Use funny voices, silly inflections, you will enthrall your child.”

Susan Bednasek, Platte County Early Literacy Project

Development Data

According to a study in JAMA Neurology published by the American Medical Association, starting at two-days-old, infant brains experience an explosive growth spurt, reaching half their adult size within three months of birth. Researchers found that the infants’ brains grew 64 percent in the first 90 days.

People think is very nice to have a book and toy delivered to them, but the purpose is to teach new parents the huge advantage of reading to your child from birth because it gives the opportunity to pour rich language into children’s vocabulary.

WHEATLAND – As a parent your greatest hope for your child is to be successful in life. What if there was something you could do, even at the infant stage, to boost the probability towards that hope? Amazingly, there is – and it’s simple – read to your child every day. Platte County Early Literacy Project is here and ready to start the youngest members of our community on the right track.

Susan Bednasek, a retired elementary school teacher for Platte County, started the project over ten years ago and is still just as fired up as ever. She emphasizes parents need to read to your baby every day to give them the best “Jump!” (by Tatsuhide Matsuoka) in their upcoming educational years. You could try “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin, Jr. for their first taste of the ABCs.

“My mission is to put books and toys in children’s hands and enlighten parents and care givers about the huge difference they can make in their readiness for school. People think is very nice to have a book and toy delivered to them, but the purpose is to teach new parents the huge advantage of reading to your child from birth because it gives the opportunity to pour rich language into children’s vocabulary,” Bednasek passionately explained. “Use funny voices, silly inflections, you will enthrall your child.”

According to a study in JAMA Neurology published by the American Medical Association, starting at two-days-old, infant brains experience an explosive growth spurt, reaching half their adult size within three months of birth. Researchers found that the infants’ brains grew 64 percent in the first 90 days. This is when to start pouring information into their minds with the rich and varied language of children’s books. Like the long-time favorite “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle.

“As a teacher on the first day of the school, you ask, ‘who wants to learn to read,’ and they are all excited. They all usually learn to read fairly quickly; however, when the focus shifts to reading to learn the kids who have been read to at home have the advantage. The kids with very little home reading experience will struggle with that next step,” said Bednasek with the frustration of watching little ones lose their enthusiasm for reading so early.

For example, when students are using phonics to sound out words, even if they say it right, if they have never heard that word before they won’t recognize that they have actually read the word. Even simple words like “flip” and “flop.” But if the grownups in their life read to them “Flip and Flop” by Dawn Apperley, that new reader would know success and will feel like they could fly just like Pip in “Whoever heard of a flying bird” by David Cunliffe.

The Educational Studies Department at Ohio State University did a study that theorized young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to. Even kids who are read only one book a day will hear about 290,000 more words by age five, than those who don’t regularly read books with a parent or caregiver. Kids just don’t hear enough different words in day-to-day life to prepare them for success in school.

Funding for the Literacy Project has been varied through the years from different entities with lean years, flush ones, scraping by, but still surviving thanks to Bednasek’s determination and grit. Right now it is funded through the mil levy and sponsored by Platte County School District No. 1. Although there was a reduction in monies this year, Superintendent John Weigel said he feels the program is vital to the district. While the amount is reduced 25 percent from the previous year, it is still chugging along just like “The Little Engine that Could” by Watty Piper.

“It’s very important to get books in young children’s hands and to have that connection with parents,” Superintendent Weigel said.

Another reason to start reading in the infant stage is babies enjoy being cuddled and so are apt listeners to what their caregivers are saying to them. Toddlers may be less interested in sitting still, but if you read a book aloud in the same room as they are zooming around like “Llama, Llama Zippity Zoom” by Anna Dewdney, they will still be listening and absorbing.

Darla Patterson has been a huge supporter of the program at the hospital. Babies that are born in Platte County are given a form to sign up to say they want to be part of the initiative. They receive a free meal, goodies, and Bednasek contacts them to set up a time to come to their home. The new family receives a book and toy along with learning about the benefits of being involved and reading to their new bundle of joy. Even short books like “Goodnight, Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown published back in 1947.

She also receives referrals from the Department of Family Services and Head Start. Hundreds of families have benefitted over the years and right now there are about 200 families participating in the Project that lasts from birth to age three. Books in Spanish are also available.

The Wanderer on Gilchrist bookstore in downtown Wheatland has been a long-time supporter of the Project.

“Without the Wanderer and their generosity, I’m not sure where we would be. They have enthusiastically supported this program to provide what’s needed. This local business is truly the backbone of the organization,” Bednasek relayed with gratitude.

It’s not just about reading a story, it’s about connecting with your child and asking how they feel about the character, their decisions, would they do the same? They get an early start in critical thinking, problem solving and consequences of actions in a safe, learning space.

So, reach out to your neighbors, friends, and grandchildren to get them signed up for the Platte County Early Literacy Project by texting Bednasek at (307) 322-6273. “As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen,” Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne focuses on adventure, and every child deserves the chance to find adventure in a good story. What is your favorite children’s book? Contact Bednasek and let her know.