FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Over 80 Soldiers and their family members attended the Dr. Seuss Family Fun Day, hosted by the Casey Memorial Library and Army Community Service’s Mobilization, Deployment, Stability and Support Operations program, or MD&SSO, March 1 at the library on Fort Cavazos.
“Today we are having our Dr. Seuss Family Fun Day, and it is a celebration of one of the most popular children’s authors of all time, Dr. Seuss, and we are just having a grand old time,” said Rachael Bethel, public services librarian, Casey Memorial Library, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
The event, which promoted family togetherness, was hosted within the children’s section of the library and the outside patio. Attendees participated in a scavenger hunt, bingo, story time, arts and crafts and singing “Happy Birthday” for Dr. Seuss. Special guest Cat in the Hat talked to and took photos with children throughout the event.
“(We want the children to get) a little bit of fun and some joy, and maybe an introduction to a new and popular author, if they are not previously familiar with Dr. Seuss, and a chance to enjoy some favorites if they are already familiar with it,” Bethel said.
During story time, Bethel read two of Dr. Seuss’ more popular books, “The Cat and the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham.” For the scavenger hunt, families searched throughout the children’s section for pictures of various Dr. Seuss characters, such as Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, Sam-I-Am and Thing 1 and 2. Out on the patio, families gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to Dr. Seuss and partake in cupcakes. The children also colored a big coloring sheet highlighting the different ways to be kind. Throughout the event, children won prizes to take home.
“We are building family strength and just resiliency across the board, and we want to make sure that we create amazing experiences between parents and children, and enhancing those bonds,” said Marielle Moore, MD&SSO specialist and resilience trainer, ACS, People Directorate.
The event is also how ACS and the library participate in Read Across America week.
Read Across America is a yearlong program focused on motivating children and teens to read, according to the National Education Association.
Throughout the week, from March 2 to 8, libraries, schools and other similar organizations and institutions participate in what is known as Read Across America week where they host theme days and events to encourage the love of reading among America’s youth.
MD&SSO, responsible for preparing families for pre- and post-deployment with resources and community support, thought this would be a great way to aid in
that effort.
“We want to make sure that the library has an initiative to make sure that families are reading together,” Moore said. “So, (we want to) increase the literacy rate in the United States and make sure we help in creating those bonds between parent and child.”
Moore continued, saying they want to support many avenues for families to strengthen those bonds and make sure they decrease those risk factors against domestic
violence and child neglect. They try to do this through promoting healthy relationships and nurturing those relationships between parents and children.
Not only does Moore want to see bonding between families, but Bethel wants families to know they can experience more at the library than the use of computers and checking out a book.
Bethel said she would like Soldiers and family members to understand how much there is at the library and foster a mental association with the library as a place they can go for many resources.
“There will be our normal, regular monthly programming, things such as all-ages coloring, or the homeschool hour, arts and crafts or story time,” she said. “And then we also have other special events that vary according to the month or time of the year. For example, on March 21, we’re going to be having our annual Spring Fling library carnival on the library lawn, and over the summer we always host the Summer Reading Program.”
For more information about programs offered at Casey Memorial Library, visit cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/casey-memorial-library. To learn more about MD&SSO, visit cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/acs/mdsso.
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