1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Dear Parents and Caregivers:
On Behalf of the 1000 Books Foundation, we invite you to participate in this free program which encourages you to read 1000 books with your child before they start kindergarten.
Why 1000 Books before Kindergarten?
- to promote reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers
- to encourage parent and child bonding through reading
Numerous studies estimate that as many as one in five children have difficulties learning to read. Reading has been associated as an early indicator of academic success. Public formal education does not typically start until ages 5-6. Before then, parents and caregivers are the first education providers during the 0-5 early critical years. The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge is a simple (read a book, any book to your child, with the goal of reading 1,000 before kindergarten) and very manageable endeavor.
The goal of the 1000 Books foundation is to provide a simple, innovative yet fun approach to establishing strong early literacy skills. We help young children gain the confidence necessary to become strong readers.
Program Overview
The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books!) before your little one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? If you think about it, it’s not! If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think. So, let’s get started!
How to Participate
- Pick up a Welcome packet, and register at the Children’s desk at the South Burlington Public Library. The packet includes log sheets, and book suggestions. Our Children’s staff love making book recommendations, too.
- Read with your child. “Reading” is different for differently-aged children. Reading can mean sitting with a pile of board books with your 6-month-old while you name the colors on each page. It can mean looking at one page of the same book and talking about what you see with your 1 month old. It can mean reading the same book four times to your three-year-old! It is not a race or a contest. What works for you is the best way. What’s important is you and your child sitting together with books that you both enjoy. Studies have shown that reading with your child provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for the both of you.
- Keep track of the titles of the books that you read with your child. Make a record of what you are reading in a spiral notebook, on our convenient reading log sheets, online using Beanstack, or by whatever method you want. The journal itself will make a great keepsake item for your child.
- If you are able to, make sure to keep a record of “any” book that is being read to your child. This includes teachers and siblings.
Frequently Asked Questions about 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten can participate in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.
All of them (provided they have not yet started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!
