FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question: Why is it important to talk, read and sing to a child at birth?

Answer: Because this is how the baby acquires oral language skills.  He/she needs to watch faces, stores sounds in his/her brain, associate those sounds eventually with alphabet letters and begin to form his/her own sounds, words and sentences.  Adults are the teachers/models.

Question: Why shouldn't I put my baby or young child in front of the television set for a period of time?

Answer: Because this is a passive, one-dimensional experience that is often not appropriate for the early learner.  There is also a lack of participation, interaction and touch.  Scientists now know that the first few years are critically important to health brain development.

Question: Why is it important for a baby to be held?

Answer: Holding babies allows them to feel your face, see your mouth as you speak and both adult and child are able to share a warm intimacy that is important to well-being, bonding and learning.

Question: My two year old baby is not saying words or sentences.  He doesn't seem to hear me or follow directions.  Should I be concerned?

Answer: Yes.  His/her hearing should be tested and later a vision check-up should be arranged.

Question: If a child has language delay or a speech and language problem, what should I do?  If his/her speech seems to develop normally, should I still talk and interact a lot?

Answer: Yes.  Talk to the little ones about everything in the environment, pointing out objects, colors, and activities during bathtime, meals, and a frequently as possible.  This is especially necessary with those who appear to have problems with language.  Example: if the child says "Truck" You can say, "Yes, that's a big, red truck, isnt it?"

"THE FIRST THREE YEARS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR BABY'S HEALTHY LEARNING DEVELOPMENT.  MUCH OF YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE WILL DEPEND ON THESE THREE YEARS"