BOZEMAN — In their first three years of life, babies and toddlers learn thousands of words they will use their entire life.
This week Hopa Mountain held its 8th annual storymakers conference in Bozeman, where parents, teachers and family outreach workers from across the state got together to talk about techniques that promote early childhood literacy.
The program focuses on book-sharing ideas and how to enhance a child’s emotional and cognitive development through reading.
Participants were given books to distribute in their communities and tips on how to encourage parents to read out loud to their children .
“We would like them to have a conversation as they’re giving the book to them,” said Tana Chandler, the Storymakers program coordinator at Hopa Mountain.
“The positive conversation of how important it is to read to your child at an early age. Even when they’re an infant or a baby because their brain is constantly developing.”
Hopa Mountain is a non-profit organization that works to improve education and economic development in rural and tribal communities.
The Storymakers program takes place every fall in Bozeman.
