Talk With Your Baby

Last year we were a pilot program for the TWYB initiative.  The idea is that the more words an infant and toddler hear, the more literate they will become.  Children of families with lower educational levels  hear only functional language--Come here, Eat your supper, Stop hitting your brother, etc.  Other children hear language that responds to their needs, that elaborates on what they say, and that introduces lots of vocabulary and concepts.

One staff member did two eight week sessions last year, one in the fall and one in the spring.  We are now beginning another session with a new staff member leading it.  The Parenting Counts curriculum is great.  I have observed two different early childhood educators use the same curriculum with the stamp of their own experiences and personalities.  And it works!  The students listen and respond--and don't argue too much even when they are told that you can't spoil an infant!   One said that she had seen too many teen-age moms think that all you needed to do was to feed and change a baby and a baby needs so much more.

Next week Wednesday we are invited to be at a celebration of a grant that will finance TWYB for two more years.  The media will be there.  Our children will be given t-shirts and goodie bags.  One student may speak about what she has learned.  Her own daughter was given early admission to kindergarten this year.  It will be interesting.  I hope everyone remembers to dress appropriately and that we don't have to keep the children quiet for too long!  Apparently we will have valet parking.  At this point I am not even sure how we will get rides for everyone with the requisite number of car seats.