By Melanie Slone
Everyone agrees—learning to read early is the key to success in life. Plus, it’s fun!
“Children should be reading before they start school, even the TK program,” says Edward Becerra, the founder of Education Begins in the Home, a program that hands out free books in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats throughout North County.
“Once they get to school and they don’t know how to read, they don’t know their ABC’s, their numbers, their colors, they’re already behind.”
Martha Arroyo, an author and a retired bilingual Carlsbad Unified School District teacher, notes that “Reading encourages children and strengthens their abilities to understand, whether it’s in science, in math, being able to diagnose it.”
Josuee Hernández, a middle-school language arts, creative writing, and Spanish teacher in Portland, Oregon, says, “Being able to read opens media literacy tremendously, being able to comprehend what you’re reading, dissect it, critique it, develop it further…Reading is probably the number one tool for navigating the world around you.”
Parents should get involved in their children’s schools and know their teachers, “so they can understand what to explain to their child,” says Martha Arroyo. “Make an effort because their kids are looking at them to teach them.”
Josuee also urges parents to be aware of what their children are consuming. “Don’t fall into the television, the smartphone addiction,” says this award-winning author.
Reading for Success and Reading for Pleasure
Yadira Viera, the Puerto Rican author of Open Tabs, feels reading helps children use their imagination, which in turn helps them develop their brains and critical thinking skills. Her children, whose first language is English, have learned to read in Spanish. “I saw the change at school,” she says, “especially their vocabulary and imagination have improved.”
Martha Arroyo notes reading must take place in the home. “Parents are really the first teachers of their children.” She adds, “Finding a spot in the home where they can get excited about books” is so important, “a spot in the house to read, a little nest in the area where they’re doing their homework.”
“Reading is where children learn about the world…They can travel through the books,” says Sylvia R. Merino, an award-winning author from Tucson, Arizona.
She notes how books can be a way to share culture. “My mom is from Sonora…I wrote this book because there were many stories I had taken notes on from my mom and my aunts…I think it’s important for the youth to know our culture and carry it on.”
Yadira Viera notes children should read something they enjoy. “I started reading romance magazines when I was very little. That led to my love of reading, and who would have thought that all these years later I’d be writing books?”
Where Can Parents Get Books for Their Children?
“The first place I’d recommend is a library if they don’t have access to free books,” says Edward Becerra. Most city and county libraries have bilingual or multilingual books, staff, and resources. “And they can come to me. I provide free books at various school and community events throughout North County” through Education Begins in the Home.
Josuee Hernández believes public education, libraries, and community services are vital to communities. “If you’re from a low-income background, a lot of your time is preoccupied with learning how to survive to the next day, the next school year.”
He urges parents to find out what services exist. “A lot of that does fall on the community and outside services and learning how we can access those services. Make libraries as accessible as possible,” he says.
Martha Arroyo helps by reading to children, making sure they have access to educational games, computers, and language courses.
Parents should take the first steps, supporting the schools and local libraries, concludes Sylvia Merino.
