By Maggie Blackwell
mblackwell@salisburypost.com
Suzannah Callahan’s daughter, Abigail, is in the More at Four preschool program and has grown to like reading at a young age.
“Abigail has a library in her room already, and we have always read to her,” Callahan said.
A new program initiated by Rowan Public Library will add to the family’s reading choices, Callahan said, and her daughter will be excited to bring home the new books it will provide.
Organizers of the new “Books to Grow On” hope other children will be excited, as well.
Rowan Public Library has initiated the program to encourage parents of preschoolers to read with their children.
Sponsored by Smart Start Rowan, it serves families whose 4-year-olds participate in More at Four, a preschool offered at some Rowan-Salisbury elementary schools and some private schools.
Morgan Elementary School hosted the first parent training session Tuesday for the Books to Grow On program.
Suzanne Roakes, the program’s director, trained parents while other library staff members entertained children in the school cafeteria. Dinner was provided for parents and children.
Under the program, each preschool child will take home a canvas bag on Fridays with three age-appropriate books inside. Also inside is a reading journal, ready for the child to draw impressions from one of the books. Every Friday, each student gets a new bag with books he or she has not yet read.
Roakes trained parents on how to establish regular reading times with their children. “The sound of your voice is the most soothing sound to your child,” she said. “Reading with your child promotes healthy brain development, fosters a love of books, and strengthens the bond between parent and child.
“We all have big dreams for our children,” Roakes said. “Reading with our children helps them succeed at school. Succeeding at school helps our children succeed at life.”
Roakes will visit the preschool classes at all the participating schools on a regular basis to read in the classroom with students and review their journals. The journals help the students to take ownership of the process, she said.
Morgan parents Amanda and Adam Shepherd were enthusiastic about the program. “Our 4-year-old daughter likes to read with her cousin. We look forward to reading with her,” Shepherd said. “We plan to read these books to our 2-year-old son as well.”
Each child received two hardback books as a gift of the program Tuesday night.