Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing Campaigns
Too Small to Fail’s local public awareness and action campaign, “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing,” launched in the flagship cities of Oakland, CA and Tulsa, OK in 2014. Today, there are 38 official Talking is Teaching communities in cities around the U.S, as well as 2 statewide community campaigns. Through trusted messengers such as librarians, pediatricians and faith leaders; high-quality materials and tools; and messages in community spaces, including bus shelters, playgrounds, and grocery stores, communities across the country are working to boost early brain and language development to prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond. Learn more about our local Talking is Teaching campaigns below.
Oakland, CA
In Oakland, Too Small to Fail is working with UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and First 5 Alameda to implement the Talking is Teaching campaign through health centers, home visiting and other places where families spend time. In partnership with BCHO, Too Small to Fail developed a model for how children’s hospitals can address the word gap as a public health issue. At the hospital’s primary care clinic, pediatricians deliver messages about early brain development, early literacy and early math at well-child visits, along with tote bags full of tools for parents to take home. Kaiser Permanente also engaged in a strategy at four medical centers, where pediatricians delivered messages and materials to families. In addition, the campaign is partnering with First 5 Alameda to distribute messages and materials first through pediatricians at community clinics and now through home visitors.
Tulsa, OK
In Tulsa, Too Small to Fail is working with the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) to implement the Talking is Teaching campaign in churches, hospitals, grocery stores, and other places where families spend time. Through strong partnerships with Tulsa pastors and the faith-based community, GKFF is delivering tools and messages to families during literacy events at churches and as part of baby dedication ceremonies. Working with healthcare partners, the campaign is delivering messages and tools to every baby born in Tulsa, as well as through ten Reach Out and Reach pediatric clinics. Campaign signage is posted in all city buses, on billboards, and in two Tulsa grocery store chains to prompt parent-child conversations while families wait for the bus or shop for groceries.
Brownsville, NY
United for Brownsville, a coalition of local families and social service providers, is partnering with Too Small to Fail to implement a Talking is Teaching Community Campaign. The Brownsville Talking is Teaching Campaign aims to create a neighborhood that seamlessly supports local children’s language and social-emotional development by transforming the places and spaces where children live, learn and grow. In January 2020, Talking is Teaching campaigns were successfully launched at two Brownsville grocery stores. The long-term vision of the campaign is that the neighborhood itself becomes a landscape for learning. Potential future sites include doctor’s office and clinic waiting rooms, laundromats, nail and hair salons, barber shops, bus stops and train stations, and NYCHA community rooms.
Chippewa Valley, WI
Too Small to Fail is partnering with United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley on a campaign to support families in the Eau Claire and Chippewa counties in Western Wisconsin. The Chippewa Valley Talking is Teaching campaign was implemented in collaboration with partners from the Early Literacy Coalition of the Greater Chippewa Valley. All partners regularly deliver messages about early literacy and brain development through social media platforms, and some of the partners directly provide high-quality tools and resources to families. The State Department of Children and Families also made a commitment to support local families with young children by donating 4000 books for distribution. The campaign launched with a focus on food sources, such as grocery stores, local rural food sources (convenience stores), farmer’s markets and food pantries, as a place for distributing messages about the role that parents and caregivers play in their child's early literacy and brain development. Learn more here.
Michigan State
In partnership with Michigan’s Department of Education and Great Start Collaborative, more than 75 counties across Michigan have joined our first-ever statewide Talking is Teaching campaign to promote early brain and language development.
Northern Michigan
In March 2019, the Crawford, Oscoda, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Iosco (C.O.O.R./Iosco) Great Start Collaborative (GSC) and C.O.O.R. Intermediate School District (COOR ISD) launched the Northern Michigan Talking is Teaching Campaign. The launch was done in partnership with Munson Grayling Hospital to complement an additional literacy initiative between C.O.O.R. ISD and Munson to encourage growing literacy skills from birth. Trusted messengers, including educators, pediatricians, librarians, and more, are distributing “Talking is Teaching” materials directly to families and sharing information about early brain and language development. In the 2nd phase of the campaign, laundromats, grocery store chains and playgrounds around the community will display “Talking is Teaching” posters and creative materials that encourage families to talk, read, and sing together. Additionally, a community-wide, multi-media campaign will continue to reinforce these messages in paid media spots and through “Talking is Teaching” branded materials such as billboards, flyers, and bus advertisements.
