In today’s episode, Rich Colon of Brilliant Detroit and Crystal Jolly-Washington, Children’s Librarian at the Sherwood Forest Branch of Detroit Public Library, unpack the many positive ways reading as a family improves a child’s literacy skills and cognitive development. Crystal gives recommendations for optimizing the practice of reading, comprehension and language arts development through simple, everyday tasks like cooking. She also shares different programs that are available online and at the local library and even suggested activities available to parents by text. Crystal describes the benefits of social reading, one-on-one time and the power of squeezing in small increments of reading aloud to children whenever possible. Lastly, Crystal highlights lauded programming like “Mother Goose on the Loose,” available online and at select libraries, along with other ways to keep children engaged in reading over the summer months.