Kiddie Academy to host Storytime LIVE!, a national reading event in the U.S aiming to promote literacy
Kiddie Academy, which provides educational child care for children from six weeks to 12 years old, has announced plans to host a national reading event, Storytime LIVE!, aiming to promote literacy.
Held at more than 200 Kiddie Academy franchise locations across the U.S., Storytime LIVE! Will include read-alouds of popular children's books such as Dragons Love Tacos and Pete The Cat. Families joining the free events, held during various July weekends, will also be able to meet their favourite storybook characters.
A recent survey conducted by publisher HarperCollins UK found that less than half of parents of children under the age of 13 would describe reading aloud to children as “fun”. Statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics suggest that U.S. literacy levels will continue to fall if current trends continue, with rates dropping by nearly ten points since 2017.
"When parents and children read together, children gain language and social-emotional skills while also bonding and building a more secure attachment," comments Joy Turner, Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy. "Decades of research show that reading to your children is one of the most beneficial things you can do for their cognitive development."
"Through our Life Essentials curriculum and nationwide Storytime LIVE! events, we hope to encourage a love of reading in children and to show parents how to make reading fun for their whole family," Turner adds.
Kiddie Academy provides educational child care for children from six weeks to 12 years old, offering full- and part-time programs, before- and after-school care, and summer camps.
At the start of this year, the organization appointed Casey Miller as its new Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than a decade of experience at Kiddie Academy, having held roles in operations, construction, and franchise development.
