As February ends, I have pondered upon what the true meaning of Black History month is.  It is a time to celebrate many great things that Blacks have accomplished, but more importantly; it is a time to reflect on the future.

It is not good to rely only on past successes. I believe in keeping things in proper perspective by finding a way to make the future even better.  How does one accomplish that goal?  I have a vision.  My vision is to ask parents to take the time to be involved in the educational life of their children.  We must find a way to make a difference in the life of our youths.  It starts with getting a well-rounded education.

The single best strategy for helping your children succeed is to encourage them to read.  Reading is a skill that’s essential in all areas of achievement.

I believe reading well is a critical component in the development of young minds.  Reading frequently will help a child foster his or her creative thinking, enhance word recognition, improve cognitive skills, and help achieve a greater understanding of people and the world around him/her.

Here are a few simple tips to help your child become a great reader.

• Encourage children to read on their own.  Spending at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun will help a child be a better reader at school.
• Visit the library often. Take your child to the library at least once a week.
• Encourage books for gifts. Instead of spending a fortune on expensive gifts, buy instead books.  Ask family members and friends to give gift cards to bookstores.   Set aside a special date where you and your child can go to the bookstore to buy books.
• Get help for your child if they have a reading problem.  There are many after-school programs through your local library.  You can also ask the librarian for names of community organizations that offer free literacy tutoring.