Basics DeKalb County is inspired by the fact that 80% of brain growth occurs in the first three years of life. Everyday interactions between children, their parents, caregivers, and any adult in the community provide rich opportunities to to boost brain development in DeKalb County children.

Basics DeKalb County aims to empower and educate parents, caregivers, and the community about the five fun, nurturing, and POWERFUL ways we can interact with young children to promote healthy brain development!  Basics DeKalb County is an affiliate of the Basics Learning Network (thebasics.org), a nationally-recognized initiative that provides strategies for whole communities to support vibrant learning and brain development among infants and toddlers. 

Every child from every background can benefit from the practices of the Basics: 

• Maximize Love, Manage Stress
• Talk, Sing and Point
• Count, Group and Compare
• Explore through Movement and Play
• Read and Discuss Stories

Basics DeKalb County is housed at the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education and is a community-based and county-wide initiative that relies on the support of charitable donations, agency and business partners, and family engagement. They offer FREE resources and supports to families, caregivers, and local organizations so that ALL children in DeKalb County will have a great start in life.

Basics DeKalb County is part of a comprehensive early learning initiative known as the DeKalb County Collaborative for Young Children that was founded as part of a collective impact movement at the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

The Genoa Public Library is proud to be a Community Partner with Basics DeKalb County.

Contact the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education at (815) 217-0460. They are located at 2500 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb, IL 60115.