Overcoming Family Illiteracy

Admittedly, I have placed a lot of emphasis on childhood illiteracy.  One issue that I haven’t addressed in depth is what happens when both parent and child are illiterate?  This presents a special challenge because parents are often ashamed of admitting to their children that they can’t read.  What would you do if your child asked you to read her a book and you couldn’t?  The solution isn’t easy but there are some ways that both child and parent can overcome illiteracy.  Literacy advocates can do the following:

1. Encourage parents to attend their child’s tutoring lessons:  By “tagging along” it has been shown that parents are at first passively engaged, then over time, they become more engaged.  This makes them want to enhance their own skill and seek out adult literacy programs.  A lot of literacy tutoring programs also have an adult component, so that parent and child can learn to read at different times, but in different settings.

2.Make sure there are books within the home:  The mission of First Book and Reach Out and Read is to make sure that children have access to books in their homes.  By doing so, parents also have access to books.  When a child practices reading to their parent, the parent is also presented with a learning opportunity.

3.Promote family literacy:  There is a great emphasis on childhood illiteracy, but parents sometimes fell left by the wayside.  By encouraging the entire family to take part in the process, literacy advocates cam make an impact on the literacy of the entire family.

Best,

Ciji Dodds
Miss International 2011

KinderCare and Reach Out and Read Join Forces

April is the Month of the Military Child. In celebration of the Month of the Military Child and as a token of its appreciation for military children, KinderCare has donated 10,000 books through Reach Out and Read’s network. This is yet another display of KinderCare’s generosity. In 2011, KinderCare donated 15,000 books through Reach Out and Read’s network. Way to honor our nation’s military children!

KinderCare centers are located throughout the nation. Throughout KinderCare’s existence, it has established a reputation for providing high quality care and education to children. KinderCare has a special relationship to military children because nearly 600 of its centers are located within 10 to 15 miles of military bases. In addition to working with Reach Out and Read, KinderCare has also partnered with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) to support “Operation Military Child Care” and “Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood” programs. KinderCare’s commitment to early childhood education and especially to serving the military community is admirable and honorable!

Best,

Ciji Dodds
Miss International 2011

Reach Out and Read’s Military Initiative

Growing up, being separated from my dad was a way of life.  He was always deployed and although we looked forward to the gifts and souvenirs that he brought back each time, it still did not take away from the fact that he was gone. The stress of having an absent parent can be overwhelming for children.  Studies have shown that reading aloud to children is an effective way to help children deal with stress.  In recognition of the stress placed on military families by the absence of a parent, in 2006, Reach Out and Read launched its military initiative. Reach Out and Read has partnered with pediatric centers on military bases to provide children with brand new books when they visit the hospital. 

Currently, more than 90,000 children of military families participate in Reach Out and Read. This means that 25% of children who get their care from military facilities are impacted by Reach Out and Read in some regard.  This is an amazing accomplishment, but, in true Reach Out and Read form, the organization is striving to do more. It has established reading programs on 47 bases and hopes to expand to 100 bases by 2013.  I have lived on three of the bases  (Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, HI; Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville, NC; and Ft. Hood in Kileen, TX) that are served by Reach Out and Read.  

The sacrifices made by members of our military and their families are tremendous.  I am proud to be affiliated with an organization that recognizes their sacrifices and seeks to honor their service to our country, by taking care of their families.  Thank You Reach Out and Read, from the bottom of my heart, for your commitment to literacy and to supporting military families is awesome!

Best,

Ciji Dodds

Miss International 2011