Research Findings
Data from Ready to Hatch
Hatchlings, Ready to Hatch is a one-workshop program. Parents were asked to complete an evaluation immediately following their Ready to Hatch workshop, and a follow-up survey was solicited after their babies were born.
Ninety-nine percent of parents surveyed from the three pilot years (n=83) stated that they increased their understanding, and one hundred percent increased their confidence regarding supporting their baby’s early literacy development (before and after birth) by participating in the Ready to Hatch workshop!
Follow-up surveys found that parents reported using the information from the Hatchlings workshop and incorporating early literacy activities into their daily routines with their newborns. Furthermore, parents stated that the activities had helped them bond with their babies and feel more confident about supporting their new baby’s early literacy development.
Data from In the Nest
Hatchlings In the Nest is a four-workshop program for parents and their newborns. Parents were asked to complete a workshop evaluation following their first and last sessions. A follow-up survey was also solicited several months after the series was completed. As with the Ready to Hatch pilot findings, ninety-nine percent of parents surveyed from the three pilot years (n = 146) stated that they increased their understanding, and one hundred percent increased their confidence regarding supporting their baby’s early literacy development by participating in the In the Nest workshops!
In addition, all agreed that they planned to apply what they had learned and listed many examples of what they were eager to try at home. Parents bonded with one another during the four-part series of workshops and often expressed appreciation for the community of support they experienced throughout the training.
Follow-up surveys found that parents reported using the information from the Hatchlings workshops and incorporating early literacy activities into their daily routines with their babies. As with Ready to Hatch, parents stated that the activities from In the Nest had helped them bond with their babies and feel more confident about supporting their baby’s early literacy development.
Quotes from Participants
“Thanks, this was great for my mental health to get out and learn and gain confidence.”
- Howard County Library System workshop participant
“I loved learning about high contrast books for babies and all the offerings at the library. Really excited for the follow up programming. As a couple planning on raising our child in a bilingual English-Spanish speaking household, programs like these are magnificent!”
- Chelsea Schein, Montgomery County Public Libraries participant
“I share the book with him every night before my daughter falls asleep as it is part of her routine and now my son is in the routine a little bit. I sing to him sometimes when I help him to fall asleep. I even talk to him when I am changing his diaper and I talk to him during tummy time in his baby gym. I am excited to have been part of this experience before my baby was born and I will be extra thrilled when I join the hatchlings in the nest event. Most I am happy for my son. I feel these are exciting and crucial times for him to be educated in such a positive and fun way.”
– Katya Lienard, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System workshop participant, Follow-up survey response
“I love this program, especially since I can attend while on maternity leave. I love in person and learning new ways to interact with my baby. This is an amazing program!”
– Sheila Patterson, Howard County Library System workshop participant
“Our presenter did a great job of making everyone feel comfortable and gave us some great ideas to foster literacy.”
– Ann Heaton, Carroll County Public Library workshop participant
“I will for sure do more bouncing songs with my baby and do more of the “stop” songs!”
– Bobbi Jo Cave, Calvert Library participant
“I loved learning new songs and have already started using the songbook and slide prints daily- I keep them with my baby’s books, and we sing throughout the day.”
– Montgomery County Public Libraries participant
“Will definitely use the songs and tools provided throughout. I enjoyed the time in each class!”
– Pamela Walker, Harford County Public Library / Judy Center participant
“We visit the library every few weeks to get new books to read. We read a story before nap time and bedtime. We sing the Wheels on the Bus song any time she gets fussy, and it seems to calm her down. Both Mom and Dad do these activities!”
– Josh Knepper, In the Nest follow-up survey response, Howard County Library System participant
Our Evaluator
Elaine Czarnecki is a literacy consultant specializing in evaluation and early literacy. She has provided consulting, professional development, and evaluation services for various nationwide initiatives since beginning her work with public libraries in 2001. Her recent projects include the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funded Cruise into Kindergarten initiative in Pennsylvania, the Southeast Florida Library (SEFLIN) Building Capacity for Early Literacy Programming initiative, and the LSTA funded Peer Coaching to Improve Technology, Information and Digital Media Literacies for Families project in Maryland, among others. Elaine is the co-author of Every Child Ready for School: Helping Adults Inspire Children to Learn, published by ALA Editions, Tender Topics: Picture Books about Childhood Challenges, published by Huron Street Press, and the Every Child Ready to Read Toolkit for Serving Early Childhood Educators, also published by ALA Editions.
The Mother Goose on the Loose: Hatchlings Program by Betsy Diamant-Cohen is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0