Miami-Dade Parks Become Places to Learn and Read
A trip to the park can now become an opportunity for children to discover new words, recognize letters and develop an early love of reading. The Children’s Trust, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces and Uplift Literacy, has launched Pages in the Park, a new initiative bringing early literacy activities directly into local playgrounds.
The program officially launched during National Literacy Month at Ruben Dario Park and is already available at four Miami-Dade County locations: Oak Grove Park, Ruben Dario Park, Westwind Lakes Park and J.L. and Enid Demps Park.
Pages in the Park combines learning with something children naturally love to do: play.
Each installation features five to six colorful, interactive signs placed throughout the playground. The activities encourage children and their caregivers to read, talk, write, sing, move and play together.
From going on a letter hunt to stopping and listening for sounds in nature, the activities are designed to help children build vocabulary, practice letter recognition, tell stories and strengthen other foundational skills that support learning to read.
“By turning everyday park visits into opportunities to read, talk and learn together, we’re helping children develop the skills and confidence that support lifelong learning,” said James R. Haj, president and CEO of The Children’s Trust.
Building Literacy From an Early Age
Pages in the Park expands on the work of The Children’s Trust Book Club, a program that provides children from birth through age 4½ with one free book every month, delivered directly to their homes in English, Spanish or Haitian Creole.
The new initiative takes those learning opportunities beyond the home, transforming familiar public spaces into places where families can combine outdoor fun with educational experiences.
“Pages in the Park is about making literacy visible and accessible in the places families already spend time, creating more opportunities for children to practice the skills that will help them become strong readers,” said Aileen Sanchez Gonzalez, executive director of Uplift Literacy.
The program is expected to reach even more communities. The Children’s Trust, Uplift Literacy and Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces plan to expand Pages in the Park to additional parks throughout the county in the coming years.
For families, the concept is simple: the next trip to the playground can be more than an afternoon of fun. It can also become an opportunity to talk, discover new words, tell stories and help young children take some of their first important steps toward becoming lifelong readers.
