Right now the talk of education in the Mid-South is all about funding, and more specifically how there isn't enough to go around. It seems obvious that our children are our community's future and therefore our schools must be well funded, but most of us know running a government is far more complicated than cutting the pie and passing out slices.
Small hands grasp your nose as you stare down at the tiny miracle in your lap. You read focus and amazement in your baby's eyes as he/she scans your skin and features, tugging curiously at your ears and hair. It may all seem like quiet, peaceful fun, but the attachment your baby is making with you through touch is preparing his/her brain for a lifetime of learning.
Babies are born with the ability to learn anything and retain an enormous amount of information during their first years of life. Thus, early exposure to social and interactive activities will create unique learning experiences that help a baby adapt and adjust to his or her new environment. By simply spending time with your baby and giving him or her attentive love and care, you are nurturing their cognitive development.
By age 2, children in immigrant families are likely to have significantly lower levels of language and cognitive development than are children of native-born parents. Differences in early development, in turn, lead to achievement gaps when children reach school.
