Kits promote reading to kids

NORFOLK– Reading is a great equalizer for people from all economic backgrounds.

Studies indicate it helps to develop comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking, including when parents and others read to children.

That’s one of the reasons why getting young people to read or reading to them is important.

Lisa Guenther, Northeast Community College Early Childhood Education instructor, applied for and received a grant from Dollar General to make Joy of Reading kits available to public libraries and childcare centers in the area. Last week, she delivered the kits to the South Sioux City YMCA Child Care, Sioux City Public Library, Pender Community Child Care and Lied Randolph Public Library.

The Joy of Reading library kits contain a quality children’s literature book and ready to use learning activities for children. They also contain lesson ideas for adults, teachers and parents.

There are 12 kits, each containing a different children’s book. The Joy of Reading kits can be checked out one at a time, or in groups. They are to be used in childcare centers, preschools, elementary classrooms, and church educational settings, homeschool and for family read aloud times.

Guenther said the impact of the grant will go far beyond this year. “Once the habit of daily reading aloud is developed within the child, they grow into adults who continue to read daily. The development of comprehension, vocabulary growth, and critical thinking in these individuals grows the parents, career workers, and leaders of tomorrow,” she said. “Reading aloud daily to a child can change the world and the world for that child.”