Remember story time as a young child? Having adults read to you either at home or in school was always a treat. It turns out it was also very important.
Reading books to children, or reading with children as they learn to read on their own, sets them up for future academic success. Research has shown that children who are exposed to reading tend to become strong readers later in life. They also tend to excel in other academic areas.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that children who were read to frequently are also more likely to: count to 20, or higher than those who were not (60% vs. 44%), write their own names (54% vs. 40%), read or pretend to read (77% vs. 57%).
Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week.
WHRO Is Your Partner In Early Literacy
This is one reason early literacy is so important to us at WHRO Public Media. You’ve probably seen the colorful WHRO Literacy Van driving around the community. The immersive van program for schools is just one way the WHRO education team enjoys promoting reading to local students. Our education specialists also offer free books to students through our First Books program, conduct reading camps in the summer and teach reading workshops for parents.
WHRO has also established Library Corners throughout our region to encourage children and parents to read more. WHRO Library Corners have been opened in the following locations:
- Hampton Public Library, Main Branch
- Portsmouth Public Library, Main Branch
- Cradock Branch Library, Portsmouth
- Poquoson Public Library
- Morgan Memorial Library, Suffolk
- Windsor Woods Area Library, Virginia Beach
Each Library Corner is equipped with a PBS Kids Playtime Pad loaded with learning apps, and a bookshelf stocked regularly with books for children to enjoy. Each Library corner also has assorted bookmarks, fun books, and stickers. It provides a space for young readers to discover new books and practice their reading skills.
More Reading Resources from WHRO
eMediaVA, WHRO's digital media content library, also has a large collection of reading resources that parents and educators can use. Check out our Summer of Reading Collection while kids are out of school. These videos, activities, and interactive games help to build vocabulary and reading comprehension while bringing storybook characters to life.
Ms. Martha Reads is a weekly online program featuring stories written by local children. Check it out for a fun story every week! It airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. on Facebook during the school year. Stories are also archived online.
Related Article:
Why Reading Aloud to Kids Helps Them Thrive
WHRO is proudly owned by the 21 school divisions in the southeastern Virginia region. Learn more about the many educational resources that WHRO Public Media provides to educators and families.