Read Ready is inviting families in Bellevue, Covington, Dayton, Ludlow, Newport and Southgate to build a love of reading and learning through the Mayors’ Fall Into Reading Challenge, running through October.
The challenge features two age-based tracks that encourage families to read, play and learn together throughout October. Participants can earn weekly prizes and recognition, and families that meet their goals for all four challenge weeks will be entered to win a Fall Family Literacy Basket.
“Helping children become confident learners starts with the everyday moments families share such as reading a story, singing a song or exploring through play,” said Dr. Jenny Watson, vice president of early learning and family power at EducateNKY. “This challenge gives families simple ways to make those moments part of their routine, with encouragement from their mayors and communities every step of the way.”
The Little Learners track, for children ages 0-3, uses The Basics to help families support early learning through simple daily activities. Families are encouraged to complete five activities from the Fall Into Learning Calendar each week and check them off as they go.
Activities incorporate The Basics’ five principles: maximize love and manage stress; talk, sing and point; count, group and compare; explore through movement and play; and read and discuss stories.
The Growing Readers track, for children ages 4 through third grade, uses Footsteps2Brilliance’s MyF2B platform. Participants are encouraged to spend at least 45 minutes each week reading, playing and learning on the platform — a goal they can reach with 15 minutes a day, three days a week. Families can track their progress on a Fall Reading Race sheet.
Each week, one Little Learner and one Growing Reader from each participating city will be selected for recognition and receive a fall book, Read Ready merchandise and a certificate.
Families that complete their goals for all four weeks will be entered into a drawing for a Fall Family Literacy Basket, with one grand-prize family selected from each community.
The challenge weeks are Oct. 1-10, Oct. 11-17, Oct. 18-24 and Oct. 25-31.
Families can register and access challenge materials at readreadyky.org/fallreading. The Growing Readers platform is available at MyF2B.com or through the free MyF2B app, where families can create a free account.
The challenge brings together Read Ready, The Basics, Footsteps2Brilliance and EducateNKY to encourage family participation in early learning across Northern Kentucky’s six River Cities.