| Regional literacy campaign encourages reading aloud to young children LOS ANGELES----------An important indicator of later academic achievement is a child's reading level at an early age. But in the spring of 2008, less than a third of Los Angeles County third graders were reading at or above the 50th National Percentile Ranking. Compared with their peers in other counties, they consistently perform 5 to 7 percent behind the statewide average.
Because poor literacy skills is one of the major challenges facing school systems and communities today, First 5 LA launched "Read Early, Read Aloud," its month-long public awareness campaign to promote early literacy among Los Angeles County children ages 5 and younger. During November, parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children, participate in literacy events and consider books when choosing gifts for children during the holidays and other special occasions.
"Everyone agrees children need to succeed in school, and while many factors influence how well a child does in an academic setting, their early intellectual growth plays a crucial role," said Evelyn V. Martinez, executive director of First 5 LA. "Child development experts have found that reading aloud to children before they start school better prepares them for academic achievement and helps cultivate a love of reading, a vital foundation for lifelong learning. It is never too early to read to a child."
First 5 LA is promoting the importance of early literacy along with Reach Out and Read (ROR) and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), both national nonprofit literacy organizations as well a partnership with Sesame Workshop.
First 5 LA's "Read Early, Read Aloud" campaign is part of a larger
regional Child Literacy Month campaign among the First 5 Commissions of Southern California, all of whom were created by the voter-backed tobacco tax initiative, Proposition 10. Seven other Prop. 10 Commissions in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego and Imperial counties are also encouraging parents and caregivers of children ages 5 and younger to read aloud to their young children and to start building their home libraries early.
"Research has shown that the first five years of life are critical to a child's language development," said Barry Zuckerman, chair of the regional First 5 campaign and co-founder of Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit that promotes early literacy by training doctors to give new books to children at regular checkups and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.
"Reading to a young child, even before a baby can hold a book, will help the child develop a love of books because she will associate them with being on her mother's lap and hearing her mother's voice," Zuckerman added.
Recognizing that children must enter school ready to learn and quickly hone their literacy skills, First 5 LA has designed programs to reach out to children at multiple points in their early learning years to help them achieve. For more information about "Read Early, Read Aloud" child literacy month programs and activities throughout L.A. County call 1-888-FIRST5-LA (1-888-347-7855) or visit www.ReadySetGrowLA.org.
About First 5 LA
First 5 LA is a child-advocacy organization created by California voters to invest tobacco tax revenues in programs for improving the lives of children in Los Angeles County, from prenatal through age 5. First 5 LA champions health, education and safety causes concerning young children and families.
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