The Friendly’s Book Club summer program is offered in collaboration with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department, Palmetto Police Department, Bradenton Police Department, and Parrish Fire Department. This program is designed to build relationships with local law enforcement, and first responders as well as inspire a love of reading.
The 3–5-year-old children participating are enrolled in childcare sites all over Manatee County. During the 45-minute sessions offered twice a month in the summer, children engage in a read-aloud provided by one of our uniformed participants, followed by safety-related activities. The topics covered are water and fire safety, as well as how to identify and who to call in case of an emergency. By the end of the summer, most of the 180 children can verbalize what steps to take in case of a fire, how to increase safety by never swimming alone, and when given an example of an emergency decide correctly whether or not to call 9-1-1.
In addition, at the end of each visit, every child selects a book to take home and read with their family. These books reinforce the habit of daily reading and serve as a reminder to share what they learned. Daily reading and family conversations are vital practices to prepare children for kindergarten!
The ELC and our participating child care providers are grateful for the efforts of our local heroes and appreciate the care they show our youngest learners.
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For More Information
Contact the ELC of Manatee County's Community Educational Initiatives Team
(941) 757-2900 ext. 2500
communityengagement@elc-manatee.org
