Talaris Institute is pleased to announce the release of Baby Feelings, a board book perfect for young children. Baby Feelings, inspired by research and beautifully photographed, focuses on how babies express emotions.

Product Update – Baby Feelings

On April 6, Talaris Institute hosted Dr. John Gottman, a world-renowned psychologist with thirty-eight years of experience researching parenting and marriage. Dr. Gottman’s talk, entitled “Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting,” is now available on demand at no charge at www.ParentingCounts.org/webcast/gottman.

John Gottman Press Release 4-5-11

Talaris Institute is pleased to announce a new Parenting Counts video on play designed for early childhood professionals to support their work with parents and children: Experience, Explore, Learn: The Amazing World of Play

Product Update – Experience, Explore, Learn: The Amazing World of Play

Talaris Institute is pleased to announce that Harlem Children’s Zone will be distributing over 1,000 Parenting Counts materials through two Harlem Children’s Zone programs:  Baby College parenting classes and Harlem Gems pre-K program.  The donation was made possible by the generosity of the Apex Foundation, the family foundation for Bruce and Jolene McCaw.  Talaris and Harlem Children’s Zone are committed to helping build a strong foundation of social, emotional and cognitive skills during the early years of life.

HCZ_Press_Release[2]

Talaris Institute, a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Washington, is proud to announce the launch of the new online service for parents of children birth to five: Parenting Counts Center at www.ParentingCounts.org. Parenting Counts Center showcases factual and practical content for parents based on research in the field of early childhood development. Parenting Counts Center offers free access and a comprehensive, developmental timeline that features the milestones most children experience from birth to five years.

PC Relaunch Press Release 6-14-10[1]

Dr. John Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and author of several books including the New York Times bestseller, Brain Rules, presented on Is Temperment Innate? during the Talaris Institute’s second in a series of interactive webcasts for parents and professionals. Dr. Medina discussed the roles nature and nurture play in how a child learns to navigate the world. He also answered questions asked in real time via the internet.

Medina_Press_release FINAL 6-3-10[1]

Why are Mothers important? “Research shows that parenting is one of the most important jobs you’ll ever have, because everything you do as a parent counts. Children rely on their parents to help them make sense of the world. No one has a greater impact on a child’s development than their parents, and since we are nearing Mother’s Day, we will specifically recognize how important a mom’s role is in her child’s healthy development,” says Katie Simons, Executive Director of Talaris Institute.

Mother’s day PR[1]

Supporting young children’s development means providing limits as well as opportunities.  Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute explains why discipline is important and how it can be used in ways that support the healthy social and emotional growth of toddlers and preschoolers.   

 http://www.king5.com/on-tv/Learning-for-Life-How-to-best-discipline-your-young-children-90099932.html

http://www.king5.com/news/learning-for-life/Learning-for-Life-That-Talaris-Institute-80946497.html

Boeing continues to be a leader in supporting early childhood education by providing child care on site and offering parenting education classes from Talaris Institute.  Employees appreciate the emphasis on family agree that it promotes a positive and productive work environment.  

http://www.king5.com/news/learning-for-life/Learning-for-Life-Boeing–80946357.html

Katie Simons, Executive Director of Talaris Institute, explores the role of the private sector in influencing early education and how organizations like Talaris Institute can best support parents and caregivers.

http://www.king5.com/news/learning-for-life/Learning-for-Life-Interview-with-executive-director-of-Talaris-Institute-80946692.html

Emotions Matter, an exhibit created by the Children’s Museum of Tacoma and Talaris Institute, is designed to help parents and children in military families learn more about feelings and emotions and how to handle them.  The exhibit has traveled throughout Pierce County (Washington) Library branches before moving to the Ft. Lewis Library system. 

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-378741

Time, love and patience are perhaps the three most important gifts parents can share with their children.  Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute explains how these pillars of positive parenting help to create a strong and secure foundation for a child’s healthy growth and development.

http://www.king5.com/on-tv/Learning-for-Life-Give-your-time-love-and-Patience-79240512.html

The baby-parent bond serves as the foundation for a child’s social and emotional development and continues to develop as the child grows and gets older. Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute explains how parents serve as role models for their infants and toddlers and how they help their children develop socially and emotionally.

http://www.king5.com/archive/64597227.html

Playing is learning, but parents definitely tackle it from different angles. Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute addresses the different but important benefits that mothers and fathers offer as their children’s playmates. Fathers tend to be a bit louder, rowdier and rougher when they play with their children, while mothers are more cautious and intentional.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/60834377.html

Becoming a parent can be a dramatic, and even traumatic, experience for many people. Roles shift. Sleep becomes a distant memory. And then there’s the new reality that there’s no “time off” from parenting. Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute explores the transition to parenthood and some of the most important ways to prepare emotionally.

http://www.king5.com/archive/60424507.html

Children need play. Before the age of five, experts agree, playing is learning. It’s how children explore the world around them and grow physically and mentally. Carolyn Pirak from Talaris Institute discusses the importance of play and how it differs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

http://www.king5.com/archive/60068777.html

“Today’s parents want the best for their children and are seeking parenting information and products they can trust. At Talaris, we are experiencing a great deal of interest in our research‑based parenting materials. To help meet this demand, we are growing our organization. We are thrilled to be welcoming five highly talented new members of our team,”

says Katie Simons, Executive Director, of Talaris Institute.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talaris-fills-five-key-positions-to-meet-demand-62128322.html

It’s no question that decisions about early education are made not only by parents and elected officials but also by those in the philanthropic world. Some of the biggest nonprofits have chosen early learning as a priority. KCTS 9 host Enrique Cerna talks with representatives from Thrive by Five, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Talaris Institute.

http://www.kcts9.org/video/role-non-profits-and-philanthropy-early-education

Katie Simons, former Director of Brewed Coffee at Starbucks and a Project Leader for Boston Consulting Group, has joined local nonprofit organization Talaris Institute as their new General Manager. Simons will be responsible for all aspects of general operations, planning, research, product development, distribution and evaluation. As the mother of a toddler, Katie understands the value of the Parenting Counts products. With her experience in the retail marketplace, she is uniquely qualified to take Talaris from its “proof of concept” stage to a new platform of large-scale distribution and effectiveness.

KatieSimonspressrelease