Recent studies indicate that parents are reading to children less and less with video games taking its place.
Children receive such benefit when parents read to them, starting when they are babies.  
Reading books to the kids at bedtime has no losers. It is a time of the day when defenses are down and is a great time to reconnect with the kids. Snuggling with the kids before bedtime ends the day on a positive note.
The recent “Books for Babies” program launched by the Ellinwood School/Community Library will only benefit families in Ellinwood.
The library will give parents of newborn babies in Ellinwood a board book, and other items, as well as a book mark educating them on the benefits of reading to babies.
Reading to babies promotes language and communication skills and is an ideal way to bond with baby.
Also sponsored by the Ellinwood Public Education and Library Foundation and the United Way, children in Ellinwood can sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library  program that provides a free book every month from age 0 to 5 to a child in Ellinwood.
This is a progressive way to promote literacy and education to children whose parents may not have been read to as children.
This is a simple habit that if implemented, will result in lifelong happy memories for both parent and child.
KAREN LA PIERRE