Ten Things Every Child Needs Video On First Library Website, firstlibrary.org

First Library, a non profit organization dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy for children born to first time mothers is debuting the awarding winning video, Ten Things Every Child Needs, on its website, firstlibrary.org.  

The video details the ten most important things needed to develop a child's brain, which at birth is only 25 percent of the size of an average adult brain.

Incredibly, by age 3, a child’s brain will grow to 90 percent the size of an adult's brain. Moreover, during infancy and early childhood, children are flooded with new experiences that impact their brain development.

The first three years of a child’s life offer parents an amazing opportunity to shape their child’s growth and form healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

First Library, and its expanded mission program, First Baby, offers first time mothers books and educational support to help with their child's brain development.

First Library, in conjunction with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, mails one new, age-appropriate book each month to preschool children, until the age of 5, regardless of the family’s income.

First Baby, in tandem with First Library, gives children born to low income, first time mothers 52 books a year.

Research has found that 61 percent of low-income families have no books at all in their homes for their children. In low-income neighborhoods the ratio is 1 to 300 (1 book for every 300 children). In middle-income neighborhoods the ratio of age-appropriate books per child is 13 to 1 (13 books for every 1 child). And children growing up in homes with many books, get 3 years more schooling than children from book less homes, independent of their parents' education, occupation and class. 

Moreover, giving children access to print materials is associated with positive behavioral, educational, and psychological outcomes. 

Early childhood literacy education is the key to lifting a child out of poverty and providing them with a firm foundation for future life and educational success.

First Baby also offers first time mothers in need educational support and essential baby items, such as clothing, educational toys, and equipment, throughout their baby's first three years of life, free of charge, while promoting early childhood literacy and healthy and responsible parenting. 

Mothers meet with early childhood development educators every three months and "shop" for age-appropriate clothing, books and educational toys. They are also educated about their child's needs: mentally and educationally.

Although mothers are referred by their primary care providers and social agencies, they must pledge their commitment to the entire three-year program, which includes reading to their child daily and keeping a reading log.

First Baby is the only program nationally that addresses the child’s needs materially and educationally, free of charge, while providing their first time mothers with one-on-one educational support by early childhood development educators.

Women pregnant with their first child or with a child under one year old that meet income requirements and are referred by a primary care giver or are enrolled in or plan to enroll in a participating service organization's program are eligible for the First Baby program.

Mothers must exhibit extreme financial need, whether it is a low income or participation in Medicaid, Food Stamps/SNAP, Assistance to Needy Families/Work First NJ, or WIC to be eligible for the program.

First time mothers interested in participating in the First Baby program should have their obstetrician, pediatrician, doula or social agency representative (Nurse Family Partnership, Healthy Families, Healthy Start, Parents as Teachers, and Mothering Mothers) fill out a referral form. Referral forms can be obtained by calling 973-452-6189 or by email at referral@firstlibrary.org. 

First time mothers interested in participating in the First Library program should fill out a First Library request form at firstlibrary.org, call 973-452-6189, email firstlibrary@firstlibrary.org, or write to First Library, 110 Summit Avenue, Chatham, NJ 07928. 

First Library and First Baby are supported through private monetary donations and corporate sponsorships.

First Baby is also supported through material donations from corporations, local families and area consignment and thrifts shops.

Volunteer opportunities at First Baby, including preparing items for families, organizing collection drives, and assisting with fund raising and events, are also available. Email volunteer@firstlibrary.org for more details.

Monetary donations and donations of new and nearly new clothing, books and educational toys can be mailed to or dropped off  at the office at 110 Summit Avenue, Chatham, NJ. Please call ahead to make a donation.

More information about First Library or First Baby can be found at the website, firstlibrary.org or by calling Catherine Goldberg at 973-452-6189 or by email at cgoldberg@firstlibrary.org.