Last year, over one third of Ohio's 130,000 kindergarteners arrived on the very first day of school not prepared to succeed as learners
With support from United Way of Central Ohio, Action for Children and the Columbus Metropolitan Library have partnered to deliver Adventures in Literacy/Ready to Read programs to central Ohio parents of children from birth to age five.
Ready to Read builds on six skills that help children get ready for kindergarten - skills like letter recognition and how to follow words on a page. Workshops also show caregivers how to incorporate literacy activities into a family's everyday life. Most Ready to Read program participants say they plan to read more, do more "fun" learning activities and visit the library more often with their children.
Using a research-based and nationally evaluated curriculum, the 90-minute, hands-on training offers practical skills and take-home materials that parents can use every day to prepare their children for kindergarten.
Last year, more than 1,300 parents, caregivers and 100 teachers attended Ready to Read workshops designed to increase the early literacy skills of preschoolers.
Donated funds from United Way and other grants purchase age-appropriate books at discount prices for children age birth to five. Books are then provided free to agency partners that are already serving families with young children, with an emphasis on agencies serving low income families.
During visits to programs that they are accessing already, immunization clinics for example, families receive a free, age-appropriate book and even more importantly, they receive information about the benefits of reading to their baby or young child.
All administrative costs are provided in-kind by partner agencies. Ready to Read is a cost-effective program managed by United Way.
Reading to your child is magic.
PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN:
Is it possible to be behind in school before you even start? Research shows that economically disadvantaged children enter kindergarten one-two years behind in language skills. The typical middle class child starts first grade with up to 1,700 hours of one-on-one picture book reading, while a child from a low-income family averages only 25 hours.
That's why United Way of Central Ohio and the Columbus Metropolitan Library have teamed up to implement a program that gives caregivers in high-need neighborhoods greater access to books and library services like story times, bookmobiles and library cards - tools that will help prepare children for success in school.
bornlearning™
bornlearning™ is a new initiative between United Way of America, CIVITAS, United Way of Marathon County and the Ad Council.
This national initiative addresses United Way of Marathon County’s priority area of Improving the Home Environment for Children, by helping parents understand the importance of reading to their infants and preschoolers.
For more information or materials, visit the bornlearning™ web site at www.bornlearning.org.