Detroit, MI
The Detroit/Wayne County Talking is Teaching Community Campaign has been built to increase the community’s knowledge about the importance of talking, reading, singing, and interacting with young children beginning at birth. Reinforcing messaging, skill building, acknowledging caregivers and parents for what they are already doing, and working together are the critical elements of this Campaign. Their unique one minute, five minute, ten minute and thirty minute messages for families and for the community at large are delivered through Trusted Messengers in Community Spaces such as laundromats, libraries, WIC Offices, places of worship, early childhood education sites, colleges and universities, public housing, health providers, etc.
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo County in Michigan is excited to bring new initiatives on early literacy to families. They began their initiative in early 2019 and have since hosted several grocery store Talking is Teaching parties. Working with a local grocery store chain, the Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative has partnered with libraries and local parents to host in-store events where kids can participate in a scavenger hunt to get a free book and families receive literacy resources and information. Kalamazoo County efforts are spreading to laundromats, pediatricians and barbershops in 2020.
Livingston County, MI
Launched in the fall of 2018 and supported by The Community Foundation for Livingston County and the Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA), the campaign reinforces the overarching goal that every child in Livingston County be proficient in literacy skills and dispositions by age eight. The campaign is built on the belief that in order to reach their goal, efforts needed to support parents and families of young children must begin at birth and involve multiple stakeholders in the community. The campaign is focused on partnering with faith-based organizations, local school districts, laundromats, local libraries, and community service organizations, which will enable them to share Talking Is Teaching messaging, train 200 Trusted Messengers and develop creative ways to work on achieving their goal. The campaign plans on expanding to include pediatricians, dentists, local hospitals and more.
Douglas County, MN
In March 2020, the Douglas County Early Childhood Initiative, in collaboration with partners within the rural county, launched the "Douglas County Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" campaign. Since the launch of the campaign, local trusted messengers, including nurses, childcare staff, and early childhood educators, have distributed Talking is Teaching toolkits directly to families. Around Douglas County, Talking is Teaching creative materials are displayed in local grocery stores, county parks, laundromats, libraries, and public health and social service offices, encouraging families to talk, read, and sing while they engage in everyday activities. The campaign also utilizes a multi-media approach, reinforcing messages through social media, <span class="TextRun SCXW179803671 BCX0"
Elgin, IL
Elgin Partnership for Early Learning, a community collaboration of over 40 partners, is helping young children thrive through increased access to high-quality early learning programs and experiences. Their first Talking is Teaching campaign phase in 2018 was to transform two local laundromats into spaces for early learning, with bilingual signage, bookcases, materials, and weekly visits from bilingual teachers and partners. EPEL adopted a symbol of a Give Me FIVE hand as a reminder for caregivers to Talk, Play, Read, Do and Write starting at birth. Their Learning On The Go model, which encourages literacy and family engagement, is expanding to food pantries, healthcare offices, and hard to reach neighborhood parks. The campaign’s next steps include expanding early literacy laundromat programs and encouraging partners to install campaign signs in areas such as buses, healthcare facilities, and food pantries to increase awareness of the critical first 2000 days of a child’s life.
Greater Lehigh Valley, PA
The United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley is leading a Talking is Teaching Community Campaign. The campaign implements two components to encourage meaningful parent-child interaction: Talking is Teaching environmental prompts on billboards, buses, and commercials on their local TV channel, and working with Trusted Messengers to distribute literacy tools to families. In order to further promote Talking is Teaching messaging, they established community partnerships and Talk, Read, Sing Ambassadors (volunteers) manage relationships with Trusted Messengers. The Lehigh Valley Reads website also features Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing information and there is a dedicated page for families to find literacy resources and a list of 200+ Trusted Messengers.
