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It’s Children’s Book Week [UPDATED]
Published 10:03am Thursday, May 10, 2012 Updated 12:04pm Thursday, May 10, 2012This week is national Children’s Book Week, a great way to celebrate the power of story and the impact learning to read has on young people’s lives.
Children’s Book Week was first celebrated in 1919 and, according to the CBW website, that makes it “the longest running literacy initiative in the country.”
Children’s Book Week was started to officially recognize children’s books and literacy as “lifesavers” for youth. Indeed, reading is as essential for children’s success today as it was in 1919, perhaps, even more so in today’s knowledge-driven society.
Numerous education and literacy studies have found over and over again that children who are read to at home do better in school overall.
And they do better, not just in reading, but also when completing other related tasks such as counting and writing.
Children who are read to at home are also more likely to be motivated to learn to read, and, therefore, develop a love of reading themselves.
And the best news for busy parents and caregivers is that even a little bit of family reading time can go a long way.
Reading with your child just 20 minutes a day can reap big rewards for both you and your child.
Your child will develop the early reading skills he or she needs to start and succeed in school and you’ll get in some quality snuggle time too.
As the mother of a two-year-old, I know how hard it can be to fit even that 20 minutes in at the end of a long day.
Yet, when I am cuddling with my wiggly daughter on her bed, a stack of 3 or 4 of her favorite books on the nightstand, the time flies and I wonder why we didn’t start reading earlier in the evening.
Once your child becomes a reader, it’s also important to keep them reading.
You’ve heard the phrase “practice makes perfect,” and it’s as true for reading as it is for baseball, dance, cooking and other activities.
The U.S. Department of Education found that the more children read for fun, in addition to reading at school, the higher their reading scores.
Looking for a few good books to read with your child?
The Fergus Falls Public Library has over 5,000 picture books for children.
Come by and check-out a few today; we’d be happy to help you and your child discover a new favorite.
Happy Children’s Book Week. And I look forward to seeing you at the library.
Erin Smith is the director of the Fergus Falls Public Library.
