Missy Smith is the Parent Liaison for the Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay. A former elementary teacher, Missy has been working with children for over thirty years.
The Great Start Collaborative is part of a national community-based campaign called "Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing." The basic premise is that parents through their words and interactions with their children have the power to build skills in the children that will last a lifetime.
Those of us without young children or grandchildren can help by sharing literacy messages and providing support and specific suggestions to families. Key messages to families include:
- Talking, reading and singing every day from birth will help build a young child's brain and help prepare the child for kindergarten.
- Parents can transform any moment into a meaningful learning opportunity.
- Encourage bilingualism! Children who learn more than one language have more active and flexible brains.
- Acknowledge families' strengths.
Information about community events and activities that promote Talking is Teaching can be found at GreatStartKids.com.