GARNETT LIBRARY IS PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL READING INITIATIVE “1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN”. THEY SAY THE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE, THE REWARDS ARE PRICELESS. READ ANY BOOK TO YOUR NEWBORN, INFANT, OR TODDLER. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE READ 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE YOUR CHILD STARTS KINDERGARTEN. DOES IT SOUND HARD? NOT REALLY IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. FIRST, YOU CAN REPEAT BOOKS, AND IF YOU READ JUST 1 BOOK A NIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE READ 365 BOOKS IN A YEAR. THAT IS 730 BOOKS IN TWO YEARS AND 1,095 BOOKS IN THREE YEARS. CONSIDERING MOST CHILDREN START KINDERGARTEN AT AROUND 5 YEARS OLD, YOU HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PARENTS WHO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, CREATE A BOND THAT TEACHES VOCABULARY, INTRODUCES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PICTURES AND WORDS, AND PROMOTES QUALITY TIME SPENT WITH THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE THE MOST. THIS REINFORCES YOUR ROLE AS YOUR CHILD’S FIRST TEACHER. PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS PROVIDE “EARLY READERS” THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A HEAD START WHICH STRENGTHENS THEIR CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED.
