PBS hosting child literacy workshops in Yuma

Children are going to watch television anyway, so they might as well learn to read while they're doing it.

That is the premise behind a series of free literacy workshops being presented in Yuma by Arizona PBS station Eight.

“These literacy workshops show parents, grandparents and teachers how to use quality PBS educational programs and content to help their young children get a head start on reading,” said Kimberly Flack, associate general manager of Eight's education outreach department.

She said that everyone who cares for young children, whether in a formal (day care) or informal (home) setting, is welcome to attend.

The workshop series is available at two locations in Yuma:

• Foothills Library, 13226 E. South Frontage Road, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon, through Dec. 15.

• Main Library, 2951 S. 21st Drive, on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, through Dec. 16.

Space is limited to 25 participants per location.

The workshops are aimed at stimulating brain and language development in children from birth through age 5. Topics, which are taught by masters-level trainers, include changes in a child's brain, strategies for reading aloud, creating a literacy-rich environment, incorporating poetry and music, making media an educational experience, and finding safe literacy resources online.

The workshops will also touch on how to keep children active to prevent obesity, how to prepare a budget and how to plan healthy meals.

“We know all the hard economic times people are going through. We want to help parents learn how to prepare nutritional meals that are also cost effective,” Flack said.

Participants will learn how to take advantage of learning opportunities “in the house, out in the grocery store, when they're out in the community,” Flack said.

“It's a kind of a pilot program that we're doing in North Phoenix and now we're expanding it to Yuma. We hope to take it to other communities,” PBS spokeswoman Judy Crawford said.

The workshops are two hours long, focusing first on caregivers and educators. In the last half-hour, caregivers work with their children to gain confidence in newly learned skills.

“The last half-hour they work with the caregivers and the children, so in a sense, they're training the caregivers and they're training the kids,” Crawford said.

Attendees also receive a packet of resources, including tip sheets, a children's book and a DVD.

Parents, grandparents and educators may attend the entire series or just one workshop at no charge. The sessions are bilingual with Spanish translation and free childcare available for children 5 and under.

“Parents and grandparents really are their children's first teachers. We want to get the word out that it's free and there really is no catch,” Flack said.

Those interested can register online at asset.asu.edu and click on “Yuma Early Literacy Project Workshops” or call 1-602-496-7004.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or on Twitter at @YSMaraKnaub.