Campaign focuses on early education for babies, toddlers
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Research has shown that exercising a baby's brain in the first years of life has a dramatic impact on their development. On Tuesday, the Bay Area Council took note of that during their convention because well-educated children will have an effect on California's economy.
They say by the time a child enters kindergarten, his or her brain is already largely developed.
"Early investment in children is a no brainer, simply a no brainer and the business community gets that," Center For Next Generation spokesperson James Steyer said.
Steyer addressed the Bay Area Council on the importance of an early education.
California has the highest population of young children in the nation. Groups like First 5 California have invested millions in early education. The organization says babies and toddlers need to get the right amount of growth support, especially those in underserved communities.
"The kids who have very small vocabularies, 500 words, 1,000 words end up with much lower success levels. They end up not being able to read well and they end up dropping out of school," First 5 Commission spokesperson George Halvorson said.
The Bay Area Council has now joined First 5 California in a campaign called Talk, Read and Sing.
Billboards will go up in June in Bay Area cities and appear on buses.
"So we're telling that to moms all across the Bay Area, talk to your kid, give them words, give them numbers, just talk to them," Steyer said.
Others groups including the Hillary Rodham Clinton Foundation are involved in the campaign.
Those behind this campaign say if we invest in children early we can close the achievement gap before it ever starts.
