Family Vegas Blog
A few weeks ago, as I came strolling up the ABC stairs, Ms. Susan puled me aside to tell me about the upcoming summer reading program for children from birth to age 5 running through the summer months. Encouraging me to participate, she explained how important it is for young children to learn to rhyme and how that skill effects their reading ability later in life. How coming to programs like this, Alina will learn about finger play, rhyming games, in addition to social interactions. That “The Rubber Ducky Reading Club” reading program will help set the foundation for Alina to learn the six early literary skills. Ms. Susan didn’t have to convince me though – I am all about summer reading programs! And the fact that Alina gets to participate {for free and being that she isn’t even two yet} is the coolest thing ever!
The reading program consists of simple activities, such as: read your child a book, sing the alphabet together, sing songs together while driving in the car, clap or shake an instrument to a simple rhyme song. Many of the 14 activities are things attentive parents do with their kids on a daily basis. Once an activity is completed, you color in a ducky. Six activities earns the child a rubber ducky, 12 activities completed earns them a board book. Once their activities are all completed, they enter a drawing to win the grand prize. Honestly though, I won’t be focusing on the prizes. My focus will be setting the foundation of those six literary skills that will hopefully create an avid reader out of my daughter. {Although the grand prize is a private story time with 10 of your friends. Kinda cool! VIP Story time? Only in Vegas!}.
As a young child, reading for me was a way to travel the world, be different people, experience different emotions. Summers, in part, meant I could read anything I wanted, for as long as I wanted. I could read at the beach, I could read in my closet, I could read waiting for my brother’s baseball practice to finish. Reading gives you the world, anywhere you are.
It’s something I had as a child, and I want that for Alina too.
The Mod Homemaker
June 23, 2011 at 6:47 pmthanks for sharing this! I love reading what you have to say. Being biracial, growing up in a two parent home of different races and now having a biracial family of my own (which was inevitable-ha), it’s so refreshing read a blog that talks about it, and lives it.
Emma Kay
June 24, 2011 at 3:08 amLove this Vanessa, L.O.V.E.!
{And I’ve been watching your followers list grow and grow. Keep doing what you’re doing and one day you’ll be having a few thousand followers yourself!}
De Su Mama
June 24, 2011 at 3:29 amThank you, ladies. The support means so much!
And Emma, you’ve been with me from the beginning and I am ever grateful to your constant support all the way from across the globe. Besos!
Gerri
June 28, 2011 at 3:32 pmWhat a perfect summer reading program for toddlers! I love the fact that it involves not only reading, but music and other learning activities!
We’re big on the summer reading program in my house, too, and have been since my daughter was a baby. This year she’s two and half, so she’s more involved in the stories (which is so fun).
I found your blog through your recent comment on the YML. I actually recently posted there about summer reading programs for little ones (http://www.theyoungmommylife.com/2011/05/30/a-must-for-your-summer-to-do-list/). So glad to see so many other young mommies taking advantage of such a wonderful initiative! 🙂 Happy Reading (with that adorable daughter of yours)!