Some kids struggle to develop in certain areas, but it doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day to give every child special attention. In at least one area, a simple solution is out there: talk, read and sing.

The Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has launched the "Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" campaign. Families that engage with their children using language can better prepare their kids for school.

A launch event for the program was held on Nov. 15 at Bale Elementary School. Even Clifford the Big Red Dog showed up!

Clifford the Big Red Dog was on hand to make sure the Talking is Teaching event went off without a hitch!

The aim of the campaign is to motivate parents and caregivers to talk, read and sing more with their children, starting at birth. Iowa State University's Lesia L. Oesterreich's 2004 article "Understanding Children: Language Development" mentions that these actions are important not just for early development, but throughout life. 

"When you take time to listen, talk, read, sing, and play games with your child, you help teach important language skills that last a lifetime."

The Talking is Teaching campaign partners with preschool teachers, child care providers, home visitors and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutritionists to share information with parents and caregivers about early childhood development. These community partners distribute materials including books, clothing, magnets and bags with prompts that encourage parents to talk, read and sing with their children.

The partners also provide subscriptions for parents to ReadyRosie, an educational tool that has hundreds of brief videos in English and Spanish that show everyday interactions in a familiar way and with real parents.

Devoting some time during the day to engage children verbally is important to their development and the Talking is Teaching campaign works to encourage that in everyday life. Working in some language development can be as simple as explaining what you're doing when you might otherwise be silent. But don't worry, moms and dads, you can keep most of your quiet time (if you get any).

Visit the campaign website or call (870) 692-3176 for more information.