READ TO ME - Goals & Vision



	READ TO ME is based on sound psychological and educational foundations. Just as small children learn by imitation and practice, unaccustomed readers need to learn about the richness of books to help raise their children by experiencing them in a positive, playful way. Many parents were not read to as children themselves, and school may not have been rewarding or successful, or in English. Therefore as they experience the pleasures, psychological insights, and parenting tips nestled in children’s books, they will more readily want to read to their own children. Entering into the character’s story enables them to become more empathic; and to learn at least one solution to a possible real life problem. Sharing reading encourages interaction with the book and the other person, and directly translates to developing this essential communicative method for reading with their babies. Telling stories, both from picture prompts and the text, makes everyone feel inventive and masterful. Finally, practice provides experience that leads to competence and positive self-esteem.

	The READ TO ME program offers a hands-on series of activities and supervised practice sessions that guide teen parents and other moms to read with their babies. The purposes of READ TO ME are to: 1. Offer reading as a resource to young moms for pleasure, parenting tips, and psychological insights; 2. Stimulate imaginations and initiate early literacy education; and 3. Improve the potential for healthy parent-child relationships.