Developer sponsors literacy program

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Carol Ryan’s grandson, Carson, isn’t even 2 years old, but the Westlake grandmother is already teaching him to love reading. The grandmother takes Carson to the library at least once a month and either she or his mother reads to the toddler daily.

"It is so important that he be comfortable with reading," Ryan said. "It will be the basis of his education, his career and his personal life."

Ryan is participating in a new literacy awareness program called "Read With Your Child 15 Minutes a Day," sponsored by Shea Homes, a nationwide residential home builder and a developer of communities in Calabasas, Simi Valley and Moorpark.

Geared toward preschool children between 2 and 6 years old, the program stresses that reading to children for just 15 minutes a day can make an enormous impact on their development and in their lives.

"Setting aside 15 minutes a day is a very manageable time commitment for any parent or caregiver and the potential impact to our nation’s future is phenomenal," said Bill Pisetsky, Shea Homes vice president of sales and marketing.

Studies show that supporting literacy in the home is more important to a student’s success than family income or education.

As part of the program, Shea Homes is offering community outreach and resource information for parents and is providing book drives for local libraries and public schools. The company also offers tips that make reading enjoyable for both parent and child, and suggestions for age-appropriate books.

Reading tips include using different voices for characters, allowing your child to fill in a repetitive word in a story and asking her questions as you read, such as what she thinks will happen next or what certain colors and objects mean.

Reading recommendations offered by Scholastic Inc. include "Where’s the Baby?" by Cheryl Christian, a fun story that will have infants to 2-year-olds hunting for a hiding baby under the flaps of the board book.

"Little Bear" by Elsa Holmelund Minarik tells the tale of a bear and his mommy and is complemented by drawings of renowned children’s author Maurice Sendak.

For a 3- to 6-year-old, parents should consider "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" a cheerful, rhyming jaunt by the popular Eric Carle.

"The Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams is a beloved classic about a toy that yearns to be real.

Additional tips and age appropriate reading lists are available at www.sheahomes.com.