Winter 2010 Volume 7, Number 1

Reading is Relative--Supporting Family Reading

Margi Valleroy
Information & Assistance Team Leader
Mid-East Area Agency on Aging
636-207-0847
mvalleroy@mid-eastaaa.org

A child’s interest in and ability to read affects all aspects of his/her education and sets a foundation for a lifetime of learning. In addition, a family that reads together may develop a sense of closeness.

Mid-East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA) is sponsoring a program called Reading is Relative which encourages and supports family reading. In addition, the program encourages and supports relative caregivers in their sometimes daunting task of raising grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives. The Reading is Relative program is funded by a grant from the Brookdale Foundation and receives in-kind support from Mid-East Area Agency on Aging.

MEAAA identified school districts in St. Louis County which had a high concentration of households headed by a relative caregiver. With the assistance of Early Childhood Education Departments and Parents as Teachers Parent Educators, we recruited families with children ages 0-5 years.

A wonderful partner emerged from our local Gateway Grandparent Kinship Network, and a relationship was forged between Mid-East Area Agency on Aging and the Parents As Teachers National Center’s Curriculum Developer. Her expertise in the field of child development has proved invaluable in planning and carrying out group events with our participants. In addition, she has the knowledge to respond to questions posed by the group regarding children’s behaviors and growth.

Our Reading is Relative group meets every month at Senior Towne in Northwest Plaza. Participants are encouraged to bring the children in their care if possible, to allow for
interaction between all families. Incentives are offered such as books, tote bags and notebooks. Other activity-appropriate items such as pizza gift cards to support a “family read in” and bookstore gift cards to help our families fill their own bookshelves are given to those attending our gatherings.

In the months that we do not plan a gathering, a newsletter is sent to each household. This one page bulletin allows for a recap of our last get-together, details of our next event and a “Spotlight on Resources” corner. We’ve found that offering a fun, activity-filled event, lends itself well to being an ideal way for caregivers to relax, discuss, ask questions and support each other.