LENA

 

LENA is a national nonprofit on a mission to transform children’s futures through early talk technology and data-driven programs. Its widely validated technology, often referred to as a “talk pedometer” or a “FitBit for conversation,” is the industry standard for measuring children’s language environments, both at home and in early childhood education settings.

The LENA device delivers detailed feedback on how many adult-child interactions, or conversational turns, young children experience throughout the day, as well as how many adult words they hear. LENA technology is trusted by more than 400 research institutions and has powered over 150 peer-reviewed publications. This research has established conversational turns as one of the most predictive metrics of long-term academic performance and social-emotional well-being.

In addition to facilitating research, LENA offers programs designed to help adults make proven, sustainable increases in interactive talk with children, putting the technology directly into the hands of early childhood educators, parents, and other primary caregivers. LENA works with a wide range of partner organizations, including school districts, state agencies, library systems, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and family child care homes, to improve early language environments and boost kindergarten readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers throughout the world.