A special reading series kicked off at Canalside in downtown Buffalo Wednesday. Every Person Influences Children, known as EPIC, is hosting a Storytime summer series. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says it is a free program for young children and families to promote reading and a healthy lifestyle.
Young children tried out 'Laughter Yoga' provided by Lighten Up Yoga partnering with EPIC. Michelle is President of EPIC. She said they wanted to teach children how to breathe and laugh.
“Hopefully we have the families come continually ever week just to have that weekly activity of reading time, something fun and just educational,” said Urbanczyk.
The book selected for the kickoff was "Pete the Cat", a story about ‘letting things go’ and ‘not getting upset’. The goal is to provide tools let children and parents release stress and anxiety to enjoy the summer, but not forget about reading.
“We hate the summer slide,” Urbanczyk noted. “Our whole thing is just to find something and once you read, comprehend what you’re reading and that’s what we are doing today – we are tying a book to an activity."
Each Wednesday, through the end of August, you can take children to Canalside where a book will be tied into a special activity.
WNED television is also partnering and will be hosting some of the reading sessions.
Parents will also get some tools and hints of how to work with their child at home.
Parent Tara McCormick of East Aurora brought her six year old daughter to the event.
“I’m actually a kindergarten teacher and my daughter just left kindergarten, so even as an educator I’m scrambling to make sure I find enough things for us to do as well as keep those skills strong,” said McCormick.
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Grandparents also appeared at Storytime. Richard Gurbacki, from Grand Island, brought his too young grandchildren, Rebecca and Max, to Canalside.
“This is a preparation for them before they do go to school so they can learn to pay attention, they can learn to understand and they can learn to focus on a teacher,” Gurbacki explained.
EPIC encourages parents to read to their children as soon as they are born, all to begin promoting the love of reading.