Fowlerville News and Views Online

‘Read Aloud’ Event being hosted by Great Start Livingston at Fair Kids Day
 Free Books, Book Bags, Storytime & Activities Planned 
    Take a break from the heat and the crowds to enjoy some quiet time at the Great Start Livingston Reading Corner during Kids’ Day at the Fowlerville Family Fair on Wednesday, July 26. On that day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., families are invited to cool off with complimentary water and relax with a book in the resting space provided in the Brown Commercial Building, near the Finlan Gazebo on the Grand River side of the fairgrounds. Each child will receive a book to take home as well, along with a book bag, wrist band and coloring bookmark. 
     The Reading Corner is sponsored by Jimmy John’s and hosted by the Fowlerville Family Fair and Great Start Livingston.  Great Start Livingston is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Livingston County families with health, education and child care needs through a network of public and private services and supports. 
     The event is part of the organization’s Read Aloud campaign, stemming off a nationwide effort with the same mission -- promoting the benefits and importance of daily reading to children, and ultimately aiming to make reading aloud every day for 15 minutes the new parenting standard. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends daily reading aloud from birth to grow children’s vocabulary and promote healthy brain development. Establishing a habit of reading aloud for 15 minutes or more each day transforms a child’s language development and helps build vital literacy skills, memories and engagement. 
     “Reading to children from birth is essential – it’s the single most important activity parents can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning,” said Robin Schutz, coordinator of Great Start Livingston. “Your little one’s brain begins growing at lightning speed right from birth, so it’s important to create a habit of daily reading and stick with it. Reading aloud gets your child off to a healthy start for school and life: it forms the building blocks needed for reading and writing, boosts problem-solving skills, shapes a child’s imagination and sets the stage for future success in areas such as jobs, career and college readiness.” 
     As part of the Read Aloud campaign, representatives from Great Start Livingston have joined area families for play dates at local parks, library events and more to share the importance of reading aloud for 15 minutes every day, for every child and every parent. For a list of upcoming events, visit http://livingstonparentresources.com/read-aloud/.  
     While at the Fowlerville Fair, families can enjoy a comfortable place to sit and read together as the Reading Corner will be outfitted with bean bags, lounge chairs, book bins stocked with assorted reading material for all ages and complimentary bottled water and fans to stay cool. Children will also be able to select a book to take home for free in
addition to a book bag, coloring bookmark and bracelet, provided by Great Start Livingston and its event sponsors. 
    Storytime and coloring activities will be offered as well and Great Start Livingston volunteers will be on hand to share more information and ideas about reading for and to children. 
     Guest readers include Representatives Hank Vaupel and Lana Theis, Sheriff Mike Murphy, HT Smith Elementary Principal Kathy Gibson and others.
     Visit http://livingstonparentresources.com/read-aloud/ or call 517.540.6829 for additional event details and further information on the Read Aloud campaign.