by Rocio Zamora Arzola
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Latino and white infants share a fairly equal level of cognitive skills — vocabulary, listening and problem-solving skills. But by the time they’re toddlers, Latino children are lagging in all three areas, according to a study led by researchers at UC Berkeley (LATimes.com 10.20.09) .
- The reasons? Larger Latino families and Hispanic-dominant mamás working full-time means there’s less individual time with each child. Also, Latina mothers tend to be less educated than their white counterparts, so they read fewer books and share fewer stories with their children. That’s fundamental for building a growing child’s skills.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Although Latino families seek better education for their children, their traditional dependence on schools to provide the fundamentals is leaving Latino kids at a disadvantage. And in this economic environment, cutting work hours to spend more time with their children is out of the question for many Latina moms.
- Brands can partner with non-profit parent training programs to provide Latino parents with tools, resources and skills to fulfill their roles as the first and best teachers for their young children.
RESOURCES
