These Language 'Sponges' Really Soak It Up

These Language 'Sponges' Really Soak It Up

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Story Published: Jan 24, 2006 at 12:42 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:11 AM PDT

By Brian Calvert

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SEATTLE - They're young, and their minds are like little sponges. A new school in Seattle catering to the under four crowd is capitalizing on the fact these kids can really soak things up.

Being a little guy can be frustrating at times, especially when no one understands. But that is changing at the new Sponge School, where toddlers are learning to communicate in four different languages.

"It's quite amazing," says parent Erritt Story. "The sponges that they are for language."

The kids, ranging in age from nine months to four years, are being immersed in other cultures.

"Before the age of four, the brain is really focused on acquiring language," says Jackie Mighdoll, director of Sponge. Says she began the school to help kids and parents take advantage of some of the best learning years.

"There's a set of linguistic benefits," Mighdoll says. "Children who learn a language young have much better pronunciation."

Erritt Story says his 15-month-old daughter Caitrian is really picking up other languages. "She'll respond to things better or more quickly than I will," Story says with a smile.

"We've been reading different research about how they can at this age absorb sounds," says parent Wanda Sullivan. "So it was important to us to at least expose him to one other language."

For more information:

www.spongeschool.com

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