According to the National Institutes of Health, by the time a child reaches age 5, his or her brain is 90% developed.

That makes it essential for parents to help bolster young minds by speaking directly with their children, even in infancy. And according to Pikes Peak Library District early literacy specialist Evan Childress, even some of the most well-meaning parents don’t do it often enough.

“Most parents don’t talk directly to their young children as much as they think they do, and that spans the socioeconomic spectrum,” Childress said. “Even some of the most educated adults are not talking to their children as much as they think they are.”

The more words children hear, even when they cannot talk back, the quicker they develop building blocks of language like listening, speaking and reading, Childress said.

“Even the littlest babies are trying to communicate from birth,” she said. “What research has shown is that those back-and-forth interactions with adults can be the biggest predictor of later language skills development.”

Building young brains is the goal of PPLD’s LENA (Language Environment Analysis) Start program. The free, eight-week program is designed to increase parents’ back-and-forth talk with their children from birth to 32 months.

Participating families meet online, once a week, for an hourlong discussion session. In between sessions, the family designates a “LENA Day,” during which they measure back-and-forth vocal interactions with the aid of a “talk pedometer.”

The device, contained inside a vest that the child wears all day, generates a report that shows how many adult words the child heard and how much electronic sound is in the child’s day-to-day environment.

“They really get to see what times of day they talk a lot, when they should maybe talk more, and when electronic sounds — like televisions, computers or phones — are interfering with opportunities to talk,” Childress said. “Our families tell us that it’s really eye-opening.”

Speaking directly to a baby who doesn’t talk back can be challenging, but it essential to language development, officials said.

“Babies are vocalizing, even before they start forming words, and they are constantly watching our mouths move,” Childress said.

Each family receives weekly, individualized feedback, with an aim toward increasing back-and-forth talk by about 10% each week.

“We ask if there are any opportunities to increase talk, and set weekly goals,” Childress said. “Of course, one way to increase back-and-forth talk is shared reading.”

According to a 2019 study by Ohio State University, children who were not read to at home hear about 1 million fewer words by the time they reach preschool age than peers who were read to regularly.

“This is why we tell parents, ‘You are your child’s first and most important teacher. You are their brain architect. You are building the foundation of your child’s brain,’” Childress said.

In order to complete the LENA Start program, parents must attend at least seven of the eight weekly Zoom sessions. Children are not required to attend. Upon completion, families receive a $20 gift card, a tote bag, eight children’s books and an M.B.A. (My Baby’s Awesome) diploma, suitable for framing.

But the most valuable thing they receive is a skill set that boosts language proficiency and forms a stronger emotional bond between parent and child, Childress said.

“Families tell us that the program is life-changing,” she said. “Some families want to do the program again when they have another child, but we only allow them to do it once. Once you’ve done it, you have all the skills you need.”

Since PPLD adopted the LENA Start program in 2019, it has served 422 families in El Paso County, officials said.

“If you build these habits early, they become second nature,” Childress said. “And when your kids are ready to start talking, you’re right there, ready to meet them.”

Pikes Peak Library District celebrates 50 years of summertime reading programs

Pikes Peak Library District approves $2.6 million purchase of Ruth Holley and Ute Pass library properties

Lawsuit against Pikes Peak Library District over Rockrimmon closure dismissed