Value of Reading

Parents are the first teachers for their children. A love of reading often stems from the earliest days of reading with a family member. Many programs promote reading over television. The American Library Association has a guide for parents through the earliest stages a child goes through in learning to read. They begin with the simplest ideas such as sing to your baby, repeat nursery rhymes and end with be an example and read to your children. Watching television can only take away the time for reading.

The National Literacy Coalition began as a result of the Literacy Act of 1998. It has programs in every state that offer programs to develop stronger literacy in communities. Reading builds vocabulary which increases comprehension which of course develops intelligence. Watching television is much more superficial. The brain is not engaged on the same level while watching television as when one is reading.

In 1966, RIF was born. It is the oldest program that promotes literacy for the younger children in families.  One of RIF’s fabulous services is to provide several free books a year for children in their Books for Ownership program. The RIF program focuses on several goals to help families develop time for sharing the love of reading. In doing so, the program also supports the parents in their role as their children’s first teachers. The program has outreach for parents who need support in their own literacy development. These programs have all proven that reading can bring a family together.