You have heard me say this before…my oldest sister is resourceful, curious, adventurous, analytical, and intelligent…and these adjectives just popped into my head. If I took the time to think more about it, I would probably come up with more glowing descriptors.

In our early years, she appeared to be able to learn letters and words and read without any struggles. Since this was the focal point for parents and educators for future success, she was someone I aspired to be.

I hate math! Yep, Math. In my world, every time I hear, "It's time for math," "Can you calculate that," or "Can you figure out how much we should charge…" I cringe. It is my kryptonite, the dreaded 4-letter word. M-A-T-H.

Now you're probably wondering why I loathe such a necessary skill. Without diving into therapy or psychoanalysis, I've thought about it often and finally identified the defining moment. It was the year I moved from 5th grade to 6th.

Are your grandkids simply sitting idly, passively listening to the story? Is the bedtime reading designed to unwind and prepare them for a quick slumber? What? No! Stop it now.

It's time to stage a rebellion against the tired tradition of reading to your grandkids! That's right, put down those dusty books, and let's explore some fresh, interactive ways to spark their imagination and curiosity. Okay, okay, you may think I am a little crazy, but bear with me. Have you considered trying out interactive reading sessions as a new approach? Because let's face it, reading alone won't teach them the wonders of the world – but fear not, we've got some tricks up our sleeves to make story time an adventure they'll never forget.

The World has made it through the COVID-19 pandemic, but now we have seen another epidemic hit America: Literacydemic. What does that mean? We are sounding the alarm on this crucial problem: literacy decline. Did you know 67% of American fourth-grade children do not meet reading proficiency assessments?

However, the problem starts even early; 47% of kindergarteners aren’t on track to becoming readers. Findings indicate that gaps in kindergarten readiness relate to a later lack of achievement in elementary school. New research finds that children who learn more in kindergarten earn more as adults and are more successful overall.