A Kansas City Family’s Guide to Read Across America
If you don’t know what “Read Across America” is, you must keep reading!
It’s a national day to celebrate literacy and get children excited about reading, celebrated across the country on the same day as Dr. Seuss Day.
Check it out below…
Every year on March 2nd, Read Across America is celebrated in Kansas City and across the country.ย
Whether your kiddos love to read or you want to get them interested in reading, Read Across America is a great program for kids and families!
Read Across America was started in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) as a day to promote reading in children, but it quickly grew to be so much more. Now, it is a day to kick off an entire year of reading while also celebrating Dr. Seuss on the same day.ย
Read Across America in Kansas City
While kids will likely celebrate this day at school, you can also celebrate and promote reading outside of the classroom. From your local library to online activities at home, you can find so many ways to get involved.ย
How to Get Involved?
Start reading!
You can visit the Read Across America website to find ideas, or visit your local library for free events & activities. There will also be storytimes at the local branches to celebrate.ย
You can use this certificate to get your kids excited about reading too!
> Explore the Library
Go to your local library and check out a few books…for free! All you need is a library card.ย
This is the most simple way to celebrate Read Across America, but sometimes the most simple ideas are the best!
Free Events:
Libraries around Kansas City will be hosting different events on March 2nd. MCPL is hosting over 25 events across the metro. (not all focus on Read Across America day, but check them out!)
Library Programs:
Outside of Read Across America, your local library branches host TONS of events – nearly all of which are free. There are programs for kids AND adults so that everyone can take advantage of the library.ย
Fun and helpful events include:
- Storytimes
- Mad Science
- ACT Prep
- Genealogy Help
- ESL Classes
You can use our library lovers guide to find events at the different libraries in Kansas City, including, MCPL, Kansas City Public Libraries, and KCK Libraries.ย
> Plan an event at Home or School
The NEA provides tons of resources for you to plan your own event at home, at school, for homeschool groups…whatever you’d like. As long as you’re promoting reading, you’re involved.ย
Their Read Across America tool kits include posters, poems, songs, and other promotional materials, as well as fact sheets and other event ideas.ย
You can also use their online calendar to find Read Across America events happening year-round, across the country.ย
> Seussville
The Dr. Seuss website has tons of fun things to celebrate Dr. Seuss and incorporate reading into your child’s life. Children can play games, watch free videos, explore Dr. Seuss characters, purchase e-books and audiobooks of Dr. Seuss’s classics, and so much more.
If you’re looking for Dr. Seuss’s activities, you can find tons of fun things to do here! Educators and parents can find tons of resources, including:
- Art projects
- Printables
- Activities
- Classroom supplies
- Recipes
- Guides
No matter how you choose to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America, we hope you use these resources to get your children interested in reading.ย
Be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter below to get the scoop on all things kids and family in KC!
From iFamily to Yours, iFamilyKC
