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KU researchers studying efficacy of automatic recording and AI analysis of children’s language use and development
Researchers at the University of Kansas are studying how LENA, a "talk pedometer" technology combined with AI analysis, can automatically measure and analyze verbal interactions between children and adults in educational settings like child care centers and museums.
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Early Learning Indiana partners with LENA for early literacy skills
Early Learning Indiana (ELI) announced a partnership with LENA, a leading nonprofit in research and programming for early language development.
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Screen time can affect children’s language development, study suggests
Scientists call it 'technoference' when technology interferes with interactions between a parent and a child.
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More Screen Time Means Less Parent-Child Talk, Study Finds
According to new research, “technoference” is real. Toddlers who are exposed to more screen time have fewer conversations with their parents or caregivers by an array of measures.
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What’s behind a spike in childhood speech development delays across the U.S.
PBS Wisconsin's Zac Schultz reports on what's behind the delays and whether schools have the resources to help teachers, students and caregivers.
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YW Calgary language program uses cutting-edge technology to support at-risk kids
A unique program using cutting-edge technology to develop language skills for at-risk children is being relaunched by YW Calgary.
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Kids with chattier parents are more talkative, may have bigger vocabulary
New research from Harvard developmental psychologist Elika Bergelson offers a broader global perspective on language development than ever before seen. It emphasizes the importance of fostering interactive and communicative environments for children, and also probes the long-assumed connection between early talk and socioeconomic status.
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Study finds parents don’t talk to infants, toddlers enough
A new research study shows having conversations with infants and toddlers will eventually help their reading skills.
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When Cities And Philanthropies Team Up, Good Things Happen
Birmingham Talks, which aims to make the city America’s sandbox for innovation in early childhood education, is using “talk pedometers” to close literacy gaps for thousands of children.
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Baby talk: how early childhood centres can help multilingual children
A study out of Australia analyzing teacher-child language interactions in early eduction settings could shed light on why children from non-English speaking backgrounds often start school with weaker language skills than their English-speaking peers.
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Virginia Beach family featured in ‘The Right to Read’ social justice documentary
“This is truly a crisis because two-thirds of our children in this country are reading below grade level,” said filmmaker and director Jenny Mackenzie. “We have to decide, do we have the political will to stand up and say ‘Enough?’ This is a huge issue and it is continuing to perpetuate systemic racism because we are leaving Black and Brown children behind?”
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New language development program available for Tennessee early child care educators
The Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral Network recently incorporated the LENA Grow interactive language development program into their training for infant, toddler and preschooler educators.
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This early-education approach has cities everywhere talking
A profile of Birmingham Talks, one of the Providence Talks replication cities.
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In Babies’ Brains, White Matter Is Crucial—and Conversational Turns Make It Grow
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience uses MRI and LENA technology to show that conversational turns as early as six months of age uniquely predict brain development at two years of age.
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The pandemic’s indirect effects on small children could last a lifetime
An international and all-encompassing look at the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on young children, including the perspective of Dr. Jill Gilkerson, LENA's Chief Research and Evaluation Officer.
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Birmingham Invests $1 Million in Early Childhood Education. What It Means
The City of Birmingham has made its largest investment ever in early childhood education, with a $1 million investment in Birmingham Talks, an initiative that provides curriculum, innovative technology, and personalized coaching to help build language skills in preschool-aged children.
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Overdeck Family Foundation awards LENA $4,605,000 in general operating support
A three-year grant of $4,605,000 in general operating support to LENA to further their work at using coaching to improve the key outcome of early language development.
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‘It is life-changing!’: Virginia Beach TALKS offers free early learning class for parents
Parents and coordinators reflect on the success of Virginia Beach's LENA Start program as it celebrates its third year.
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Podcast: Racing to get kids reading
People Fixing the World: How a race to write books and a gadget that counts words are helping child literacy.
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Quality child care foundational for children’s futures
An investigative television reporter in North Central Wisconsin explores the importance of conversational turns in child care settings.
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Pandemic has made babies and toddlers miss talking and reading milestones
Multiple studies show that infants are talking less because parents haven't been able to engage them in language developing conversations due to COVID.
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Covid-Era Babies Are ‘Talking’ Less, Signaling Future Reading Challenges
We know the pandemic has had a serious negative impact on the academic achievement of school-age children. But recent evidence shows we also need to worry about Covid-era babies and toddlers.
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Do COVID Babies Talk Less
A decline in socializing during COVID could mean less verbalizing for babies born during the pandemic.
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New Research: Babies Born During COVID Talk Less with Caregivers, Slower to Develop Critical Language Skills
Infants born during the pandemic produced significantly fewer vocalizations and had less verbal back-and-forth with their caretakers compared to those born before COVID.
