The grandmother of 14 looks forward to the bonding time and watching the children learn. It is also important to use the time reading to build the relationship between the parent and child, Flournoy said. Members of the Literacy Council believe if every parent read to every child every day, most of the educational problems and many of the social problems in the United States could be resolved at little cost.
Estimates are that one in four Taylor County residents is functionally illiterate.
The council is preparing a book about the importance of reading to children to give parents when they leave the hospital. Ortiz is the site of the Family Literacy Program, which allows adults to bring their children with them while they learn how to read and other basic skills. The program, which is state and federally funded, is free to participants. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement .