Newsflash Investing in Children will be hosting the province's first regional Ontario's Promise conference on February 25, 2003 for service providers and community leaders. Ontario's Promise, a provincial organization that brings the province, corporations, organizations, foundations, and non-profit agencies together to help children, parents, and community leaders provide a solid foundation for Ontario's children. This foundation will be built through the fulfillment of five promises: a healthy start, an adult who cares, safe places to grow and learn, the tools to succeed and a chance to make a difference. Look ahead to the February E-mailer for more information, or contact Anita Gilvesy by phone at 433-8996 ext. 226 or by e-mail at agilvesy@investinginchildren.on.ca Voices Do you have something to say? E-mail it to info@investinginchildren.on.ca and we'll include your thoughts in next month's Voices section. Surfin' Safari Peter F. Drucker Award for Canadian Non-Profit Innovation is awarded each year to a Canadian nonprofit organization in recognition of a program that has made a difference in the lives of the people it serves. In the course of giving out the annual award, the Peter F. Drucker foundation has amassed a great number of outstanding stories, which it shares through its website. Currently, there are more than 800 success stories from Canadian non-profit organizations to peruse. The Peter F. Drucker Foundation in the United States also has an informative website with non-profit innovation stories, articles and helpful self-assessment tools. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics In honour of Family Literacy Day, here are some interesting facts from ABC-Canada.org. - children aged 2 to 3 who are are read to several times a day do substantialy better in kindergarten at the age of 4 and 5 than youngsters who are read to only a few times a week or less. - 88% of children aged four to nine years old have a positive attitude about learning and look forward to school. - one in three Canadian youth, aged 16 to 25, have the highest level of literacy skills, second only to Swedish youth. However, Canada also has the third largest proportion of youth with poor literacy skills. - simple things like reading and telling stories to a child at 18 months are powerful stimuli for brain development in the early years. Book Review Contest The book review contest starts up anew in January, so please look for our next winner in February's issue. Back Issues Did you miss an issue of Come Together? Visit the E-mailer Archives to catch up! Subscription Info If this was forwarded to you and you would like to become a subscriber of Investing in Children's monthly E-mailer, please send an e-mail message to info@investinginchildren.on.ca, and write SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. To unsubscribe from the E-mailer, please send an e-mail to info@investinginchildren.on.ca and write UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Contact Us Investing In Children 795 Wonderland Rd. S., Suite 103 London, ON  N6K 3C2 phone: 519-433-8996   fax: 519-433-6698 www.investinginchildren.on.ca info@investinginchildren.on.ca Copyright 2002 Investing in Children. All Rights Reserved The E-mailer is best viewed at 1024x768 resolution.

"It doesn't matter what the intentions of the labels are -- whether it's good or bad, it all comes out the same, somebody is going to make money by fixing you, by making you a client. The people who call other people needy are the people who need needs." - John McKnight Welcome Welcome to a brand new year of Come Together. This issue looks at new results in childhood memory development, some of the success stories that are emerging from Roots of Empathy and literacy tips in support of Family Literacy Day on January 27, 2003. We're always interested in your feedback. If you have any ideas, concerns or suggestions, please e-mail them to info@investinginchildren.on.ca. Look Who's Remembering New results in childhood memory development research Do you remember when you were six months old, and your family took a trip to Disneyland? The latest research in infant long-term memory development suggests no, you wouldn’t, because your young brain was not sufficiently developed to form the long-term memory that would allow you to remember that event. This new study, conducted by Conor Liston, a senior student at Harvard, under the supervision of Jerome Kagan, a professor of psychology and director of the Mind-Brain-Behavior Initiative, involved 36 infants, 12 in each of three age groups: nine months, seventeen months and twenty-four months. The infants were shown a motion, such as putting a ring into a bottle and shaking it, or wiping a table with paper towel, while being given verbal cues “make a rattle” and “clean-up time.” The infants were shown the task multiple times and given the opportunity to duplicate the action. What happened in the follow-up visit? Click here. Success Stories The Roots of Empathy pilot project is underway, with each of the classes having completed at least one unit, including one visit by the infant. Inspirational success stories are already starting to be shared by the instructors and teachers. Here are three: One of the students was sitting in the lobby with his hat and coat on when I arrived. It was lunch time, I was not surprised. When we greeted each other, he asked if the baby was coming today. I replied that the baby was not coming until next week. He let out a hugh sigh and said, "I'm glad!" I told him that I was surprised. Usually students are disappointed when the baby is not coming. He said "I was in a fight today. I have to go home. I didn't want to miss the baby visit! I'm glad that the baby isn't coming today!" We said goodbye, I reminded him to be there next week, and he said, "Okay, no fights next week!" What an impact this baby has had in just one visit. -Susan McKane I guess I would like to share that here at Chippewa we have introduced our Program to the whole school, on announcements, in assemblies and during a Home and School presentation to parents. Two students came to the meeting and told our Home and School and Parent Council all about ROE. They did a great job! Each time baby Samuel visits we take turns holding him and taking pictures so that each student will have a picture of them together. I have lots more to share if you need more info. I'm really enjoying the program!! - Denise James The students were filling in the "Sad Person" story sheet. As I roamed the room checking in with them, I came to one girl who was writing energetically. "Have you got a story in mind?", I asked. She replied "Yes, this girl is sad because her parents are separated, and now she only sees her Dad once in a while. I know, because it happened to me!" - Susan McKane Family Literacy Day What to do with your children on January 27 by Patti Prentice Parents serve as both teachers and role models for their children. During the first three years of life, children develop much of their capacity for learning as their brains grow and neural connections are made. Parents and caregivers who talk, sing and read to their children help these connections to strengthen and develop. Just as a child develops language skills before they are able to speak, your child also develops literacy skills long before they are able to read. Reading to your child from birth has many benefits. It will stimulate their imagination and expand their understanding of the world. It enhances the development of both language and listening skills. Early literacy experiences provide a foundation for lifelong learning. It can also be a lot of fun! What are some of the ways you can provide early literacy experiences for your child? Click here. Patti Prentice is a Early Literacy Specialist with the Ontario Early Years Centres London. She is a former teacher and librarian, and is an avid reader.