Smart Start’s 2011-2012

Book-in-a-Backpack Project For Rising Kindergarteners

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Duplin County Partnership for Children (DCPC)– Smart Start is sponsoring  its Book-in-a Backpack Project to place new backpacks filled with a new book and kindergarten supplies in the hands of rising kindergarteners, living in Duplin County, on Saturday, June 25 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  The book will be one of several age appropriate titles including, It's Time for School-A Wonderful Day, by Kimberly Johnson.  In addition to the book, the backpack will include school supplies such as notebook paper, pencils, crayons, erasers, rulers, etc.

The event will be held at the Partnership office in Kenansville at 149 Limestone Road, (Hwy 50). 

This event is planned to encourage and empower parents to become strong advocates for their children as they enter Kindergarten by participating in their children’s learning experiences. Parents can play an important role in their child’s education by reading to them and encouraging them to learn to read at an early age.  Reading books on paper or on-line helps develop vital language skills in children.   Reading aloud enhances the development of a child’s spoken language skills and their ability to express themselves verbally, by exposing them to proper grammar, phrasing, and punctuation.   The more a child reads, the better they become at reading and the more they enjoy reading.   Reading opens up a new world to enrich children’s lives.  Children can learn about other places in the world and gain understanding of other environments and cultures. Children enhance their social skills when being read to aloud by especially when they have the opportunity to share their ideas and insights during relaxed, quality time with a parent, grandparent or other adult caregivers.  Reading also improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination especially when children read on-line books.  Finally, reading can provide children with endless hours of fun and entertainment.  Books allow children to free up their imaginations and open up a world of possibilities for them dream of the many wonderful things they can be and accomplish in life. 

Read to your child every day.  Make sure that children have plenty of reading materials to enjoy and discuss with you.  Make sure to include traditional printed books, e-books on the Internet, classic children’s novels and fairy tales as well as books about animals and nature.  Children will get a good start on the road to a lifetime of reading pleasure by learning from their parents to enjoy reading.  Children and parents alike will also treasure this special time spent together for a lifetime.

There will be lots of fun and activities for children and their families to enjoy.  Free popcorn, snow cones, hot dogs, drinks and chips will be available for all who attend.  Free activities are planned for the children including face painting, a bouncing cage, fingerprinting and story time.