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BOOKS IN THE HOME = SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN WITH A WAY OUT OF POVERTY
“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
by Dr. Seuss
Facilitating Learning for Youth, Inc.
Facilitating Learning for Youth, Inc.
In 2010, a 20-year research study was published by the University of Nevada-Reno that showed children attained higher educational levels if there were books in the home -- regardless of whether the parents were illiterate or college educated; high-income or low-income. This held true in all the 26 countries studied. See a summary of the study from Science Daily at bit.ly/3lm2GJC
Having as few as 20 books in the home still has a significant impact on propelling a child to a higher level of education -- and the more books you add, the greater the benefit.
Attaining higher educational levels translates into higher salaries and greater job opportunities.
However, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books to children is one book for every 300 children, far below the ratio of 13 books per child in middle- and upper-income neighborhoods, according to the Handbook of Early Literacy Research.
THE WAY FORWARD
With 61% of low-income families reporting that they have no books in the home, and with children in those homes starting school unprepared, it seems clear that providing books to those children — and continuing to provide age-appropriate books to bolster educational outcomes — is the way to offer disadvantaged youngsters a brighter future.
HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
■ Little Free Libraries in low-income areas
■ Storytimes at preschools, schools, businesses and parks, where books can be given away
■ Board books to new mothers through Healthy Start
■ Mobile book distribution
■ Giveaways at school fairs and community events.
■ Teacher Pickup Days for teachers in OCPS Title I schools to get free books for their students.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - The Lion and the Mouse, Aesop.
Book Art by Jerry Pinkney
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