Lake Placid, NY
The Adirondack Birth to Three (BT3) Alliance, a program of Adirondack Foundation, provide supports and services to young children and families across the Adirondack region of northern New York. The Adirondack Talking is Teaching Campaign is focused on partnering with Trusted Messengers to deliver parenting education resources to new families. Initially, this will be done through the delivery of New Parent Kits, which includes a tote bag and other Talking is Teaching resources, and Trusted Messengers at WIC offices, birth hospitals, and home visiting programs will deliver these kits. Additionally, they plan to further partner with local health care providers and laundromats to convert waiting rooms into the Family Read, Play and Learn Spaces. Their paid and social media campaign will share messages of Talk, Point, Sing as they promote the importance of social-emotional development in the first 1,000 days of life.
Little Rock, AR
Launched in November 2016 and powered by The Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Arkansas's Talking is Teaching campaign is designed to empower the parents and caregivers of children ages 0 to 5 in central and southwest Little Rock to talk, read, sing, and play with their children from birth. The campaign is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Health WIC, Arkansas Home Visiting Network, Little Rock School District, and Ready Rosie to distribute tools and resources to parents and caregivers through preschool teachers, home visitors, and WIC nutritionists. The campaign also includes a media strategy with Talking is Teaching messaging on billboards and buses, as well as a public service announcement developed by the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN).
Los Angeles, CA
Too Small to Fail partnered with First 5 LA to bring the national “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” campaign to the families of Los Angeles County through First 5 LA’s Welcome Baby program, a family support and parent coaching initiative for new and expecting parents. As part of the Welcome Baby program, new parents and caregivers are receiving high-quality Talking is Teaching materials during home visits — including a CD, Sesame Street Family Resource guide and receiving blanket — with prompts that encourage parents to talk, read, and sing with their children every day starting at birth. These materials supplement the existing programming provided by parent coaches through pregnancy and the first nine months of their baby’s life. Building on its multiyear national partnership with Univision called “Pequeños y Valiosos” (Small and Valuable), Too Small to Fail also worked with Univision’s affiliate television and radio stations in Los Angeles to provide in-depth news and information to its audience on early education and parenting.
Miami, FL
In June 2016, Too Small to Fail began partnering with the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Miami-Dade and Monroe and Univision Miami on a citywide campaign with an emphasis on reaching families of young dual language learners (DLL). The campaign is distributing tote bags full of high-quality materials and messages through Jackson Health System clinics, Holtz Children’s Hospital, and Early Head Start. The Miami-Dade County Library System and Help Me Grow are also participating by displaying posters and integrating messages into their existing programming and services. Too Small to Fail also worked with Univision’s affiliate television and radio stations in South Florida to provide in-depth news and information to its audience on early education and parenting through television programming and community events. In 2019, the campaign partnered with Miami-Dade Public School District to bring Talking is Teaching messages to over 200 schools and local grocery stores.
Minneapolis, MN
Launched in June 2016, the Minneapolis Talking is Teaching campaign was a collaboration between the City of Minneapolis and many trusted partners, including early childhood centers and family serving organizations reaching children and families across the city, such as Reach Out and Read Minnesota, which works with pediatricians and clinics to promote early literacy in clinic settings; Way to Grow, which provides home- and center-based early childhood education as well as family support and education in North Minneapolis; Hennepin County Library, which connects families and children across the city to early literacy activities; and Children's Hospital of Minnesota. Some partners distributed Talking is Teaching materials directly to families. Other partners made active commitments to support young children and parents by donating books, holding employee book drives, hosting parent engagement sessions, and helping to share information through social media.
New Orleans, LA
In New Orleans, Too Small to Fail is working with Children's Hospital of New Orleans and its parenting center on a city-wide Talking is Teaching campaign. During stage one, doctors and nurses will distribute messages and toolkits at the hospital and affiliated clinics throughout the city during well-child visits and birthing center. There will also be a paid media component through transit ads across the city. In the next phase, the campaign will continue to reach families through the hospital, affiliated clinics and departments, a birthing facility, and a non-profit organization.
