Doctor stresses need for 'early language exposure'
The Glenbard Parent Series: (GPS) Navigating Healthy Families will present "Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain" with Dr. Dana Suskind at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Glen Ellyn Public Library, 400 Duane St.
What nurtures the brain of our youngest to optimum intelligence, stability and future success in life?
Suskind, a pediatric otolaryngologist who specializes in hearing loss and cochlear implantation as the director of Pediatric Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implant program at the University of Chicago, will try to answer those questions.
Suskind is the author of "Thirty Million Words" and director/founder of the Thirty Million Words Initiative, based on research that demonstrates the importance of early language exposure on the developing child.
Her goals include helping all children reach their full potential and closing the achievement gap.
Suskind will discuss the recent science supporting her work and outline how parents/guardians can put this science into practice. Participants will learn how to enhance their home language environment to optimize their child's brain development and ability to learn.
In support of Suskind's work, the community is encouraged to donate children's books to support early literacy. Another way to support this initiative is to purchase a gift card from Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Half Price Books and GPS will purchase books.
Books and gift cards may be dropped off at:
• The Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE) Administrative Office, 22W600 Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn.
• District 87's Administrative Center, 596 Crescent Blvd., in Glen Ellyn.
• The GPS program at Glen Ellyn Library on Nov. 13.
To arrange for books to be picked up, email Gilda Ross at gilda_ross@glenbard.org. Donated books will be delivered to the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital and the Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative for distribution to children and their families.
Continuing professional development units are available for the Nov. 13 event.
For details, visit glenbardgps.org or contact Gilda Ross, District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at (630) 942-7668 or gilda_ross@glenbard.org.