Preschoolers invited to Parents as Teachers’ Roll & Read

Preschoolers and their parents are invited to enjoy Parents as Teachers’ Sixth Annual Roll & Read event on Friday, October 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Safety City, 165 S. Concord Street.

Roll & Read is geared for children 5 years and younger and their families. Admission, parking and all activities at the event are free. In celebration of the theme this year being “Hooray for our Heroes,” we encourage everyone who attends to dress up as their favorite “hero” which could be a community hero or a superhero!

“As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher,” said Parents as Teachers’ Program Manager Christel Crawford. “By reading with your child, you’re not only preparing them for school, but you’re creating a love of learning that will help them in all aspects of their life.”

Books will be read throughout the event by community leaders and volunteers. Firefighters, paramedics, police officers and other community helpers will be there to share the important ways they help children and families. There will also be fun learning activities at the event, along with free giveaways throughout the day, courtesy of the many community partners participating in the event.

Roll & Read is hosted by the Knox County Health Departments’ Parents as Teachers program. It is a prenatal to kindergarten home-visiting program that helps parents learn how to be their child’s most influential teacher, which is important in order for children to have the best opportunity to succeed in school and in life. Last year, Parents as Teachers’ parent educators had more than 1,050 meetings helping more than 114 Knox County families.

For more information on Roll & Read or the Parents as Teachers program, call 865-215-5120 or email pat@knoxcounty.org.