Playing peek-a-boo and reading “Goodnight Moon” are not just fun activities you can do with children—they’re also simple tasks that can prepare them for success in school.

At Bates Technical College’s Brain Series on Thursday, April 26, 7-9 p.m., Dr. Gina Lebedeva will discuss recent advances in brain research and present on the importance of early play, language and literacy in preparing children for school success. The event will be held at the college’s South Campus auditorium, 2201 S. 78th Street in Tacoma.

Dr. Lebedeva, a translation, outreach and education specialist at the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, has worked as both a research scientist and a Speech-Language Pathologist.

This year’s Brain Series marks the 15th year Bates’ Home and Family Life department has brought experts in the field of child development to Pierce County for a free two-hour seminar, open to the public.

“Presenters are local and international experts on child development and brain science,” said Lynn Faherty, an instructor in the college’s Home and Family Life department. “Through this event, Bates provides our community with two free hours of current information on these subjects. We raise the money to put on this event because it’s a way to give back to the community while supporting quality education,” she said.

Past events have featured renowned molecular biologist Dr. John Medina, author of “Brain Rules,” and Dr. Andrew Meltzoff, author of “Scientist in the Crib.”