The difference between a child succeeding or failing in school could come down to what happens in the first 12 months of their life. A new program reaches out to caregivers and parents to let them know important steps they should take for a child's development. The talk to me program teaches people how to develop and nurture an attachment between children and their parents.
"Your brain grows so much in that first year. And as the bonding grows so does your language and your higher cognitive function. And that's how you do later in life in school," says Dr. Glendon Burress, Alignment Rockford, Head Start Committee co-chair and Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
Dr. Burress says the committee has been looking for ways to help children be ready to start school.
"We thought it would be something along healthcare, medical lines or something to do with reading programs. But in talking to individuals at the schools, teachers of some of the younger children we learned that attachment and social emotional needs were really what was lacking in the community," says Dr. Burress.
Rockford Public Schools Early Childhood Director Kim Nelson says teachers have a harder time educating children who are not socially or emotionally ready to do things like interact with other kids and follow directions. The Talk2Me program breaks down four key things every caregiver should be doing for babies zero to 12 months old. It's starts with talking to a child.
"Talk to the babies about anything. You could read them your grocery list, you could just say hi, tell them what's going on, what you see. Any of that back and forth communication is really good," says Nelson.
The other points are play with a child, cuddle them and encourage them. Nelson says it is not a matter of how much money or education a person has that can help them form an attachment with their child but just taking time with them.
"Even young babies should be having a story read to them for language development and pointing out pictures and things. Just short periods of time can make a big difference."
The Talk2Me classes are aimed at teaching caregivers, faith organizations daycares and other groups these points so they can educate others. But parents are welcome as well. The first class starts at February 21 at Zion Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. You can find more dates at alignmentrockford.com.
