Lehigh Valley Health Network and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Give Families Tools to Talk, Read, Sing

Allentown, PA – Lehigh Valley Health Network and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) have partnered to give parents, caregivers and families tools to boost the early learning and brain development of children from birth through age five.
 
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital and The Hecht Family Children’s Clinic have joined a growing list of community champions committed to distributing educational materials for the “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” campaign in their facilities.
 
“We are honored to partner with UWGLV in support of this program that encourages parents and caregivers to increase their young children’s exposure to words during daily activities. Talking, reading and singing with children stimulates healthy brain development, promotes speech and language skills, and prepares children for learning to read,” said Kimberly C. Brown, MD, FAAP, Medical Director of Population Health, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.
 
Research shows that during the first years of life a child’s brain forms one million new neural connections every second and absorbs information like a sponge. This is why simple, everyday interactions with young children—like describing objects seen during a walk or bus ride, singing songs, or telling stories—can better prepare them for school and lay a strong foundation for their social-emotional development, health, and lifelong learning.
 
“By supporting this campaign and giving materials to parents and families, Lehigh Valley Health Network is showing a deep commitment to the success of our youngest children. Our doctors and health care partners are uniquely positioned to help parents and families to recognize their power in the future success of their children and ultimately prepare more students to begin school ready to learn,” added Akshara Vivekananthan, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Education & Summer Learning, UWGLV.
  
The ‘Talk, Read, Sing’ campaign aims to give parents and caregivers the tools to talk, read and sing more with their young children from birth on, increasing meaningful interactions that are critical to healthy brain development. Community partners including Lehigh Valley Health Network distribute language-rich Talking is Teaching materials—including books, CDs, and clothing with prompts that encourage parents to talk, read, and sing with their children—directly to families.
 
The “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” campaign is part of Too Small to Fail, a national initiative of the Clinton Foundation. The local campaign is part of Lehigh Valley Reads, a regional literacy campaign powered by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Public Media, home of PBS39. Financial support for the local campaign is provided by PNC Foundation and Just Born Quality Confections.

For more information, visit www.lehighvalleyreads.org.