New York State
Too Small to Fail is partnering with the New York State (NYS) Council on Children & Families to launch a Talking is Teaching state-wide campaign. The campaign goal is to promote early language and brain development with parents and caregivers via a multi-touchpoint and multi-media targeted campaign, and in turn direct these families to local and county services who provide effective systems of care for children. The campaign will utilize both English and Spanish language creative, as well as several other translated creatives including Japanese, Bengali, and Arabic languages to maximize reach and frequency. To date, Talking is Teaching environmental prompts have been placed in transit (subway and bus shelters), laundromats, and hair salons. NYS Council on Children & Families also incorporated other paid-media strategies, such as celebrity PSAs on television.
Napa, CA
Launched in June 2016 and led by First 5 Napa County, the Napa Talking is Teaching campaign is partnering with a variety of organizations, including Napa County Office of Education, Napa Emergency Women’s Services, Napa Valley Community Housing, family resource centers, child care providers, pediatricians, libraries, and more throughout the valley, as well as local businesses and community leaders, to share information with parents and caregivers about the critical role they play in their children’s early brain development. These community partners are distributing free Talking is Teaching materials directly to families, encouraging parents to talk, read and sing with their children. The campaign also aims to transform everyday places where families spend time together — such as supermarkets, playgrounds and laundromats — into language-rich environments, and is exploring opportunities to have posters and creative materials displayed in a variety of locations to encourage families to talk, read and sing while they engage in everyday activities.
Porter County, IN
First Things First Porter County (FTF) catalyzes the assets of their community partners to strengthen the ecosystem for prenatal-to-3 so that every Porter County baby is prepared for a strong start in life. The First Things First Porter County Talking is Teaching Campaign is an important way to amplify the message that learning begins at birth and to engage a wide variety of partners in celebrating learning in everyday moments. This campaign, the first in Indiana, leverages existing programs and services to build a collective movement through a consistent message: Talk, Read, Sing. FTF acts as the anchor and central convenor for the campaign, while stakeholders who agree to serve as Porter County Talking is Teaching Campaign partners will implement their own Talking is Teaching strategies. Together, they will cover Porter County with this unifying message: Talking is Teaching…learning begins at birth. Learn more here.
Portland, ME
Building upon the success of a Talking is Teaching pilot in 2017, Starting Strong expanded their Talking is Teaching campaign in 2018 and engages trusted messengers from Early Head Start, Portland Public Health, Portland Public Library, Portland’s Family Shelter and several local child care facilities to distribute 500 kits to families of children ages 0-2. Many of these partners will also display posters and distribute other tools and prompts, such as books, flyers, and bookmarks. The campaign also includes a marketing strategy with Talking is Teaching messaging in and on buses, a digital ad campaign, and media outreach. During Week of the Young Child in April 2019, the campaign featured a city bus with Talking is Teaching messaging, a read-in on the bus, and distribution of travel-themed kits and other resources. Learn more here.
Portland, OR
Multnomah County’s Talking is Teaching campaign started as a partnership between Multnomah County Library and Home Forward, a local public housing agency. Working together with residents of one of Home Forward’s sites, they customized the Talking is Teaching poster graphics to be meaningful to local families, and installed the graphics in Home Forward's playground, along a major walkway, at a bus stop, and at nearby library locations. Multnomah County Library also partnered with Inverness Jail to create a welcoming, literacy rich environment in the lobby of the jail. Talking is Teaching posters, child-sized seating, bookshelves and books, and activity panels created a vibrant space for children and families waiting to visit their loved ones. Staff of the jail report that children are more relaxed, and that they are engaged with books, other children, and their parents more.
Rochester, NY
Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing Greater Rochester is led by the Monroe County Library System. The library will take the lead in coordinating Trusted Messenger training, supplying high-quality literacy and learning materials, and offering family-focused and community-based programming. Partners from across the Greater Rochester region, including caregivers, providers, and community leaders, will further collaborate to expand and unify the trusted messenger network using the Talking is Teaching approach. As the campaign progresses, partners will infuse messaging across the community, install environmental prompts, and partner with families to elevate the message that small moments matter to build children's brains and support their development. For a complete list of partners or to learn more here.
