Early Reading Program In Brant County Gets Big Boost

Tuesday, 28 January 2020 07:35

The grant will support approximately 400 children, up to five years old, to receive a book each month. A total of 60 books will be mailed, free of charge, to each child throughout their early years.

BRANT COUNTY - The County of Brant has provided Kids Can Fly a grant for $20,000.

Mayor David Bailey says he was honoured to present the organization with the cheque at the Family Literacy Day event on Sunday.

“We are thrilled to support Kids Can Fly and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Engaging a child in literacy develops language skills, stimulates the imagination, teaches empathy and shares a wealth of knowledge. We want to thank Kids Can Fly for all the work they do and for positively impacting the children and families in this community.”

The grant will support approximately 400 children, up to five years old, in the County of Brant to receive a book each month. A total of 60 books will be mailed, free of charge, to each child throughout their early years.

Executive Director of Kids Can Fly Sharon Brooks says this program promotes and encourages parents to read to their children from birth.

"Starting to read to your child at birth can have a tremendous impact on their lifelong development. As a baby, the time spent speaking to your baby and cuddling them helps facilitate the parent-child connection. As they grow into toddlers, they are so excited to receive a special book in the mail each month. They begin to explore the world and language through these wonderful books. Regularly reading to a young child helps them to recognize letters and words and expand their imagination. Children who are read to in their early years often enter school with advanced language skills and have more awareness of the world around them.”

Kids Can Fly has been running the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program for 10 years. The books are purchased in bulk from Penguin Random House publishing. Brooks says the grant from the County will go a long way.

“Because of the grant from the County of Brant, we will be able to serve every family in Brant who requests to join the program and we will no longer have a waitlist. We would like to thank the County of Brant for investing in the future of our kids."

To register your child for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, visit www.kidscanfly.ca or fill in a hard copy form at any County of Brant library.