Make any time
learning time!
Sign up to get 8-10 text messages per month with fun activities you can do at home to help prepare little ones, ages 5 and under, for school success.
TALK is an optional service. By providing your phone number on this form, you are opting into receiving notifications containing developmentally appropriate activities based on your child’s age and notifications of local events and library services based on your ZIP code. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP to 75547 for help. Text STOP to 75547 to cancel/opt out of the service. Read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.
This Privacy Policy describes the ways in which Text and Learn for Kindergarten (TALK) collects and uses information you provide through the text messaging service and website. By using TALK, you consent to the processing of your information as set forth in this Privacy Policy.
Information TALK collects
TALK collects information you provide when you sign up for the optional text messaging service, participate in surveys, voluntarily provide demographic data for our research, and/or contact us with a question or request. The information you provide when you sign up for TALK includes your preferred language (English or Spanish), your mobile telephone number, your child’s date of birth or expected date of birth, and your zip code. Demographic data you can optionally provide includes your level of education, family income, family size, race, and ethnicity.
How TALK uses the information
TALK uses the information you provide to send developmentally appropriate activities to you in your language of choice based on your child’s age, to send notifications of free local events and library services to you based on your zip code, to improve TALK through your responses to surveys and data analysis, and to respond to your questions and requests. Optional demographic data is de-identified from your phone number and is only used as stated below.
How TALK discloses the information
TALK may disclose collected de-identified information for reports, presentations, and grant applications, and other information as required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or other legal process, or to comply with government reporting obligations or when otherwise requested by law enforcement. All TALK information will be accessible to selected personnel at MCLS (Midwest Collaborative for Library Services), YDL (Ypsilanti District Library), and HighScope Educational Research Foundation. Information relevant to each subscribing library (TALK service subscriber information for the zip codes serviced by that library) will be accessible via an authenticated web page by selected personnel at that library.
Data storage and security
Information that you provide when you sign up for TALK and demographic data you optionally provide resides on a secure server which is part of the MCLS infrastructure. This server is accessible only to selected MCLS and YDL personnel. TALK periodically distributes voluntary user surveys to assess the quality of the program. Data collected through surveys is stored in Qualtrics on a secure HighScope server accessible only on hardware inside the HighScope building. At the end of the evaluation of TALK in 2023, all data will be deleted from HighScope’s Qualtrics server.
Information collected through TALK will be processed in and subject to the laws of the United States. You understand and agree that we may collect, use, disclose and otherwise process your information as described in this Policy and according to the United States law. Your personal information may be disclosed to the United States government or its agencies under a lawful order made in the United States. Your information may be retained as long as there is a potential use for the information, as required by law.
Opting out
You can choose to opt out of receiving SMS text messages by texting STOP to #### or utilizing the contact information listed in the ‘Contact Us’ section below.
Children’s Information
TALK is not directed to, nor do we knowingly collect information from, children under the age of 13. If you become aware that your child or any child under your care has provided us with information without your consent, please contact us at the contact information listed below. If you provide information about a child under the age of 13 you hereby represent that you are authorized to provide such information.
Contact us
If you have questions regarding this policy or our use of the information collected through TALK, or if you experience any problems with TALK, please email us at TALK@ypsilibrary.org, or call us at 734-482-4110 x1340.
Sing
Empty food containers and wooden spoons can be used as drumsticks to explore rhythms and sounds. Turn on music and drum with the beat.
Write
Follow the art leader! Watch your preschooler draw. Draw the same thing. Compare drawings. Notice differences & similarities. Switch roles & repeat.
Play
Toddlers love finger puppets. Make some by cutting the tips off the fingers of old gloves. Draw faces with markers, put them on, & act out a story!
Read
Look at family photos with your toddler. Talk about what is happening in each picture, name the family members in them and describe them.
TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten sends fun activities parents can do with their babies and preschoolers to make any time learning time. Developed by librarians and based on the Every Child Ready to Read program that encourages parents to read, write, sing, talk, and play with their little ones everyday, TALK activities are designed to get kids ready for school success. You’ll get updates for local library storytimes and other free, educational children’s events; and you’ll even get a few tips just for you, because when parents are strong and healthy, it’s easier to give your kids what they need to grow.
Give your child a head start by subscribing to TALK
Research shows that when parents and caregivers talk and listen to young children, kids develop the cognitive and language skills they need to do well in school and beyond. TALK activities increase back-and-forth parent/child conversations and provide activities for little ones to learn through exploration and discovery to help you make sure your child gets a head start on the road to success.
