Parents learn to teach children literacy skills

Thirty percent of children who entered kindergarten in Monroe County this year did not have necessary literacy skills, according to Monroe County United Way’s website.

MCUW and the Salvation Army worked together at the Literacy Party on Wednesday to teach parents with children 5 years old and younger ways they can ensure their children will be ready for kindergarten.

Exposure to books is the first step, said Jason Anderson, education coordinator at the Salvation Army Child Care Center.

He said even children who are too young to read can learn simple but important skills when handling books.

He also said exposure to the alphabet, other adults and other children helps young children develop literacy and communication skills.

“Exposure makes them more confident,” Anderson said.

While children played a game involving paper plates with letters painted on them to help with letter recognition, MCUW representative Ashley Schoolman taught parents education skills.

The most important among them was dialogic reading, Schoolman said, a method establishing a discourse between the parent and child.

Dialogic reading involves not only reading to the child, but also asking questions that pertain to the book’s content and later referencing the book. Schoolman told parents this develops critical thinking skills and imagination.

The book used during the event was “B is for Bloomington.” It featured pictures of landmarks and people around Bloomington and Monroe County.

Jeremy Kiger, a Bloomington resident who attended the event with his 7-month-old daughter, Vanceletta, said he learned a lot.

“I didn’t know about dialogic reading,” Kiger said. “I’m going to try that.”

Brittany Branam, mother of 2-year-old Grant, agreed with Kiger.

“I really like learning about establishing dialogues,” Branam said.

Only five children and their families were in attendance.

Anderson said that was a good turnout, though, and MCUW and the Salvation Army will likely sponsor another Literacy Party.

Anderson said the Salvation Army is one of few child care facilities in Bloomington accessible to families with low socioeconomic status. He also said its mission is to have children ready for kindergarten.

“We consider ourselves a preschool,” he said. “We’re not a day care.”