Salt Lake County, UT
Launched in November 2015 and led by Salt Lake County with support from its Mayor, the Salt Lake County Talking is Teaching campaign brought together a diverse group of partners to distribute resources and messages to families about the importance of early brain and language development. Partners included the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, Utah chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Utah State Library Division, Utah Education Network, Utah Health and Human Services and the United Way, Help Me Grow, Head Start and the library system, among other organizations. Salt Lake County continues to promote the resources on their website.
San Francisco, CA
In partnership with Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, First 5 San Francisco, and the San Francisco Public Library system, Too Small to Fail launched a Talking is Teaching campaign in August of 2016. Through the primary care clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General, nearly 5,000 families, virtually all well-visits of children 0-5, are receiving a tote bag with tools and resources from pediatricians. An additional 4,500 families throughout San Francisco are receiving messages and tools through library programming, including the annual Tricycle Music Fest, early literacy workshops, and bookmobile activity.
Stanford, CA
In January 2018, Stanford Children's Hospital launched Talking is Teaching Stanford campaign with their Division of General Pediatrics. At the hospital's Federally Qualified Health Centers, pediatricians deliver messages about early brain and language development at well-child visits, along with early literacy toolkits for parents to take home. The campaign is also incorporated in the hospital's newborn nursery, where pediatricians deliver messages and materials to parents.
Stony Brook, NY
In Long Island, New York, Too Small to Fail is partnering with Stony Brook Hospital, who have begun implementing a Talking is Teaching Community Campaign through environmental prompts such as posters in clinics and PSA videos in waiting rooms. In the future, Stony Brook Hospital would like to incorporate the trusted messenger strategy, as well as distribution of Talking is Teaching resources to parents that visit the hospital.
Syracuse, NY
In Syracuse, Talk, Read, Sing Onondaga is a local "Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" campaign led by The Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga (ECA). The campaign is partnering with local pediatricians and home visitors to encourage parents to engage with their children in meaningful, language-rich activities like talking, reading and singing every day, and provide helpful tips and resources. The community can also see resources around the city on posters, billboards, bus stops and even online that provide parents with helpful tips for engaging with their child. Learn more here.
Tampa, FL
TALK READ SING Tampa Bay is a community initiative launched in 2019 by Champions for Children, focusing on educating Tampa Bay residents about the importance of developing a child’s brain by talking, reading and singing beginning at birth. The campaign built an extensive network of collaborative partners who participate either through “hands on” integration of the TALK READ SING Tampa Bay messaging into their existing work with client families or by introducing and connecting their networks to TALK READ SING Tampa Bay in order to reach as wide and diverse parents and caregivers as possible. Community partners include the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, REACHUP, Zoo Tampa, Glazer Children’s Museum, WIC, Current Initiatives’ Laundry Project, and Hillsborough Community College’s Child Development Center, and more.
Watertown, NY
In 2019, the North Country Library System in Watertown, NY launched a Talking is Teaching campaign at kickoff events held throughout the summer at a variety of sites, such as public libraries, summer festivals, and local parks and beaches - including the NYS Zoo at Thompson Park. The campaign distributed tote bags filled with books and parent information, and environmental prompts were installed at libraries and partner sites. Libraries also created "Let's Talk About" backpacks to loan to families, each containing two board books, a themed activity, and parent tips to encourage family engagement at home. As the campaign progresses, libraries are working with community partners to install environmental prompts and help distribute messages and toolkits to families throughout the four-county region. Partners include local school districts, Head Start, the North Country Prenatal Perinatal Council, and WPBS.
West Central Minnesota
Too Small to Fail is partnering with five counties in West Central Minnesota to implement a Talking is Teaching Campaign. Each county is working with a variety of community partners including the local school district, library, public health department, Head Start centers, and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). Talking is Teaching environmental prompts that encourage parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing with their children, are being installed across the rural Minnesota community. Local community partners are also regularly distributing early brain development resources, such as books, CDs, and tip sheets, to families throughout the five-county region. Learn more here.