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People say talk is cheap, but for babies, talk is priceless. Talking with babies has been shown to have an amazing impact on the growth of their brains and development of language, key to their future success in school and in life. And, unlike products that are advertised to parents as critical to making their babies Read More

Thousands of parents, a group of generous supporters, and dedicated volunteers have one thing in common: they are on the front line of inspiring young Alaskans to become life-long readers. Statewide survey results are in and Imagination Library is making a big difference for Alaska families. To keep the books coming to those families, the 3rd Annual First Read More

About 10,000 Alaska children are entering school this fall, for the first time, as kindergartners. We wish them the very best start to a successful school career! It’s positive interactions between babies and caring adults that help set the foundation for the first day of school. Yes, it starts with babies. In addition to reading Read More

FREE Books and Family Fun Join Best Beginnings for an event that celebrates the importance of literacy and language! We invite you to thread’s 11th Annual Book Party in the Park on August 10th from 4-7 pm. Children of all ages will have access to FREE books, live music, snacks, crafts, multilingual story-time, and other Read More

Read. Talk. Sing. Play. WORDS COUNT when it comes to a young child’s rapidly developing brain. The quantity of words is important. Equally important is the quality of those words! Read on for some good ideas to make your WORDS COUNT every day.

Discover creative ways to talk, sing, read, and play with your children every day. Learn more about Words Count, watch the video, and get and share great ideas on our Facebook page!

Our newest publication – Success in life. It starts here. – is now available online.  We’re especially proud of this report because it shows and tells, with strong graphics and clear language, what Best Beginnings is doing, why it matters, and how it is succeeding. Take a look!

Over the next few months, a series of gatherings for parents, early childhood professionals, and others will get under way as work resumes to establish a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) in Alaska. The long term result: clear standards, better consumer information, and incentives for providers to improve. Here’s more about this statewide effort.

Books without words encourage parents and children to use their imaginations in telling a story around the pictures. Since there’s no temptation to stick to the script, parent and child can change the story, make up words, and personalize it. Check out these hints and recommendations.

The quality and quantity of verbal interactions between parent and baby show up even earlier than previously thought, according to a new Stanford study. Low-income children show achievement gaps in language development as early as 18 months. Learn more »