Dear University Park Mom:

Many of you have heard me espouse my desire to raise my daughter to be bilingual.  Several of you share this desire as well.  While I talk of this often, I have not done much about it.  Today, there was a blurb from BabyCenter (www.babycenter.com) that reinforces the idea. 

BabyCenter wrote, “…recent studies showing that preschoolers are in the prime years for learning a foreign language.”  “…being bilingual has been shown to have lasting cognitive benefits.”

As I read the article, I kept thinking, “There it is in print, yeah!  While this is not new news, I was surprised to get this suggestion for a 2 year old.  I had better get on the ball!  While the benefits are widely known, our schools do little in the way of multi-lingual education, especially in the early years.  Consequently, it is up to the parent to find an alternative way…ugh!” 

So, what can we do to give the gift of a multi-lingual upbringing to our children?  If you are passionate about this too, let me know at info@uparkmoms.org.  Maybe, we can start a bilingual playgroup, or share bilingual toys, or influence change in the school, or do your idea??  Simply knowing that there are X number of parents who share this desire could go a long way, so let me know.

Regards,
Jennifer
President, University Park Mothers Club

Observatory Park Renovation

Renovation of Observatory Park playground is scheduled for this fall.  We will have an opportunity to voice our desires for the new and imporved playgroud at a meeting on Wednesday, April 8th. The meeting will be at UPark Elmentary from 7pm - 8:30pm.  The city has said the following will be included in the rehab:

• More options of play for different ages
• Sand will be replaced with mulch
• Bathrooms will be updated.

We would like to provide the planners with more detail and ideas. What do you wish for?  Please send ideas (or a nod that you like what we have so far) to Dana at  webmaster@uparkmoms.org.  Here are some ideas we have gathered thus far:

• More early walkers/toddlers play equipment
• Play-set(s) that encourage individual active play as well as parent involvement, that is not prescriptive, provokes creativity, is not like every other playground.
• Includes the essential elements such as swings and slides. Specifically, more toddler swings
• Retain a “sand-play” section
• Retain our wonderfully shaded park and our sidewalk loop for tricycles…do not remove trees!
• Would like to retain the basketball court, but resurfacing and add a hopscotch area.
• Repair benches and repair, don’t replace, the historic water fountain.
• Replace current and improve the configuration of the picnic tables. Place more tables, closer to the play equipment. Back to top

SECOND LANGUAGE?

(from www.babycenter.com)
Ready for French? Most of our parents never considered teaching their preschoolers a second language. But it's a hot topic now, due to our global economy and multiethnic society and recent studies showing that preschoolers are in the prime years for learning a foreign language. Don't run out and buy all the language tapes in the bookstore, though. Your child will learn best in person. If you have a bilingual caregiver or partner, your child may easily pick up another language.

Your 2-year-old now… Since your child is picking up English so rapidly, you might wonder if now's also the time to expose him to other languages. There's evidence that children learn languages more easily in the early years because their brains are so feverishly making new neural connections. They can literally hear all the unique sounds of a foreign tongue better than a teenager or an adult. Kids who grow up in a bilingual household have been found to have smaller vocabularies in each language, but the total number of words they know is about the same as English-only speakers, and being bilingual has been shown to have lasting cognitive benefits.

The catch is that the best way for your child to learn a language now is through conversation with a native speaker. Tapes or weekly classes are less effective, because it's the face-to-face observations and repetition that help the brain most. Your child is also far more likely to retain the second language if continuously exposed to it as he grows. Chinese lessons only from ages 2 to 4 will not make your child proficient at 18. Some research, though, shows there may be a brain-connection boost, even if your child never becomes fluent.

If you like the idea of exposing your preschooler to another language, look for translations of popular children's books to read together. If your child's babysitter is bilingual, encourage her to speak her native language with your child. Back to top

In-a-pinch helpful hints

Not to stereotype mom’s, but they tend to be a helpful group. Our group is no exception. Here are some helpful hints of how we can support each other in times of need. If you have other suggestions, let us know by emailing webmaster@uparkmoms.org. This list is kept at www.uparkmoms.org/inapinch.

• Playgroups are the best place to become aware of a need as well as start organizing In-A-Pinch help. We hope all playgroups will organize around members and involve others as needed. If you are not part of a playgroup and see or have a need, contact Allison at inapinch@uparkmoms.org.
• We encourage using www.foodtidings.com when organizing meals for a family. It is an easy, cool way to organize meals help for a family. It is like Evite for meals for a family in need.
• When a mother has just had baby number 2, 3 or more, some really appreciate it if the playgroup offers to watch the older child at playgroup without their mom and new sibling.
• When members are headed to the store, some moms appreciate a call to see if you can pick something up for them.
• Meals are best spaced out. A few per week feels like the right amount – coupled with a few frozen meals and the family is thrilled!
• Offering to do other errands is great; however you need to be specific to get them to take you up on your offer. For example; "I am headed to the post-office, have anything you need to mail?" Or, "I am headed to the dry-cleaners need anything dropped off or picked up?"

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