Talk in Ansonia stirs memories of being a new mother

Myra Jones-Taylor, executive director, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, speaks Monday at a Read Across the Valley Day breakfast at Molto Bene Italian Kitchen in Ansonia.

ANSONIA - On Monday I was intrigued by what Myra Jones-Taylor said about the importance of early childhood education. 
The New Haven resident and mother of two was keynote speaker at an annual Read Across the Valley breakfast. 
She is a cultural anthropologist and last June Gov. Dannel P. Malloy named her executive director of the newly-formed Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

The event sponsored by the Early Childhood Task Force of the Valley Council on Health and Human Services was held at Molto Bene Italian Kitchen.

Jones-Taylor hit home when she urged parents and grandparents to talk to their babies, to make them laugh, and help them develop a curiosity of the world around them.

My husband, Ralph, and I feel we did just that when our children were very young, and it's safe to say that it paid off. Yes, we are proud parents.

It was good to hear an early childhood expert validate what we - and of course many, many other parents - did and are continuing to do when raising the next generation.