Contact: Sheila McCant
LA House of Representatives
Office of Public Information
Phone: (225) 342-9795
FAX: (225) 219-4380
DATE: March 6, 2000
March 6, 2000
REPRESENTATIVE JANE SMITH TO PRESENT
BABY'S FIRST GIFT
State Rep. Jane Smith is initiating a program to encourage parents to begin reading to their children at an early age. On Tuesday, March 7, Smith will begin regular visits to Parenting Classes at Willis Knighton Bossier and Christus Schumpert Bossier medical facilities. During these visits she will present the "parents to be" with free books for their children and will discuss with them research that indicates that reading to children from birth has extremely positive effects.
Smith said, "What better first gift for a child than the gift of reading. Anything we can do to promote early childhood development and to remind these parents of the importance of reading to their child is worth the effort. This will also be an excellent way for me to meet my constituents and encourage reading at the same time."
The first meetings are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Willis Knighton Bossier and Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Christus Schumpert Bossier.
For additional information concerning the program, contact Rep. Smith at 741-2825.
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