The Basics Art Installation: A Celebration of Early Learning for Families
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- 4 min read
The Basics: Why it matters
Raising a little human is not easy. Parenting can feel overwhelming, and for many adults, especially after years of not playing with toys, playing and interacting with a baby doesn’t always come naturally. It can even feel awkward talking to your baby when all they do is stare back at you and you’re doing most of the talking. Often, we hear things like, “They’re just a baby, they don’t know yet.” But the truth is, they will know and they are learning from the world around them every single day. By age three, about 80% of a child’s brain is already developed, which means these early moments matter more than we realize. Talking, playing, and responding, no matter how small or simple it feels, helps build the foundation for your child’s growth. That’s exactly what The Basics is here for. The Basics provides families with simple and fun ways to interact with their baby in truly meaningful ways. As Ron Ferguson says, “A few, simple, everyday activities can make a difference.” That’s why WeGo Together for Kids is excited to bring The Basics to West Chicago. Together, we can support all families in helping their little ones grow up to be the best people we know they can be.
The Inspiration
WeGo Together for Kids is excited to bring The Basics Through Art, an art installation based on The Five Basics Principles. This inspiration for this project comes from having attended The Basics DuPage Launch Event back in April of 2024, Jennifer Rodriguez, our Early Childhood Manager was amazed to see the various ways that other communities have implemented The Basics into their city landscaping. The ideas shared ranged from billboards to bus stops, posters and city murals. Dr. Ron Ferguson, founder of the Basics and retired professor of Harvard University, shared that every year he had his students submit original artwork that showcased the Basics Principles. See the artwork here. This was enough to bring about the thought, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could do something like that in West Chicago?”
Getting the Art
One thing is having an idea and the other thing is actually making it happen. A key aspect of this project was that Rodriguez “really wanted to include the West Chicago Community” in the formation of the artwork. She shared, “Essentially, I wanted the art to be for our community, by our community.”
As a West Chicago Community High School Alumni, Rodriguez reached out to former art teacher Megan Dulkynis, and pitched the idea of an art contest for current art students.
“Students were invited to create artwork that depicted one of The Basics Principles in any medium of their choice. We ended up with four submissions, each one was unique and truly meaningful, and we’re so thankful to the students who took the time to share their creativity with us.”
The winner, Lauren Dusing, a 2025 WCCHS graduate won a $500 scholarship and created four more art pieces depicting the remaining Basics Principles.
The Impact
The purpose of this project is to bring awareness about the importance of the early years. Children between the ages of 0-5 need their caretakers to love them, talk to them, model for them and play with them. How much you interact with your child at a young age will show by the time they enter kindergarten and will continue to show as they grow older. This art installation is meant to inspire families to continue to interact with their children in simple but meaningful ways.
The impact of The Basics is already being felt beyond West Chicago. The Basics Art Installation has caught the attention of surrounding organizations that are inspired to create something similar in their own communities. One example is The Morton Arboretum, who features local student artwork throughout its Children’s Garden, demonstrating how creativity, learning, and community can come together to support children’s learning.
How to get started
Incorporating The Basics into everyday life doesn’t require extra time, special toys, or doing things “perfectly.” It can look like talking through what you’re doing while changing a diaper, singing during bath time, naming colors and shapes while running errands, or responding with words and smiles when your baby coos or babbles. These small, everyday moments when you talk, play, and connect are powerful opportunities to support your child’s brain development.
If you’re stuck and struggling with coming up with ideas on how to play and engage with your little one, you’re not alone. Sometimes that’s all we need- words of encouragement, tips on how to read with our baby, and gentle reminders that we can pause and take a moment to care for ourselves. If you have a little one aged 0-5, you can and start receiving FREE tips on how you can continue to help your little one grow. Sign up for The Basics Insights text messages today!.!
Stop by Republic Bank on Main St. and check out The Basics Art Installation and start doing The Basics today!
This project was made possible by the collaborative efforts of WeGo Together for Kids, Republic Bank, DuPage County Health Department, West Chicago Community High School, and The Basics DuPage. Funding was made possible by Birth to Five Illinois.
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