CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Evelyn Ramirez teaches Spanish-language child care classes aimed at immigrant parents.

Like so many teachers, instructors, and workers nationwide, Ramirez's office now is her kitchen table.

Technological issues sometimes force her to improvise, such as using dolls instead of a video to help illustrate a point—in this case, the importance of play in a child's development.

When Ramirez moved to North Carolina in 1998, virtually all of the resources available for parents were in English only. That left the state's growing Spanish-speaking population without similar services.

In 2008, Ramirez launched a Spanish-language version of The Incredible Years, an early childhood training program run by Welcome Baby, a parent support service based in Durham. Ramirez now teaches classes geared toward mothers of newborns and children in the 1-3 and 3-5 age groups.

“The earlier they start this communication with their children, they're going to have good citizens when they grow up,” she said.

During a recent class, Ramirez stressed the importance of playing with your child for at least 10 minutes each day instead of letting them play on their own. She said in many participants' home countries, children tend to be left on their own while parents focus on housework or other tasks.

Ramirez told the mothers in the class playing with your child not only helps them build communication skills, but also helps parents find out where their children's interests lie.

Although Welcome Baby primarily caters to children in the Durham area, Ramirez said she teaches parents who live elsewhere.