The Ransom-Smith family makes the most of their everyday routines in Eastwood, where Shantinque and her 3½-year-old son, Dharion, spend time doing the things they love, like reading together.
One favorite on their bookshelf is When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, a story Dharion returns to often. Through Birmingham Talks, Shantinque has picked up a few new ideas for encouraging Dharion’s curiosity, like asking open-ended questions or trying out new ways to read a story together.
“It’s given me the tools to keep building on what he’s already learning,” she shares. By slowing down and being intentional with conversation, Shantinque finds joy in the little moments that are shaping Dharion’s learning journey.
For Shantinque, these tips haven’t changed what their family values, they’ve simply added to the ways she supports her son as he learns and grows. Whether they’re flipping through a bedtime book or chatting on the way to the park, there are always opportunities to share words and stories.
Their neighborhood, Eastwood, offers a welcoming place to do just that. Shantinque appreciates being close to nature and having space where Dharion can play, explore, and be himself.
Photographer: Kelsey Justice
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All 99 celebrates the faces of early learning in Birmingham: our city’s children and families. Small Magic is working with a variety of local photographers to capture a portrait of a family with children under 5 in each of the city’s ninety-nine neighborhoods.