Did you know that Ames Public Library is part of an exciting research program about brain development in babies?

Small Talk Story County is a program that not only trains parents how to help their child’s brain development through talk, but also performs research on the outcomes of the training! The program uses an innovative “talk pedometer” to give parents feedback on how much they are talking with their baby.

We’ll have a special event Thursday, August 15, at 7pm in the Library’s Auditorium to share what the research tells us educating parents to better understand how reading and talking with children contributes to their success. There will be a presentation, displays, and refreshments.

New sessions of Small Talk will begin August 19 and 21. To make the training as accessible as possible, dinner and childcare are provided during classes. Families even receive free books for their babies! Parents can sign up to be a part of the free program at bit.ly/SmallTalkSignup.

Small Talk Story County is presented through a partnership between Ames Public Library, Ames Public Library Friends Foundation, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Raising Readers in Story County, LENA Start, and LENA Research Foundation