Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

You may or may not be aware, but today is World Read Aloud Day. The day was founded by LitWorld, an organization that was formed in 2007 by literacy expert Pam Allyn in an effort to experience the joy and transformation of reading, writing and storytelling. The day advocates for literacy as a fundamental human right and celebrates the joy of reading aloud. The day is now celebrated in 173 countries.

The seventh edition of The Scholastics Kids & Family Reading Report showed that more than 80 percent of both kids and parents love or like read-aloud time because they consider it a special time together. There are many benefits to reading aloud to your children. Among those benefits, reading aloud increases vocabulary and in today’s 120-character world, we all could use a broadened vocabulary. Reading aloud also sharpens focus and improves listening and reading skills. Those are also skills that could use some improvement across all generations.

This morning many employees from the City of Lanett will be at W.O Lance Elementary participating in World Read Aloud Day. This is a great way for local officials to leave a positive impression among area children and play a role in their cognitive development. Kudos to all those involved in this program, including Mayor Kyle McCoy, Councilwoman Sandra Thornton, Chief Johnny Wood and the many other city employees.

Look for more on this in this newspaper tomorrow.

Until then, take a moment and read aloud to your children today and when you do, take a photo, post it to our Facebook page and use #ReadAloudDay.