FORT BENNING, Ga. - "'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the base only sentries were stirring - they guarded the place."
Fort Benning children listened as Amy Kowatch, the team leader for Parent to Parent, read from The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas.
Part of a monthlong program, the book introduced "the Santa of Soldiers," a 6-foot-6-inch, crooked-nosed NCO named Sergeant McClaus. And reinforced early childhood literacy, said Kowatch, who helps coordinate the themed reads.
"We try and let the parents know early literacy is the best thing they can do for their child at this age," she said. "From birth all the way up to 4, it's imperative to get that reading. We feel if we do something themed it makes a connection. For instance, this is about troops being deployed, and we're sending Christmas cards to the troops who are deployed."
Children made and decorated the greeting cards after listening to the story and singing Christmas songs. The P2P team - Kowatch, Jenny Rasmussen, Deeanna Enfinger and Samantha Banister - led the activities Dec. 3-14 at libraries and playgroups on and off post.
"We loved it," said Jessica Ramirez, who attended the Dec. 8 reading at Sayers Memorial Library.
"It teaches him calm time, and it teaches him to listen," Ramirez said of her 2-year-old son Aurelius. "It's good for him. It will help him do well in school and be able to focus better. He doesn't have to struggle so much on learning how to read ... it'll be easier for him along the way."
Early literacy workshops are open to the public but geared to military children ages 4 and younger. Parent to Parent offers several other workshops on a variety of subjects, including transitioning to a new school, the college application process, math and science for early years, help with homework and good communication. The workshops and resources are free for service members and their families.
For information about upcoming events or to schedule a workshop, call 706-405-9857 or e-mail FortBenningP2P@yahoo.com.
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