52
March 2016
Opinion
Celebrate the importance of reading BY DENNY BARNEY
When was the last time you read to a child? My children have outgrown the age when my wife and I read aloud to them but, as a parent, I appreciate the importance of early reading. According to experts, reading aloud to your child early in life is a great way to help him or her with language development. In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2), I will meet with some hungry DENNY BARNEY. young minds at the Submitted photo Southeast Regional Library, one of 17 libraries operated by Maricopa County, to share my favorite Dr. Seuss book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
Studies have shown that reading aloud to young children stimulates the imagination, expands their understanding and develops the mind. The National Institute of Child Health and Development estimates that 10 million children struggle with the important skill of reading. Of those 10 million, 1 in 10 eventually drops out of high school. That is more than 1 million students. However, on a more hopeful note, the U.S. Department of Education found that children whose family members read to them at least three times a week were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading. The statistics speak for themselves! The Maricopa County Library District provides early learning programs to children and their families and offers services that benefit customers of all ages. The Maricopa County libraries do so much more than lending books. They are centers
of community engagement, hosting more than 6,000 programs last year, including Library Con (a mini comic-con held at the Southeast Regional Library every October). Starting in 2014 the programming staff at the Queen Creek Branch Library teamed up to offer one story time each month presented by a special member or members of its community. In place of regular age-divided morning story times those weeks, they did “mash-up,” where attendees of all ages enjoyed being read to by a wide variety of locals. Community readers included firefighters, dental assistants, veterans, an author, and even a pest control expert. Let’s keep our commitment to youth and take the time to expose them to new and exciting reading experiences. We may not be able to travel to the jungles of the Congo or visit the museums of the Smithsonian to keep up with our thirst for knowledge, but we can take our children to visit our local libraries and open endless worlds to explore. Last year, we had more
www.GilbertSunNews.com than 3 million visitors to our Maricopa County libraries. That is more than the number of people who visited Mount Rushmore! In the past year, our libraries circulated 7.4 million items. Stacked on top of one another, that would reach a height of 116 miles. If electronic books (e-books) are your thing, the Maricopa County libraries are right there with you. There were more than 729,000 e-book checkouts in 2014, an 81 percent increase from 2012. In the spirit of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I encourage you to read to your children daily or take an opportunity to read to a child in need. For information about upcoming events and programs, or volunteering at one of our many libraries, visit www.mcldaz.org. Reading is an essential life skill to acquire. Expose your children to reading; you’ll be glad you did. Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
How to make the most of storytime for children BY CHRIS BARTLETT
Franchise Owner, Primrose School of South Gilbert The value of reading with young children is well documented. Beyond developing early language and literacy skills, reading increases children’s ability to understand the emotions of others—a critical life skill that leads to empathy and compassion. Parents can help support the development of these skills by being intentional with storytime. In addition to making reading together a regular routine in your household, consider these age-specific tips and book recommendations to make the most of story time during the first five years of your child’s life. Before Birth: During pregnancy, reading establishes voice recognition and promotes cognitive development in babies. The rhythm and melody of voices serve as the prenatal foundation for language. Choose rhythmic stories with cadence, warm tones or repetition— repetition leads to recognition! Primrose suggests: “How Do I Love You?” by Marion Dane Bauer or “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. Birth to Age 1: Reading books should be a favorite bedtime activity at this age. With daily “tuck-in” stories and snuggling together at bedtime, infants
begin to associate reading with comfort, warmth and security. Sturdy board books with bright illustrations are easiest to handle and invite participation. Books with familiar subjects, such as babies and animals, resonate since babies respond to faces and eyes before other stimuli. Primrose suggests: “Peek-a Who?” by Nina Laden or “Counting Kisses” by Karen Katz. Ages 1 to 3: Reading a wide variety of stories helps toddlers build vocabulary and understand story sequencing. A sequence of events that is both interesting and understandable helps children identify with a book. Ask lots of questions, act silly and try out different character voices to make reading dramatic and engaging. Vivid illustrations, along with rhyming and repetitive text, will encourage lively dialogue. Primrose suggests: “Book!” by Kristine O’Connell George or “From Head to Toe” by Eric Carle. Ages 4 to 5: Preschoolers should be encouraged to discover the magic of books for themselves. Books can help young children understand their own feelings when characters face similar life events, so pick topics they may be curious about. Also introduce new genres and topics, and more complex story structures for them to explore. Primrose suggests: “The Red Book” by Barbara Lehman or “A Splendid Friend, Indeed” by
Suzanne Bloom. Parents also can help extend children’s learning during storytime by following the READ acronym, which was developed by the teacher training arm of the Atlanta Speech School—the nation’s most comprehensive center for language and literacy: • Repeat books three to five times. Discuss the story, characters and new vocabulary in each book. • Engage in and enjoy reading, using
different voices for the characters to bring each story to life. • Ask “why” questions, letting your child share his ideas about the story. • Do more with the book. Reinforce the story through related activities. To learn about Primrose School of South Gilbert, visit www.primrosesouthgilbert.com or call (480) 633-5635. For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools. com/blog.
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Is that all you people do is complain about President Obama and credit card callers? Can’t we talk about something else? “If it feels good, do it” is the culture of America today. Hey parents and grandparents—young and elderly! Get off the phone, computer and television for hours on end! You’re probably chatting with someone you would be better off without anyway! What about spending quality time together as a family? Things are replaceable;
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people are not. Have a hard time prioritizing? Why not try putting God first? In Him your life will be found and nothing else! Seek Him with your whole heart! He loves you! Let Him lead you and guide you into all truth! No kidding, Donald. The middle class is disappearing because there are billionaires like you who won’t share enough. They leave town to pay their taxes to another country or not at all to America.
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