OK you babies, crack those books

Can your baby or toddler distinguish patterns? Surely he or she can make comparisons, right? Or perhaps your youngster is just good at making a mess?

The latter could be a problem under a government proposal in Britain that would have children start training for school almost as soon as they leave the womb.

The initiative would require every nursery and every caregiver to teach newborns and toddlers an “Early Years Foundation Stage†curriculum beginning in 2008.

Cox News Service Has More