In numerous ways every day, with your help, we search for just the right words to engage more of the public and to make them understand the importance of brain development for the future of our children - and our community. What would our youngest children want us to say that everyone will hear and remember? Four words: Touch, Talk, Read, Play.
Chamber of Commerce executives across the country spend their days praising the virtues of their cities in hopes of recruiting new businesses and creating new jobs. Greater Memphis Chamber President Phil Trenary is no different, but when he talks about the long-term success of his community, his conversation often turns to the importance of early childhood social and emotional development.
Almost 10 years ago, Leadership Memphis pioneered the issue of talent in Memphis, and its research and work led to the creation of the Memphis Talent Dividend, Graduate Memphis, and Success High Schools. All three of these programs have the same target: to increase the number of college graduates in Memphis.
Nothing is more important to the future of our community and its workforce than giving every child the positive experiences and nurturing parenting they need for optimal social and emotional development.
It is language that makes us truly human.
While some animals can communicate, there are no other inhabitants on our planet that can express concepts and ideas in complete sentences with a set of spoken words.
In the first years of their lives, children’s brains are like sponges, soaking up everything around them. There’s no greater proof than the average child’s remarkable achievements in language. The 40 sounds that he can make as a baby become 300 spoken words by age two.