By: Suzie Ziegler
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – We sat down with program manager of the Pikes Peak Region and spokesperson from the Children’s Literacy Center Sandy McGraw to discuss their mission to improve literacy in Colorado.
McGraw tells us that in Colorado there are 27,000 children in third grade alone reading below their grade level.
“Kids who don’t read and don’t have books at home are academically not as successful as those who do have books at home,” she says.
That’s why the Children’s Literacy Center has made it their mission to help families and children introduce a few more books into their lives. They’ll be at Family Fest Saturday at the Chapel Hills Mall giving away free books.
“Our big thing is we’re always trying to give away books and this is one way to do it at an event like this.”
The Children’s Literacy Center encourages individuals and organizations to donate books, so that they can in turn provide free books for children who might not otherwise have access to reading material.
They operate in some schools, but typically through community organizations like the YMCA, and target children in first through sixth grade.
“We want to be accessible for everyone,” McGraw explains. Ultimately, the Children’s Literacy Center wants to help children be readers and build a successful foundation.
McGraw encourages parents to read with their children for at least 20 minutes every day. It might sound like a lot, but McGraw suggests building those minutes in around your every day activities like driving or while you’re making dinner.
“I always tell people bedtime is the best time because everyone’s relaxed,” she says. “You can just sit down and enjoy a book and a quick read with their child.”
Posted: Oct 19, 2019 12:27 PM MDT
Updated: Oct 19, 2019 12:42 PM MDT
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