Click here for a recording of this full presentation.
Check out this video clip of Glenbard East student Ronin Bachner, a former cochlear implant patient of Suskind, surprising her during the webinar.
Science has taught us that learning begins not on the first day of school, but the first day of life – with parents and caregivers being a child’s most critical influencers.
Young children require stable environments, enrichment, and protection. Pediatric surgeon Dr. Dana Suskind’s book, Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain, encouraged parents to engage in loving, serve-and-return interactions to build a healthy foundation for a lifetime of learning. Now Dr. Suskind returns to GPS to advocate for vigorous support for parents during the most critical years of their children’s development. In her latest book, Parent Nation, Dr. Suskind weaves together the latest science on the developing brain with relatable stories of families from all walks of life. Dr. Suskind shows that the status quo – parents convinced they should be able to shoulder the enormous responsibility of early childhood care and education on their own — is not only unsustainable, but deeply detrimental to the well-being of children, families, and society. Her prescription for this more prosperous and equitable future, as clear as it is powerful, is more robust support for parents during the most critical years of their children’s development.
In her GPS program, Dr. Suskind will outline how society can (and should) help families meet the developmental needs of their children. Only when this is achieved can we ensure that all children are able to enjoy the promise of their potential.
Dana Suskind, MD is Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago. A Professor of Surgery, she is Founder and Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Founder and Director of Thirty Million Words. Her research includes over 35 peer-reviewed journals and 150 national and international speaking engagements. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Crain’s Chicago Business, National Public Radio, and other national media outlets.
