoring and Screening. https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/about/developmental-monitoring-and-screening.html

07/28/2026

Developmental monitoring isn't about looking for problems. It's about helping every child thrive.

Every child develops at their own pace. By knowing what milestones to expect, parents and caregivers can celebrate new skills, encourage learning through play, and recognize when it might be time to ask questions.

Developmental monitoring is something every family can do, every day. It isn't a test. It's simply paying attention to how children grow, learn, play, communicate, and interact with the world around them.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, childcare provider, coach, or Sunday School volunteer, you can help children reach their full potential.

Free Resources

📱 CDC Milestone Tracker App
Track developmental milestones, receive reminders, and learn what to expect at every age.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html

💡 Vroom Brain Building Tips
Simple activities you can do during everyday routines to build your child's brain.
https://www.vroom.org

💙 WISE Start Project
Building communities, one child at a time.

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Developmental Monitoring and Screening. https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/about/developmental-monitoring-and-screening.html

07/27/2026

Without routine developmental screenings, only about 30% of children with developmental concerns are identified before kindergarten.

That's one reason why learning about developmental milestones matters.

Monitoring your child's development isn't about expecting perfection. It's about knowing what skills typically develop at different ages so you can celebrate progress and ask questions early if something doesn't seem right.

Parents, grandparents, childcare providers, teachers, and other caring adults all play an important role in helping children get the strongest possible start.

Free Resources

📱 CDC Milestone Tracker App
Track milestones, receive reminders, and know what to expect as your child grows.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html

💡 Vroom Brain Building Tips
Simple activities that build your child's brain during everyday moments.
https://www.vroom.org

💙 Need more information?
Contact the WISE Start Project at Mississippi University for Women to learn more about child development resources in our community.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

07/26/2026

Want to help other parents and teachers preserve and protect play? Make learning visible.

Also, peep how all of these domains are activated through one holistic experience. While we're often quick to compartmentalize learning into separate subjects, children's brains don't develop that way. In play, language, math, science, creativity, executive functioning, motor development, and social-emotional skills aren't taught separately, but rather, they develop together. That's how the brain is designed to learn. Because these experiences are meaningful, connected, and intrinsically motivating, children stay engaged longer, build richer neural networks, retain concepts more deeply, and are far more likely to transfer that learning into new situations.

Let the children play. That's how their brains build best. 🧠🌱♥

07/26/2026

Neural Nugget: Babies who are talked to frequently know about 300 more words by age 2 than babies who hear fewer words, giving them a stronger foundation for language and learning.

One of the best ways to support healthy brain development is through serve-and-return interactions: the back-and-forth of talking, playing, making faces, and responding to your baby's sounds and cues. These everyday moments help build the brain, one interaction at a time.

Curious about what's happening inside your baby's brain? Explore our Baby Brain Map, an interactive guide that makes the science of early brain development easy to understand and put into practice: https://bit.ly/4w3j4jg