Teaching a child to appreciate reading not only promotes academic achievement, but it also it opens opportunities for the imagination to soar and for kids to learn about topics beyond their wildest dreams.

This year, you can help promote children’s literacy with these ideas:

Give books to children. You can find a book on virtually any topic, aimed at nearly every age and reading level. If you’re not sure what a child likes to read, simply choose a book about a topic he or she enjoys, or a favorite fictional character.

Support organizations working to promote literacy. Many organizations you conduct regular business with may have selected literacy as a cause that they support. For example, the Toys for Tots Literacy Program was developed by The UPS Store and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. This program, celebrating its 10th anniversary, provides books and educational resources to underserved communities. As part of the program, $10,000 worth of children’s books will be donated to 10 nonprofit organizations in support of children’s literacy in 2019.  

Create traditions around reading. Making books part of family rituals can help instill a love of reading among kids. You might set aside an evening for a reading marathon or read a bedtime story every night. You can also find creative ways to get young readers involved, such as assigning one child each night to read that day’s mail aloud to the family.

Attend events that shine a light on literacy. One of the year’s most anticipated events was the annual Tournament of the Roses Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, which included The UPS Store’s float titled “Books Keep Us On Our Toes” which aims to inspire people to experience life through the joy of reading. After the parade, spectators viewed the float up close, and the store handed out 10,000 children’s books – many of which were donated by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company – to parade-goers and post-event attendees.

Encourage kids to get hands-on with books. Reading isn’t the only way to appreciate books; kids can get creative and make their own literature, too. Encourage them to write and illustrate their own stories they can share with the family.

For more information on the float or to make a contribution to support literacy, visit www.theupsstore.com/literacy .