GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — You can never talk, sing, or read too much to a child, according to Lighting Bug Literacy, an early childhood literacy program owned by Valerie Banks of Grand Junction and her daughter, Ariana Hall, of Broomfield.

The mother-daughter team have developed kits around beloved children's books to get infants and toddlers on the road to learning.

“We're teaching parents how to use literacy in the home for little ones,” Banks said.

Each kit contains five learning activities that are tied directly to a focus book. The kit includes literacy and math concepts, a build-a-letter activity using different shapes, plus a “bonus” activity designed to facilitate fine motor skills.

Hall was a former elementary school teacher who began doing creative learning activities with her own child. Banks is a former preschool teacher. She works for School District 51 as a reading specialist.

When they decided to go into business for themselves in January 2010, they turned to the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center for assistance.

“We are teachers, not business people,” Banks said. “We were lost. We knew nothing about taxes, the law.”

Banks is currently enrolled in the Incubator's Leading Edge program — a comprehensive 12-week business course. She also rents office space at the Incubator campus, 2591 legacy Way, and consults with staff there for free business advice.

The Incubator provides an “intensive five-year business support program that accelerates the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services,” according to its website.

Lightning Bug Literacy also provides story hours and is certified to provide play-based sign language programs where children learn to talk and sign at the same time, Banks said.

For more information or to read Hall's blog, visit www.lightningbuglit.com.