Let's Dive Into Reading, Utah!

My kids-ages 7 and 4 - adore PBS KIDS and the library is an often-requested destination in our home. So participating in the November Reading Marathon Kickoff Party has become a well-loved tradition for our family that cannot be missed. There's nothing at the kickoff that they don't love (and how could there be?). Free books, photo op with a backdrop of all their favorite characters, and meeting some of their favorite characters in person are always some of the first things they are drawn to. Last year, I remember my son, who was 3 at the time, not wanting to leave the side of Cat from Peg + Cat. I think he went up to Cat close to ten times and to just stare and smile. I finally had to usher him elsewhere just to give Cat a break. They loved making microphones at the KUER booth. My favorite memory from last year was the opportunity to participate in an interview that was recorded by KUER personnel. My daughter interviewed her little brother, and the audio sent to me afterwards is priceless. I love hearing her questions and probes for more info from him, his adorable responses, and their sweet little voices preserved in audio. In fact, after this experience, my daughter decided to start her own "podcast" and interview and record her friends from school about their lives. I believe the experience at the kickoff gave her the confidence that she had important questions about the world and those around her. The many science exploration opportunities at the kickoff were also favorite memories for the kids. They even recently reminisced about a rocket they had made there. There is so much excitement around learning and discovery at this event, it's contagious.  Reading throughout the month gave us some great family time together which didn't end in November. Both kids want to read every day. The Adventure Pass is a fun reward for their hard work. They enjoyed having one printed out so they could see what places we were going to explore together. It really gave us opportunities to go new places as a family, some of what we didn't know existed in the community, and some of which we would not have been able to visit without the pass. I love that we could visit them during some of the coldest months when we'd typically be close to hibernation at home! Thank you, KUED (now PBS Utah) and PBS KIDS Utah, for investing in our children and in our community!

The KUED (now PBS Utah) Kids Reading Marathon is such a fun way to get kids excited about reading and achieving their goals. There are so many community partners that contribute to this event, and although we didn’t get to participate in every activity that was offered, the boys had a wonderful experience. The KUED Kids Annual Reading Marathon Kickoff party has been an event that we look forward to each November. Last year, my 7 year old son, Kasper, decided that he would invite his best friend to attend the 2018 celebration with him, and it did not disappoint! Kasper and Alec had a blast with Clark Planetarium, transforming their arms into lasers, blasting debris and asteroids away from planet Earth.  The boys also got to become “Rookie” KUER reporters for the afternoon, and were able to make and decorate their own microphones out of paper and tinfoil. In addition, the library had an activity where children could design and build their own spacecraft and then test their creations in the wind tunnel machine.  Both Kasper and Alec were dedicated engineers and were impressed with the flying ability of their contraptions! Ogden Nature Center brought reptiles, and the boys also got to fulfil a lifelong dream of holding a live snake. The kids enjoyed having their pictures taken with their favorite PBS KIDS character backdrops (Arthur and Wild Kratts) where they got to act silly with the basket of props.  KUED also provided each child with a free book and a reading log to start their November reading challenge! The kickoff party is now a tradition in our family, and we look forward to participating in this year’s challenge, and of course earning the highly anticipated KUED (now PBS Utah) Kids Adventure Pass! And what kid doesn’t like to conclude a visit to the library with a serious game of chess on the life- sized chess board?

The PBS KIDS Utah Reading Marathon is important to us because my girls love to read! My wife and I started reading to them the day we brought them home. We read after school and every night before bed to wind down for the day. The 20 minutes a day reading requirement is not a problem at our house! Before the pandemic, we were regulars at the Library. We let the girls pick out any book that looked interesting to them. Luckily, we have a pretty big collection of books at home, plus our tablets to keep us reading during our long hours at home. One of the benefits to reading to our girls at bedtime is that we get to share some of our favorite childhood books with them. I’ve even written some of my own stories, using them as my inspiration. This is part of the reason why they love to make up and illustrate their own stories. Reading has always fueled their creativity. All the reading they do pays off too! My second grader is helping to tutor some of her classmates in reading this year. I think she developed her early reading skills from hearing her older sisters read out loud and her strong desire to read on her own. We take part in the PBS KIDS Utah Reading Marathon just for the fun of it, but earning the Adventure Pass as a reward is icing on the cake! Reading to your kids and having them read to you is a great way to bond and all the more reason to participate. Who knows- maybe you and your kids might learn something together.