The "Parents" section of our website (http://www.theurbanchildinstitute.org/LanguageAndLiteracy) offers good advice for new parents about how to help develop literacy in young children. Children’s relationships with books, capacity to communicate, and ability to read are directly related to their experiences with language. When parents and caregivers make books available and fun, and when they sit down to read with young children, they are helping prepare those children to succeed in kindergarten and elementary school, building their self esteem, problem-solving abilities, and social skills.

In August, a three year-old girl was killed in an automobile accident in Tate County, Mississippi. Officers report that the child was not safely secured in her car seat (Powell, 2010).

National Institute of Early Education Research co-director Steve Barnett offers 3 key pieces of evidence about early brain development that make it clear that across the board budget cuts are bad public policy:
1. Poverty has a profound negative effect on young children.
2. High quality early childhood education pays and pays.
3. Negative early experiences last a lifetime.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/99hfnx

Immunization is one of the most important things a parent can do to protect their children’s health. Today, we can protect children younger than two years old from 14 serious diseases: bacterial meningitis, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, pneumococcal disease, tetanus, rotavitus, and varicella (chicken pox). Immunizations are important to protect your child’s health and safety.

The Urban Child Institute and The Neighborhood Christian Center, along with Assisi Foundation of Memphis, The University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, and Optimum Studios, are pleased to distribute copies of the “Touch, Talk, Read, Play” DVD for use at organizations, institutions, and service providers in Memphis.