Single Parents Encouraging a Love of Literacy in Children

Single Parents Encouraging a Love of Literacy in Children

By Denise Turney @ http://www.chistell.com           

 

Single Parents Encouraging a Love of Literacy in Children

 

The Children’s Literacy Foundation, the United Nations, The Sledge Group and the Literacy Council report that solid reading skills are critical to a child’s academic success at elementary, high school and postsecondary levels. 

The Sledge Group and the United Nations on Literacy

The Sledge Group is an African American founded and operated organization based out of New York City.  They offer literacy training and mentoring programs geared toward equipping youth with computer skills, positive male role models and steps to take to avoid becoming a gang member.  Because the literacy skill level of parents plays a vital role in a child’s educational and social development, The Sledge Group also offers literacy training for adults in the community. 

Literacy is such a critical component in economic development and self-esteem, the United Nations (UN) declared the years 2003 – 2012 The Literacy Decade.  The slogan the international organization is using for the time period is “Literacy as Freedom”.   The UN has also found a direct link between a person’s literacy levels and their employability and financial status.

Countering Functional Illiteracy

People who are functionally illiterate may be able to read words but unable to explain the meaning behind the words that they read.  It is a reason that schools conduct annual academic tests and a reason that colleges and universities require students to take entrance examinations and sometimes even write an essay in response to a single question.

The National Children’s Literacy website states that the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical when it comes to encouraging literacy.  The organization list nine of the best times to read to your child including as soon as your child arrives home from the hospital.  Remember that your child is more than likely not going to understand the words in books you read to her during the first years of her life.  Keep reading.  In time, your child will not only understand how to read on his own, may also come to love to read. 

Other excellent times to read to your children are when your child is not playing and is looking for something to do, just after lunch, while your child is bathing, before a nap, while you are getting your child’s clothes or lunch together for the following day or at night just before your child goes to bed.  Reading entertaining picture books to your child in a circle with other children has also proven to be an effective way to encourage literacy. 

Use Great Books as Excellent Points of Discussion with Your Child

Groups like ePals partner grade school students up with responsible adults.  Background checks are run on adults who participate in the national program.  Teachers and students work together to select books to read.  After the adult mentor purchases and reads the selected book, the student and the adult email one another and discuss key points found in the book.  It has proven to be an effective way to encourage literacy in children. 

As a single parent you are your child’s greatest mentor.  Consider taking a few minutes to talk about the books you and your child read when you reach the end of each book.  Avoid judging or critiquing your child’s responses.  The more you allow your child the freedom to express himself, the more your child will feel comfortable sharing her views and thoughts with you, about books and other things in life.

Local libraries and the Children’s Literacy Foundation provide free books for parents and children to read and enjoy.  Take advantage of these services.  Many libraries have story telling programs for children.  Check with your local library to see what types of programs they have available that your children might enjoy participating in.

 

 

References

http://www.clifonline.org/ (Children’s Literacy Foundation)

http://www.literacy-council.org/events.htm (The Literacy Council)

http://www.sledgegroup.org (The Sledge Group)

http://www.unesco.org/education (The United Nations)