Reading! Love it!

Do you have any memory of your preschool experience? 

Perhaps you remember your kindergarten. 

Try to remember what those places felt like. 

I remember on my first day of school I asked my teacher if I had to go home, because I had had so much fun, I didn’t want to leave. For people in my generation (Gen Y, yay!) preschool and kindergarten were about learning how to play with others, keeping our hands to ourselves, sipping juice at snack time, and playing. Lots and lots of play time. My teachers would share stories with us at every opportunity. I remember using the letter people throughout the entire year of kindergarten to teach the class letter names and sounds.

My 3 year old, Michael, is learning letter names and sounds in his preschool class now. What!? Don’t get me wrong, I love his preschool teacher. She teaches the alphabet, but puts very little pressure on her students to learn it because she understands something very important. They need to be kids! They need to learn to love books and reading before they can learn to do it. 

My parents read the book Teddy Goes to the Park every day at my demand. It was the only book I was interested in. They read it until it fell apart. They read it so many times that when my grandma read it, I would correct her pronunciation. They must have thought I was crazy to want that book over and over again, but they probably didn’t know that at the time, during every one of those readings, I was learning something new. I may have learned a new word, or made the connection between the marks on the page and the words being spoken aloud. I might have even noticed how the pictures matched what the words said. 

Needless to say, I was an early reader. Why? Because I was read to, that’s why. I am of average intelligence. But because of my early and frequent exposure to books, I read early. So did both of my boys. Both of them read before four years old. Why? My wife and I take the time to make reading important to us. We show our boys how fun and joyful it can be to read. Unfortunately, many people don’t have that same passion for reading aloud. 

Many children are entering school without the joy of reading in their hearts. The system is very hard to change and that system is set on having kids reading in Kindergarten. That puts a lot of pressure on parents and children and that is where the Ionia County Library Association Means to Help.

We are proud to announce that the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten Program is coming soon to Ionia County. Beginning on January 23rd, any child who has not attended kindergarten yet can enroll in this program. It is entirely free of charge. So you may be asking yourself; “What is 1,000 Books before Kindergarten?” It’s really very simple. 1,000 books is an incentive program with the direct purpose to help families spend more time together reading. Families will register at their local library. They will receive a starter pack with a folder and tracking sheet for their first 100 books. For each book read, they will mark one space off on their sheet. When it is complete, families will return to the library to receive a prize and their next tracking sheet. When the 1,000 book goal is met, the family will receive a keepsake book and a certificate of completion. It’s really just that easy. Just keep track of what you are reading and persevere!

There are many frequently asked questions. I will try to answer some of them now.

My child has a favorite book. Does it count if I read it more than once?
Yes! We encourage you to re-read and enjoy favorite stories over and over again.

My child is enrolled in daycare and I work long hours. Can anyone read the books?
Yes! Each time your child is read to counts. You, siblings, family members, caregivers, teachers, librarians, can contribute to this. Even if your child explores or reads a book on his or her own, it counts! I must add that we encourage you to think of reading time with your child as a special time to spend together if possible.

We have many books at home. Will reading those count?
Yes! While we encourage you to pick from our expansive and diverse selection, books from home or daycare providers, offices, or the Dolly Parton Imagination Library all count the same!  

1,000 books…wow! That’s a lot of books. How long does it take?
The amount of time necessary to complete the program is dependent on your own motivation to read to your child.
1 book per day– 2 years, 9 months
2 books per day– 1 year, 4 months
3 books per day– 11 months
4 books per day– 8 months
5 books per day– 6 months
(Note: All times are approximate)

My child is in preschool. Can they still sign up?
Yes! Your child is eligible to start the program until they start Kindergarten. Even after their 5th birthday!

We, at the Ionia County Library Association leave this challenge open to you. Please take us up on it. Your child can only benefit from this amazing program.

Mike Golczynski

Ionia Community Library

Youth Services Librarian