"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild,
to pick up a book and read with a child."
If you've ever shared a book with a child, you know the joy and excitement this small but meaningful act can bring. But, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, since 1993 only 53-58% of children ages 3 to 5 receive this joy on a daily basis.
Reading daily with a child does require parents, older siblings, and other caring adults to add yet another hat to the many they already wear in caring for and raising a child. But by adding the reading hat to your collection, you also add great rewards:
- Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school.
- Children who read frequently develop stronger reading skills.
- Families who read together for 20 minutes per day get over 120 hours of extra bonding time each year.
To get kids excited about reading and encourage more adults to spend time reading with their children, the National Education Association (NEA) launched the first NEA's Read Across America day in 1998.
Parents, educators, and NEA supporters are encouraged to share which childhood book meant the most to them. Take a picture with the book of your choice and post your “shelfie” on a public social media platform using #Shelfie and #ReadAcrossAmerica.
Let's all join together on March 2, and every day thereafter, to ensure that our children have caring adults to share books and rich reading experiences.
Parents and educators can visit www.seussville.com/educators for printable activities, book suggestions, local events, and more!
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