SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Library wants to make sure every child is ready when it comes time for kindergarten.
According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, only 52.5% of children were fully ready to enter kindergarten in 2023.
To help kids throughout the city be as prepared as possible to start elementary school, Spokane Public Library offers two free programs for children and their families.
Kindergarten Countdown Storytime is a weekly event for children ages 3-5 with stories, music and interactive fun. The program focuses on promoting important social-emotional motor, language and literacy skills students will need to thrive in the classroom.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading program where kids earn stickers for every 100 books read, a free book at 500 books and a free stuffed toy for 1,000 books.
“Children who demonstrate strong school readiness are more likely to experience improved social, academic, economic and health outcomes,” said Karin Thompson, director of early learning at Spokane Public Schools.
For more information and to sign up for one of the kindergarten readiness programs, visit spokanelibrary.org or call 509-444-5300.
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