Photo via Flickr, Valerie Hinojosa
Three Detroit Public Library branches are adding programming that aims to improve kids' literacy skills, thanks to a new grant.
The Michigan Humanities Council has been awarded $50,000 to expand its Prime Time Family Reading Time Program to Detroit.
The Prime Time Family Reading Time Program involves reading aloud, followed by a discussion on the text. The kids get to keep the books covered when the program ends. By bringing parents along, the idea is that they'll impress upon their children the importance of reading, says Martha Bruni, the director of public service at DPL.
"Children model their parents' behavior, and when they see their parents enjoying books, they are more likely to read themselves," she says. "The discussions are also a great way for parents to see how children are taught to read critically, and a lot of parents are surprised by how insightful their children are."
The program will be held once a week for six weeks at the city’s main library and the Redford and Wilder branches. It's open to parents or caregivers and kids between the ages of 3 and 10.
Since 2008, the program has been run in cities like Flint, Harper Woods, Temperance, and Mio with about 7,000 kids and parents participating. children and parents having successfully participated.
Free registration is available here.
