Love Equips & Encourages Learning & Reading

Love is caring and being aware of needs. Love of self sheds light on our own needs; love of others sheds light on others needs. One of our greatest needs as humans is to care for another. That's why solitary people are encouraged to have a pet.

For those of us who have children, or are relatives or neighbors of children, we can love them enough to look at their needs. Service is love in action. Many of us relate to being of service, such as Rotary Clubs, Woman's Clubs, and the best intentions of Chambers of Commerce. More groups and individuals are becoming aware of the unmet needs of a very high percentage of at-risk children.

The first time these children tend to show up in statistics is kindergarten assessments. State of Minnesota Department of Education runs an annual survey of kindergartners who are at-risk to fail, not at age proficiency in literacy developmental skills. In 2007 it was 53%; in 2008 it was 56% of kindergartners at-risk to fail.

Southern Early Childhood Association estimates 3 million children in 14 SE states are in this at-risk to fail demographic. It works out to 12 million nationally.For the state of Virginia the estimate is 250,000 kindergartners are at-risk to fail in the area of literacy development.

There is one factor that these children have in common. No books in their homes suitable for children. Also studies have shown their parents don't read to them. What if I told you there is an action plan with books and materials identified that can equip and encourage these parents interest in reading to their toddlers to 4 year olds?

Often these parents were not read to themselves, when they were young children. They probably had some difficulties in school because of that and the whole subject of literacy is not their favorite. Many of them lack confidence that they can be their child's first teacher. Many don't think they know how to start their child off with an understanding of books. Many are of poverty level or low income level with paying the rent and getting food for their family leaving them tired , stressed and overwhelmed.

Literacy for Tykes a solution based non profit organization equips, encourages and empowers parents to bring literacy to their early children's development.

With loving awareness of parents caught between lack of early literacy experiences themselves and high stress of hard economic times, LFT makes available an engaging picture book Teddy Bear's Favorite Pictures, with step-by-step parent guidelines to share learning points of pictures with their early child.

"Enjoy Books With Children" is also a parent tip sheet that we supply to our many educational and human service partners to encourage the parents they serve. Practical insights help parents understand how little time and effort it takes to meet the visual literacy first-step needs of their little ones. How to enjoy picture book reading for increasing minutes a day is mapped out. The step of eliminating distractions in the room such as TV, music, computers, cell phones and other activities is explained. Simple techniques of meeting their child at their interest and attention level are given.

Our results reports for parents using Literacy for Tykes books and materials are very encouraging, that our loving concern for parents is helping them gain confidence and interest that they can read to their child of ages 1-5years. These parents report that their children are showing interest in reading these picture books. Minutes spent reading together is increasing even beyond our success metrics for this stage of the home-reading program.

Literacy for Tykes is also gratified that local community groups are showing concerned interest as they hear our presentations and become aware of the early child literacy need in their communities. Several such service groups are carefully looking at how they can support this outreach of love for our little ones and their parents.

Out of love and concern, Literacy for Tykes' president Nancy Cloyd is asking friends to rally together and give donations at www.LiteracyForTykes.com in honor of her upcoming April 64th birthday. Please be part of this birthday wish for love to manifest as support, to equip and encourage learning and reading for the most needy.

These birthday candles could brighten the future of many at-risk children, for many years to come. Give support and light another candle of Love.

See link on right side of this page: Literacy for Tykes Main Website