Oh, the places you’ll go with power of reading

Published March 9, 2015
By Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - -- The Keesler Child Development Center celebrated Read Across America March 2-6.

Knocking out its 18th year, more than 45 million educators, parents and children of all ages in schools stateside and on military installations overseas participated in the week-long event by reading books and having different themes for each day in honor of Dr. Seuss.

Started on March 2, 1998, Read Across America is held every year on Ted Geisel's, better known as Dr. Seuss, birthday. This year the CDC celebrated in a way that brought reading to the forefront of their students' lives.

"I believe that reading definitely helps children at this age learn faster," said Karen Parker, 81st Force Support Squadron Child Development Center caregiver. "I've been with this age group for more than nine years and throughout those years I've noticed the more we read to them the more their language develops. Even if it's just picture books, and you are verbally talking to them about the pictures, it will enhance their vocabulary so much."

Throughout her 29 years of working at the CDC, Parker has expressed the importance of reading to her students year round to help prepare them for the next age group. The caregivers at the CDC have story time where they read to the children, have books on tape and also use puppets to help show the children that reading can be fun at any age level, she explained.

The CDC used different themes derived from Dr. Seuss books to highlight the fun of reading.

"Everyone was invited to join in the fun and show their spirit throughout Read Across America Week at the CDC," said Juanita Harper, 81st FSS CDC assistant director. "The children wore funny hats on Monday inspired by "The Cat in the Hat," Tuesday was Green Day inspired by "Green Eggs and Ham," Wednesday was Wacky Hair Day inspired by "All the Who's in Whoville," Thursday was Rock your Socks inspired by "Fox in Socks" and Friday was bring a book day."

Each day children were able to use their imagination to learn new things like colors and shapes.

"My favorite day out of the week was 'Wear Green for Green Eggs and Ham Day' because we had 100 percent participation," said Parker. "The kids were able to associate the color green with what they were wearing and learn it."

Parker believed the children's curiosity helped them learn and have fun.

"I definitely think the kids had fun this week," said Parker. "The different activities inspired them. You could see their curiosity with the different activities because it was out of the norm for them, especially with the wacky hair day. You could see them looking at each other and thinking 'Hmmm . . . why does their hair look like that?'"

Parker and Harper believe any stimulation, from reading books aloud to having a verbal conversation, will help a child's mind and imagination grow faster.

"The earlier a child is exposed to reading the better the child will be equipped to make intelligent choices, learn proper speech and form a wide vocabulary," said Harper. "The various activities the children and caregivers did were a great opportunity to showcase individual choices and diversity. The teacher and child involvement is priceless and is always needed in the classrooms. All children benefit from reading."

Whether they are counting red and blue fish, learning about a crazy cat with a red and white hat or eating green eggs and ham, caregivers at the Keesler CDC showed their children the places they can go with the power of reading.