The municipalities of South Limburg, libraries, GGD South Limburg, Taalschatten, Trendbreuk South Limburg, the Parkstad Limburg City Region, and many other partners are working on a joint approach to promote reading and language development in the first 1000 days of a child’s life. During this period, all essential connections in the brain are formed, which form the basis for language acquisition and development. This even starts before birth, as soon as a baby can hear in the mother’s womb.
Language-Rich Start aims to encourage parents to talk, read, and sing more with their children, especially in the language closest to them; whether that is Dutch, a Limburg dialect, or another (regional) language. Not all parents realize how important this is for their child’s development. A uniform basic offer for language acquisition, such as reading hours, language tips, and free books, is intended to support young families in South Limburg. For parents who need extra help, guidance is available from a language specialist for young children.
With Language-Rich Start, South Limburg aims to tackle language delay with the ambition that all children enter primary school with the right language level. This prevents inequality of opportunity and delays that are often impossible to catch up on. In Limburg, about 100,000 people have difficulty reading, writing, or calculating. This can cause various problems in areas such as work, finances, administration, and household management.
The Province of Limburg wholeheartedly supports this initiative, says Deputy Marc van Caldenberg. “Investing in language is investing in people – in families, in future opportunities, and in a resilient society. Language is the most powerful tool we humans possess. Let’s strengthen it together! And it starts with our children. A language-rich start in life means a promising start in our society. And how wonderful it would be if North and Central Limburg joined in. Together, we would build a Limburg where every child can grow up language proficient and with opportunities.”
