On an evening in late February our local Migrant Head Start parents toured the beautiful Watsonville Library and families obtained their very first library cards for their toddlers and preschoolers—plus a special bright bag to carry home their books.
The popular and energetic guest speaker from the local Raise A Reader program, Jose Manuel Serrano, talked about the importance of introducing books early on so that babies and toddlers form positive and affectionate connections to books. He showed families the types of books appropriate for this young age and demonstrated how to dramatize the reading to engage the young child’s interest.
The Santa Cruz Migrant Head Start program provides childcare to 170 children of local farmworkers while they are working in the fields–typically from 6 am to 6 pm, from May until November. This year the program’s focus is on increasing the vocabulary of young children and encouraging the nightly tradition of sharing books together before bedtime.
Head Start programs also supports the health of young children, the safety of families and encourages parent involvement in their child’s education. For more information about our program or if you are interested in volunteering in our family childcare homes, please contact Maria F. Castro, 831 466 5851.