Reading
Plant the Seeds of Reading Early!
The seeds of reading are planted before children enter school. That's why it's so important that parents read to their children from the very beginning. Have your family members register for library cards at your local public library. Use your local public library frequently and attend its story hours and other free programming. Use the resources listed below to learn more about the importance of reading.
How Do I Know a Good Early Reading Program When I See One? A Guide for Parents is a publication of the U. S. Department of Education.
Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Reading Success, developed by the National Research Council, explains how children learn to read and how adults can help them.
Motheread/Fatheread Tennessee is a family literacy program based on multicultural children's books that uses the power of stories to improve parenting and literacy skills, increase family communication, and promote reading and story sharing in the home. Humanities Tennessee is accepting applications from organization wishing to introduce this program into their own communities.
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has several free publications about Teaching Children to Read that you can download to your computer, including: Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read?A Parent Guide, Preschool through Grade 3.
Tennessee Public Library Directory allows you to search for libraries in your community.
Nashville Public Library and Kids' Zone (615) 862-5800
Nashville's 21 Public Libraries serve young children and their families by providing a full spectrum of materials, services, and public programs designed to foster a love for books and reading. From lap-sit story times and preschool story hours throughout the system, to marionette productions at the new Main Library, to an incredible array of materials for families to enjoy, the Public Library's services are free to all citizens of Davidson County. Kids' Place has great links on books and reading, homework helps, kid-friendly search tools, and parent/teacher resources.Books From Birth Program
The goal of the program is to see that all children are given the opportunity to develop a love of books. Now, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt will do the work of ensuring that every baby born in Davidson County and every child under age 5 is registered to receive free books.
Week of the Young Child | Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
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