In a recent conversation with a group of preschool parents during one of our evening parent workshops last week, I asked the group how they would know their child was on the path to success when he/she reached the age of eight.  The list was almost entirely devoid of achievements.  Instead, parents listed characteristics.  At age 8, they want their children to be curious, adventurous, social, respectful, loving and caring with a deep interest in life and strong love for learning.  

     "So what does this have to do with Raising A Reader book bags?", I asked.  They quickly identified the connection:  stories, books, talk and conversations.  Storybooks are full of new things, places and ideas.  T hey also are full of relationships, social interactions, emotions, decisions and consequences.  In their first five years of life, our children learn about the world, and their place in the world, largely through engaged verbal interaction with a caregiver.  

     When a parent takes the time to deeply engage the child in the story by asking questions and encouraging conversation related to the story, the child's world expands through new knowledge and vocabulary and also through exposure to context and the social and emotional characteristics that enrich us and connect us to each other.  They learn about the traits that make us happy and successful.  They begin to discover their own values.  

     We bring Raising A Reader to the community to help foster success for children.  Because early language acquisition and brain development are inextricably linked, children with strong early language skills typically become accomplished early readers.  And skilled early readers are more often high achievers.  Yes, the background narrative for most curious, engaged, respectful adventurous eight year-olds begins with a parent and lots of good stories and conversations from the moment of birth. 

                -Rick Blauvelt, Executive Director