“This program is beneficial for both parents and students because it gives the parents practical tools to help enhance reading time with their children, promotes conversations between parents and students, and also helps raise awareness about the importance of reading to children,” said Mandy Medbourn, Extension Educator.

“I attended a similar workshop a few years ago and learned a great deal about how I can better read to my children and how to create a literacy rich environment in my home,” explained Natalie Daily Federer, Pulaski County Extension Director.  

While the parents were learning about the importance of preschool literacy and were provided with ideas and tips to utilize at home, the students participated in four activity stations. The students learned about healthy eating, made a snow flake craft, did a puzzle, and also got to play literacy and phonics games.  

The last activity was a group reading of the “The Snowy Day” and having hot chocolate with the parents.  Every student received a book to keep and parents were given literacy resources to take home.  Head-Start Preschool also received a number of books and literacy games to keep in their classrooms and use with their students.    

For more information about this program and other related programs, please contact the Extension Office of Pulaski County which is located at 125 S. Riverside Dr. in Winamac and the staff can be reached for questions at 574-946-3412. The Pulaski County Extension Office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.