FathersRead365 Making Reading Fun with a Spotlight on Father and Family Engagement

“Community Spotlight” with PHL17’s Jennifer Lewis-Hall highlights the work that nonprofits and community organizations are doing in the Delaware Valley.

Two fathers Akeiff Staples and Brent Johnstone, the co-founders of nonprofit FathersRead365 say they seek to bring loads of fun, energy and learning opportunities with a focus on literacy to each and every group of children they read books to at area daycare centers and schools in the Philadelphia area.

We caught up with the two dads who delighted preschoolers with their own fun style of reading that invites learning interaction and engagement with children to promote literacy. They provide free books and an opportunity to spend the type of time with young readers that the co-founders of FathersRead365 say can be life changing.

Akieff Staples says making sure children learn how to read early ensures success later in life. Staples said, “so instead of repairing the adult or grown man or grown individual, let’s get them before it even gets to that point.” Brent Johnstone says they want to let fathers know how important they are and that engaging in the reading process is powerful. Both Staples and Johnstone are encouraging dads and family members to “read to your children for at least 15 minutes every day.”

The organization was launched seven years ago, and the fathers say they have read at more than five-hundred centers so far.

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