I have been an avid reader since I was a young child and have my parents to thank for encouraging me to read.  Many do not have family or friends that encourage writing.  Today, Michelle Staubach Grimes is here to tell us what we can do to help create a new generation of readers.

 Ways to Encourage Childhood Literacy

As a mother and an author, I’m passionate about childhood literacy. Literacy is the foundation for education. If one never learns to read and write, he or she will struggle their entire life.  It’s important that we communicate with one another so we can make the world a better place. Literacy allows the student to understand another point of view, have empathy for others, and encourages he or she to follow their dreams.

I couldn’t write this article without giving tribute to one of my heroes – Mrs. Barbara Bush. I learned so much about the literacy crisis in our country each year as I attended an annual event in Dallas called The Celebration of Reading, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Everyone knows that Mrs. Bush’s passion was literacy. She worked tirelessly to create awareness about literacy. When Mrs. Bush gave the commencement address at Wellesley College for the Class of 1990, she spoke of her commitment to literacy:

“If more people could read, write, and comprehend, we would be that much closer to solving so many problems that plague our nation and our society.”

The only way to ensure more people can read and write is to place books in the hands of children. Additionally, Mrs. Bush emphasized that the home is a child’s first school. In this, the importance of parents reading to their children is paramount, as a parent is a child’s first teacher.

Her work has inspired me to follow in that tradition. Below are some frameworks to think about this issue, and ways that can help us work toward improving literacy across the world.

Literacy Starts at Home

As the parent or caregiver, it’s never too early to read to a child. It’s crucial to start when they are newborns, as they can hear the parent’s reading. As he or she gets older, one can then introduce the pictures and words together.  Let your children tell their own stories as you explore the book together. It’s fine to encourage children to make up their own stories from the pictures before they can read. Have fun with the book – let your child touch and flip the pages. Don’t worry about a page being torn. Your goal as a parent is to make reading an exciting experience for your child so they come back for more.

Homes without Books

As adults, we have a bigger responsibility to help those living in homes without books. Not all homes are capable of providing children with books, and in many cases, the parents are illiterate so they can’t read to their children. This is where we, as a community, must come together and ensure that all children have access to books and learn to read. However, providing newborns and toddlers with books is more difficult because we can’t physically go into the home. Consequently, when these children start school, they are behind in their literacy skills.

How to Ensure those Less Fortunate Receive Books

It’s crucial to support underprivileged schools financially and through volunteering, to help these children catch up to their peers. I’ve been able to donate books alongside with a generous foundation in the Dallas area. I visit schools, read my books, and then every child goes home with a new book. The smile on their faces is priceless when they find out they get to take home a brand new book.

In addition to visiting schools, there are many programs in communities with the goal of helping children learn to read. Both adults and teenage children can volunteer their time to mentor young children struggling to read.

When Community Programs Aren’t Enough

Community programs are limited due to funding. The city government must intervene and ensure children are being educated. Foundations like the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy are an excellent example of creating awareness on a national level about the literacy crisis. We must be advocates for these children who don’t have a voice.

What You Can Do to Encourage Childhood Literacy

• Read to your child at home every day. Make reading a fun experience so he or she wants to read more books.
• Ensure you are reading books often so you teach your kids by example.
• Visit your local bookstore. You don’t always have to buy something, but you can browse the books with your children.
• Visit your local library often.
• Volunteer your time to read to kids. There are many community organizations that foster a love of reading.
• Donate books to your libraries, schools, and community centers.
• Financially support literacy organizations.

About Michelle Staubach Grimes

Michelle Staubach Grimes began journaling years ago and enrolled in the SMU Creative Writing Continuing Ed Program in 2012 to hone her writing skills. She fell in love with creative writing and studied “story” through that program. Where is Pidge? debuted in March of 2015. Michelle is thrilled to now be releasing her second book, Pidge Takes the Stage. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

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