ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The latest stats from the state's Office of Early Learning shows 47% of kids are not ready for kindergarten.
An event in St. Pete this weekend aims to help parents and caregivers become better advocates for their children when it comes to education.
Baby Talk 2020 is a free event for families with children up to 5 years old and childcare providers. The Concerned Organization for the Quality Education of Black Students (COQEBS) started the initiative 10 years ago.
“This year the events of Baby Talk week will shine a light on historical and racial biases that impair our work. It is important to recognize and talk about biases because greater awareness leads us to be more mindful about them in our professional efforts,” said James McHale, director of the Family Study Center. “By bringing the community together to raise awareness and begin tackling these issues during early childhood, we will do a better job of paving the way so all kids can start off right in their school careers.”
The event is being held at the St. Petersburg Technical College Saturday February 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents will learn techniques to lay a solid foundation from cradle to the classroom. There will be games, giveaways and snacks.
You can register for the event here and read more about what to expect here.
You can also find more information on free resources provide by COQEBS here.
