Can “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” help close the achievement gap? We think so. Every word a child hears impacts brain development and sets the foundation for future reading and literacy skills. By age three, a low-income child has heard roughly 30 million fewer of these words than her more affluent peers. Talking, reading, and singing to young children may be one of the best ways to level the playing field and help every child reach their potential.
Your words have the power to shape their world. 90 percent of brain growth happens before age 5 and it’s early exposure to words that lays a foundation for all that follows. First 5 commissions across the state are joining to bring this message to the forefront with the Talk, Read, Sing Campaign. It’s a simple message with a powerful impact, and it anchors our early literacy work with public libraries, bookstores, funded partners, and families throughout Ventura County.