For Immediate Release
Contact:  Gina Stiles at 904-757-4463, ext. 210 or 904-655-3632

ZOO Education Department’s New Pre-School Program to Teach Sign Language

“Kiddy Paws” Helps Mother and Baby Communicate Earlier

Jacksonville, FL - Today, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced the launch of a new pre-school program, named “Kiddy Paws”, for mothers and their babies or toddlers to learn sign language.  The program is designed to facilitate early communication between mom and child which will lead to some significant advantages for both. Each week participants will participate in arts and crafts and meet different animal ambassadors to learn various signs to help build a vocabulary.  The program will be run from November 4 through February 26 at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Discovery Center in Play Park on Tuesday or Thursday mornings at 11 a.m.  Children must be between the ages of nine-months and two-years old. 

Two-way communication fosters trust and mutual understanding and deepens the bond between mother and baby.  It also provides limitless opportunities for mothers and babies to explore and learn about their new world together.

“Infants taught sign language can communicate wants and needs to their caregivers, have an earlier ability to expressively communicate with caregivers or siblings, may learn to speak earlier and could have above-average ability later in life to learn a new language,” said Kelliann Whitney, director of education for Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “Parents who sign with their baby may experience lower frustration levels, develop a deeper bond and a higher level of trust and satisfaction from their babies because they know they understand what they are trying to tell them.”

Class sizes are limited to the first 12 children to register.  The Class fee, which includes one child and one adult, is $10 for Members and $13 for non-members. Other participants would pay an additional Class Fee. A Zoo admission fee is also required for non-member adults participating in the program.  For more information about  Kiddy Paws, visit jacksonvillezoo.org/education. 

XXX