Every parent wants to know what to do when a child cries, misbehaves or shows regressive behavior. Explaining the causes for children's behavior and giving parents coping strategies, however, lets parents know that their concerns are important. In order for the parent-child relationship to survive these challenges, parents need to know that their concerns are respected and that their relationship with their child is worth all the hard work. Parents assume that educators are only interested in schools and books, and are amazed to find that Baby TALK teachers care about their child's sleeping, eating and crying habits. The Baby TALK program first addresses those topics that are critical to parents and children, with the understanding that the parent-child relationship is primary to everything else.
Academic achievement is more likely when the family's immediate needs have been met.
What may be more important, however, is the effect reading together has on the parent-child relationship. Reading a good book provides a great transition activity . The very act requires that both reader and listener leave behind previous thoughts and moods in order to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy the story. When parent and child are on a collision course toward conflict, reading together may be the very thing to give them a fresh start. Reading a book together requires that both parent and child give the activity their undivided attention .