Prairie Public Broadcasting, which serves North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota and cities in Manitoba Canada, hosts annual “Share a Story” literacy events to encourage a lifelong love of learning for young locals. These free family events promote artistic play as a means of igniting creative sparks in children. “Share a Story” is held yearly in Fargo to engage families in the arts. Children can listen to and read stories as well as write and illustrate their own before taking home a free book. Other activities include acting workshops, face painting, trying different musical instruments, sing-a-longs, a story walk, magic, dancing and even more. Overall, the event aims to powerfully impact educational development, foster parental involvement, and encourage positive social and emotional growth.
The event grew out of the fact that it is estimated that 30 percent of children along the North Dakota and Minnesota borders enter kindergarten without the basic skills necessary for learning. “Share a Story” became an opportunity to reach these underserved children and their parents. The goal of the event is to have children and their parents leave with the tools to continue learning, playing, experimenting and creating – all important in enthusiastic lifelong learning. The event’s activities help children expand their arts, vocabulary, verbal, organization and logic skills, which they can apply once they are home, as they use learning activities that are proven to help children excel.
Below is a video showing highlights from the “Share a Story” event:
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