Talking is Teaching

Learning begins at birth, not at school entry.

TALK READ SING Tampa Bay is a community awareness campaign focused on educating Tampa residents, especially parents, about the importance of developing a child’s brain by talking, reading and singing beginning at birth.

Champions for Children is leading this community-wide initiative in Hillsborough County to focus on creating public awareness of early brain and vocabulary development. It encourages all parents to talk, sing and read to their children as much and as early as possible, building attachments and laying the groundwork for healthy brain development and parent-child attachment at the most critical stage.

Our campaign is driven by three core strategies:

  • Training trusted messengers and community partners how to incorporate the TALK READ SING philosophy into their work with families and become ambassadors of the initiative
  • Building “book corners” and sharing the TALK READ SING messages in public areas where families gather like health centers and laundromats
  • Leveraging social and traditional media to educate our entire community about the importance of talk, reading and singing 

Become a Trusted Messenger: Trusted Messenger Training

As a Trusted Messenger, promote positive, meaningful relationships between parents, caregivers, and young children. We are pleased to be able to offer the Trusted Messenger training to educate and equip service providers to use and model support strategies for participants and clients. 

About the Training

The Trusted Messenger Training is designed to provide participants with valuable insights into early brain development and its impact on a child’s growth. Learn how relationships, secure attachment, and everyday experiences such as talking, reading, singing, and playing contribute to fostering optimal development in young children. Additionally, the training will explore practical ways community service providers can integrate and model these strategies during daily interactions with clients and program participants.

FAQs

Have questions? We have answers. 

This free training consists of two, one-hour virtual sessions, spaced two weeks apart.
  • Session 1 will provide foundational knowledge on early brain development and the key supports that help young children thrive.
  • Session 2 will focus on an interactive discussion, offering concrete strategies for incorporating these principles into your daily work with families.

Upon completion, participants will be equipped with tools and strategies to promote positive, meaningful relationships between parents, caregivers, and young children. They’ll gain a deeper understanding of how simple, daily interactions can have a lasting impact on a child’s development. Participants will receive reliable, evidence-based research resources that support these practices.

This training is designed for employers and staff working in community service agencies that support families with children under the age of five. It’s ideal for those who want to integrate brain development research into their work and better serve the families in their care.

The Trusted Messenger Training is offered virtually on a quarterly basis. Specific dates and times can be found on our registration page. Join us from the comfort of your home or office and begin making a meaningful difference today!

Tampa has been designated as the 27th “Talking Is Teaching: TALK READ SING Community” in the United States and the second in Florida by the national Talking is Teaching campaign office out of the Too Small To Fail Foundation.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Watch more community leaders speak about the importance of Talk Read Sing.