This is precisely how it is being done in Venezuela. Hospitals, schools, television, radio, newspapers, and organizations such as unions, civil service and the army are all involved. All projects are being carried out through the Ministry of Education, with the backing of the Min istry of Health and Social Welfare, the Child Foundation and other private or State institutions and industries. Although the program offers opportunities to systematically improve thinking skills of the entire population at every age, special emphasis is placed on the importance of laying foundations for developing intelligence at birth. Over a hundred babies are born there every day.
Vision is stimulated from the very beginning, as are all the other senses.
Dr. Beatriz Manriquez, Director of the Family Program, has with her staff developed 10 video programs to teach the often illiterate mothers how to develop the potential of their babies through loving care, sensori-motor stimulation, physical exercises, an d proper nutrition. The information is largely based on the work of Drs. USA She has recruited and trained over 1000 volunteers to help educate the mothers during their three-day stay. During that time, mothers not only l earn stimulating methods to use at home, but how to sense the babies' needs and interpret their cries, how to create educational toys from household odds and ends, and how to involve the whole family in helping the new baby to develop in every way. The most important part of the learning process involves instilling in the mother a great pride and confidence in the potential of her child.