Laptime Learning Leads to School Readiness

Parents enjoyed reading to their preschool children during the recent Summer Reading Kickoff at the Salem Church Branch Library in Spotsylvania, Va., to demonstrate the important role that parents and caregivers play in building a foundation for literacy and school readiness with their young children. The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Library of Virginia partnered on the Smart Beginnings Start with Families campaign, which ran from Mother's Day to Father's Day (May 11-June 15). Many free resources, including parenting tips and articles about how communities can support families, are available at www.smartbeginnings.org. "Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area works closely with our regional library system, which offers wonderful summer reading programs that parents can attend with their children," said Sara Branner, executive director of Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area, serving the city of Fredericksburg as well as Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties. “A parent can be a child’s first and most important teacher, as well as an enduring influence on their success in school and in life,” added Branner. Check with your local library for dates and times of summer storytime sessions in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. For more information, visit www.smartbeginnings.org or www.smartbeginningsra.org.