The era of the silent film made way for sound and talkies in 1929, which was the first and last year a silent film won best picture at the Academy Awards. That is until Michel Hazanavicius’s 2011 film “The Artist,” a love letter in the style of those black-and-white silent movies, won best picture – along with four other Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, seven BAFTAs, and a slew of other critical honors.

The first years of life are extremely important for children’s brains. Our understanding of the brain and child development seems to expand by the minute. There’s a constant flood of new research and information about how to raise and teach young children. Fortunately, many of the child development experts championing this research live in Southern California.