Help your little one read 1,000 books before they begin kindergarten
Published on May 24, 2024
As parents, we know reading to our children early and often is an effective way to introduce them to language, words and the wonderful world of books. Now, the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the Fort Worth Public Library makes it easier than ever to give your child a jump on literacy and lifelong learning.
Sign up for the free program when you’re at your favorite Fort Worth Public Library location. Pick up a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten booklet for tips and tracking and a tote bag (while supplies last) to make transporting library books to and from your home easier. Grownups can also use the free Beanstack app to digitally record the number of books their child reads. Once your child reaches designated milestones along the way, bring them to the Library to pick out a fun prize.
The fast track to 1,000
The goal is for your child to read or have read to them 1,000 books before they start school – a large number that melts quickly when you make reading a daily priority. Reading just one book a day – 365 in a year – means reaching the 1,000-book goal in three years. Read more than one book a day to put your child on the fast track.
Tayla Wilshire knows. She and her 14-month-old are just a few months into the program, but by late April had logged more than 160 books. She first learned of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten from other moms in the baby story time they attend at the Reby Cary Youth Library and from library staff members.
“I make it part of our nighttime routine. That’s the best way to make sure we will read at least one book in a day but usually read two to three books,” Wilshire said. “I think that books are so important for everyone, but especially as my child is developing language and then imagination. We learn so much from books and it’s so important to start young.”
That kind of thinking is music to librarian Angela Barratt’s ears. She helps coordinate and develop youth programs for the Fort Worth Public Library, but also has a little one at home who is on the road to reading 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
“Taking the time to read to our children provides a special time to bond,” Barratt said. “1000 Books Before Kindergarten provides a framework and way to keep track that’s easy to follow and fun for little ones and parents.”
The earlier, the better
It all starts with signing up and opening that first book. Any book a child reads or has read to them – including weekly Library story times or at daycare – counts toward the goal. But there are even greater rewards.
“In our busy lives, taking the time to read to your child provides an easy, no-pressure dose of quality time,” Barratt said. “It’s fun to hear your child giggle at your silly voices and sound effects, and to learn more about what interests them as they get old enough to pick out what book to read next.”
Estelle Harris Neufville heard about 1000 Books when she started taking her daughter to the library.
“I thought it would be a good way to track the books. I have read a book to her every day while I was pregnant, and then continued every day since she was born,” she said. Now, her daughter is 4. “We read a book every day, sometimes repeating a book several times. I believe we have at least 500 books.”
A key is to make reading a seamless activity that fits into every day. “I like to read and it’s just part of the nightly routine,” Neufville said. “Sometimes during the day, instead of TV we look at our books just to break up the time.”
Kristen O’Hare has done everything she could do to set her son up for a love of books.
“Reading is one of my favorite things to do, I have always loved books,” O’Hare said. “And I wanted to make sure that I instilled a love of reading in my child. His baby shower was actually a book shower where everyone was asked to bring their favorite children's book that started with the first letter of their first name.”
Her son is 15 months old as of May, and they started the 1000 Books journey officially a year ago. They racked up more than 161 books and 281 reading sessions in that time.
Books. Everywhere.
One tactic O’Hare employs is making sure books are always within her son’s reach.
“There are books everywhere,” she said. “His bedroom, the living room, the playroom, in a basket in the dining room … there's not a room you enter where books aren't available to pick up and look at. And he loves going through and flipping the pages and pretending ‘to read.’ I will then take the book and sit down with him and read it aloud.”
When they’re on the go, her car is also stocked with reading material when he wants it.
“The more he holds books, turns the pages, chews on them and gets used to have them around him, the more interest he shows in wanting to be read to,” she said. “And every night we read at least one bedtime story. Sometimes the same one night after night.”
Sharing is caring
O’Hare’s son was born prematurely and spent weeks in the NICU, and she used the time to read to him. The books included anything from children’s books to the Bible and books his 7-year-old cousin wrote about him being a superhero.
“If I couldn't hold him, I wanted him to hear my voice,” she said. “And the best way for me to do that was to read to him. I even began reading to him the night I found out I was pregnant. Every night I would read stories to my belly. It just made sense. They were his ‘bedtime stories’ before I went to bed myself.”
Reading is the key. She said she doesn’t always track books on the app but she appreciates the program’s encouragement to read 1000 books.
“It’s a goal we can have together,” she said. “Right now, I am leading the ship. But when he gets older and understands what the goal is, I will be so excited to see him achieve it. I’ll know that he did something amazing and I got to cheer him on in the process. “
Get started today
Reading a book more than once also counts as one book each time it is read. Some children love a particular story or character so much that they’ll want to read a book over and over (and over).
Which brings us to another tip from Wilshire: “Find books that you as a parent enjoy, too.”
Not sure where to start? Visit one of our Fort Worth Public Library branches and to speak with a librarian to sign up. Find book suggestions and our story time schedule.