So much to celebrate in February

February often feels like the most “winter” of months in Guilford County. Maybe that’s why it’s a month that contains good reasons to celebrate and increase awareness of some important topics.

Black History Month has been celebrated since 1976. In Guilford County, we have an important connection to Black History Month as the birthplace of the Sit-In Movement. On February 1, 1960, the Greensboro Four, Ezell Blair, Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil were inspired by nonviolent protests to enter Woolworth’s and ask to be served at the lunch counter. At the time, the lunch counter did not serve African Americans.

Our work to eliminate those barriers and systems that allow inequality and racism remains important. That’s why Ready Ready’s early childhood system-building work is built on a foundation of equity. Addressing the structural inequalities that drive disparate child and family outcomes, Ready Ready is working with community partners to establish an environment where diversity and inclusion are common threads. Together we are building a connected, innovative system of care for Guilford County’s youngest children and their families.

Scroll down in our newsletter for some books you can share with the children in your lives during Black History Month.

Since Valentine’s Day also falls in February, love and hearts are also well-recognized motifs for this otherwise dreary month. In addition to sharing the love for Valentine’s Day on February 14, you may also want to consider heart-healthy exercise and nutrition for American Heart Month. Read on for tips on how to share both with your children and family.

Charrise Hart
CEO

Celebrate Black History Month with stories

The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission celebrates with its 4th Annual Black HIstory Month Read-in. The event will be held online to keep everyone safe, and will feature a new video each week highlighting a different North Carolina children’s book author. 

• Tameka Fryer Brown: My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood

• Judy Allen Dodsen: Escape From … Hurricane Katrina

• Kelly Starling Lyons: Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon

• Eleanora E. Tate: A Blessing in Disguise

If you’re not able to attend each week, you may watch the videos on demand.

Read and discuss stories

Our Black History Month book ideas pair naturally with this Basic. The more we read with young children, the more prepared they become to enjoy reading and to do well in school. It is never too early to begin reading! Stories expose children to words and ideas that they would not otherwise experience. Books teach children to use their imaginations. What they learn about people, places and things can be important building blocks to later life success. For both parents and children, times together with books form fond and lasting memories.

Tips for newborn-12 months: 

• Read regularly: Make book time part of your baby’s daily routine.

• Snuggle up: Hold your child in your lap so they can see the pictures and feel cozy.

• Describe the pictures: You don’t have to stick with the words. You can describe the pictures, discussing colors or shapes.

Tips for Toddlers 1-3 years:

• Commit to read every day: Try to set aside 15 minutes every day to read together. Get books from your local library.

• Help them follow along: Point to the words and pictures. This helps your toddler understand how reading works. For example, we read from left to right on the page.

Ask questions: It can be as simple as “what do you think will happen next?”

Your team can be trained on the Basics Guilford

As we share information about the Basics across Guilford County, we need your help. We’re offering virtual training on the Basics for teams at organizations that interact with young children. Each training lasts 30-45 minutes. To make scheduling easy, you can access our training availability here or feel free to reach out directly to discuss alternate dates and times.

For more information about Ready Ready and the Basics Guilford, please contact Heather Adams, Director of Engagement and Literacy Initiatives, at (336) 579-2977 ext. 2004 or heathera@getreadyguilford.org.

Valentine’s Day: Home is where the heart is

Valentine’s Day at home is in the cards for all of us this year. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day, you can still share the love at home and virtually. Here are a few ideas we’ve rounded up:

• Cook a special meal: Real Simple has some ideas, including having two seatings. An early meal for your children, and a later meal for some grown-up time too.

• Create your own cards: crayons, markers, stickers, paper. Your imagination is the only limit. 

• Heart Hunt game: From Parents.com, some fun games you can play with your children. Our favorite is the heart hunt.  

• Give free or nearly free gifts: You won’t need to spend any time in a store, check your mailbox, be a super crafter with these ideas from Real Simple.

• Tell Valentine’s jokes: Apparently these are the funniest jokes, according to kids.

American Heart Month

February is National Heart Health Month. During this special month, you can help the children and adults in your life understand the importance of a healthy heart. Here are some actions you can take to raise awareness, according to Action for Healthy Kids.

• Have a family fun fitness night at home. You don’t even need special equipment -- it’s as easy as playing a freeze dance game. Play music and dance. When the music stops, so do you. Anyone still moving is out.

• Have a taste test. Cook a family meal using heart-healthy recipes. You might even introduce a new fruit or vegetable.

• Wear red. The first Friday each February is Wear Red Day to highlight heart health.

Find your spot, take your shot

Project LLIFE

With assistance from the Cemala Foundation, North Carolina A&T State University is focused on literacy for young children in Guilford County. Project LLIFE aims to increase skills and performance in language and literacy for children between the ages of 1-4.

LLIFE stands for Language and Literacy Impacting Families and Educators. 

“Our program is focused on children in culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in southeast Greensboro, and our overall goal is to try to close the gap for children of color around language and literacy when they enter kindergarten,” said Dr. Valerie Jarvis McMillan, associate professor of child development early education and family studies at N.C. A&T State University. 

Ready for School, Ready for Life (Ready Ready) has partnered with Project LLIFE in active reading training sessions in late 2020. Due to the pandemic, these training sessions switched from in-person to online, as did much of Project LLIFE’s work.

“Working with Ready Ready, we had two very intense active reading training sessions virtually,” Dr. McMillan said. “Our students practiced the active reading approach, and it allowed them to develop labels and terminology for these strategies. They will use this training with the families during collaborative learning sessions with families in February and March.”

“Working with Project LLIFE and N.C. A&T students was so rewarding,” said Heather Adams, Ready Ready’s director of engagement and literacy initiatives. “We’re excited for them to take these strategies into the community.”

Read the full story about Project LLIFE on our website.

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